Indian Defence Review

Boeing C-17 Globemaster

Airfield Infrastructure

In the beginning of the last decade, a plan to upgrade the airfield infrastructure was conceived and so was born the Project Modernisation of Airfield Infrastructure (MAFI) which includes extension/resurfacing of runways and installation of modern radio and navigational aids. On March 16, 2011, the Ministry of Defence signed a Rs 1,094-crore contract with Tata Power’s Strategic Electronics Division (Tata Power SED) for modernising 30 IAF airbases across the country. Tata Power SED was given 42 months to execute this strategically vital contract.

This upgradation will enable all categories of military aircraft to take-off and land both by day and night as well as in all types of weather. The Navigational Aids (NAVAIDs) will guide all fighter, transport, helicopter and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to approach the selected airfield and then proceed to make a safe landing. There will be parking space for these aircraft, and shelters to cater to the vagaries of weather. This should apply to the runways and Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) in the mountains of the North and North-East as well as the island territories. These runways will also be available to civil aircraft.

As the situation in the Northern sector is under control, there is a need to bring the runways and ALGs in the North-East as well as the Island territories, up to standard. This is an ongoing exercise, but needs attention before using aircraft for aid to civil authority, a fact that was highlighted by the present Chief of the Air Staff during the anti-naxal operations. Expressing concern over the safety of IAF helicopters deployed in these areas, he said, “Our request has been to the Chief Secretaries of these states to get the infrastructure up because right now, in the middle of monsoon, our helicopters are parked outside, and our crew do not have place to rest.” This will therefore, affect their readiness to respond to rapidly developing situations.

A Networked Information Grid

Information superiority assumes great importance in today’s digitized battlefield. In network-centric warfare, the coverage extends from Air HQ to all Commands and their bases. The communication bandwidth should be adequate to cater for Data, Video as well as Voice transfer. While space communications is overarching, it is also susceptible to jamming or even destruction by adversaries and hence there is a need to build in redundancies by means of wireless and even underground Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) which will provide greater security. This network will permit exchange of voice, data and video between all commanders so that planning, execution and interaction can be conducted in real time prior to and during the battle.

The planning of an integrated air campaign or even a localised air effort can be made speedier and safer by software programs. The execution of such a campaign and its results can be monitored in real time as in the IAF Mirage attacks over Kargil. This channel of communication will also permit exchange of information relating to logistics, personnel, medical and financial. It is understood that there is a plan to have a Defence Communication Network that will allow the three Services and the Ministry of Defence to interact with each other during contingencies. It is hoped that interfaces are built between the three services communication protocols for speedier and secure communication.

Public Works

Public works is as important as operations for it is the foundation on which a sound and secure operational task can progress. Presently, this is being done by the Military Engineer Services (MES).The two areas that need attention are expertise in public works does not exist within the IAF, and hence reliance on the MES for specialist advice, and next, financial powers that need to be given to Base Commanders to disburse funds for works services, in tune with the progress of that work. An alternative is to make a project into a turnkey one, something which has found favour with the government in the case of the MAFI given to Tata SED and others.

Another fact is the long gestation period of civil works, a necessity as it will reduce corrupt practices. Defence works, due to their inherent nature, have to be more hardened to withstand direct hits by bombs and rockets of the enemy. A good example is the location of North American Air Defence (NORAD) HQ in the US which is located deep within the Cheyenne mountains. Reports indicate that both Iran and the China have also located their Operations Centres deep underground. It goes without saying that India too ought to do the same.

Personnel

The most critical factor in all aerial operations and to which the IAF has given due importance through the philosophy “People first, mission always” as enunciated by Air Chief Marshal N.A.K Browne, the serving Chief of the Air Staff when he donned the mantle over two years ago. There are areas where the IAF can take further steps to make it more inclusive or in other words to train and expose personnel of non-flying branches to operational settings and subject them to regular scrutiny by the Directorate of Air Staff Inspection as also open for them Personnel Staff positions, diplomatic assignments and Intelligence posts, among others subject to record of their performance.

Within the IAF, some introspection also needs to be done as to right size the service especially due to the availability of computers as also to train and hold accountable the Warrant Ranks i.e. the personnel immediately below the officer cadre to handle higher levels of responsibility and even take decisions in routine matters that are currently the responsibility of the officer cadre and finally, to reduce dependency on civilians.

Defense Industrial Base

This not only includes Defense Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) but also the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). DPSUs in India, specifically the HAL, apart from possessing efficient repair and overhaul capabilities, needs to develop the expertise and infrastructural wherewithal to design and develop new platforms as China has done. The management of DPSUs needs to be freed from the shackles of crippling government control and the private sector needs to be encouraged to compete on a level playing field.

The DRDO needs to be made accountable to the service concerned and project management be headed by individuals in uniform with the appropriate qualification and experience as is the practice in the leading nations of the developed world. Air HQ needs to emulate the Indian Navy model wherein the Directorate of War Ship Design functions under Naval HQ. The IAF also needs to depute serving officers of the technical branch to DRDO and DPSUs in larger numbers to foster better mutual understanding. These measures will, with time, enable India to progress on indigenous development of the aviation industry with greater vigour, commitment and chances of success.

Conclusion

The preceding has been a broad overview of infrastructure in the IAF and measures have been suggested for its upgrade to respectable standards. Due to its long gestation period, infrastructure needs advance and integrated planning amongst the three services and civil agencies to ensure that the end result is cost-effective without duplication of effort and investment. Some of the measures suggested may be somewhat radical, but after over six decades since Independence, the nation expects results. A sound and secure infrastructure will enable the IAF to undertake its tasks in the most effective manner and thus become a force multiplier in the days to come.