Military & Aerospace

The Nuances of Air Threat and Its Implications
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Issue Vol. 32.4 Oct-Dec 2017 | Date : 29 Mar , 2018

The PLAAF has a very strong UAV base. Besides the existing inventory of UAVs (Xianglong, WZ-9, Yi Long, CH-3 and Anjian) some additional inputs are as under:

Chinese UAV experiments have shown impressive levels of innovation by building and flying unmanned vehicles of every conceivable design and genre. These include stealthy UAVs, morphing UAVs, annular wing Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) UAVs, micro-UAVs, unmanned airships, flying wings, modified light aircraft and sailplanes, UFO-style flying discs and even ornithopters (utilising flapping wings). Innovators both professionals as well as, greenhorns/debutants have been allowed to run free and explore almost every UAV configuration.

Chinese UAV experiments have shown impressive levels of innovation by building and flying unmanned vehicles of every conceivable design and genre…

Two other features are visible in Chinese UAV development, namely, arming of the UAVs and equipping them with enabling sensor payloads. China has followed a logical process in arming its UAVs by first adapting existing air-to-surface weapons and then developing purpose-built small light-weight munitions. In each case, the weapons involved are relatively new. Weapon-vehicle matching has been thoughtful. Some examples are Wing-Loong and CASIC UAV.

Besides the conventional payloads, the PLAAF is emphatically present in the field of smart, intelligent and precision ammunition with surgical strike capability. Way back in 2007, China developed a powered smart bomb (KD-88) having an IR TV guidance system. The estimated range is about 110 km with a capability to hit small targets.8 The other state-of-the art arsenal in use are the supersonic Russian and Chinese made ARMs (KH 31P, YJ-91) for operational use with SU-30, JH 7A and J-11, and laser- guided and satellite-guided bombs (on board Q-5 ac).9 It is now estimated that almost all the modern aircraft of the PLAAF today are capable of carrying PGMs.10

Chinese Build Up In Western Theatre Command

In February 2016, the erstwhile seven Military Regions (MRs) of China have been reorganised into theatre Commands (Eastern, Southern, Western, Northern and Central). The Western Theatre Command (WTC) is along India’s Northern borders. This Command has been created by merging the erstwhile Chengdu and Lanzhou MRs. In WTC what is of special significance is the build up in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) that directly adjoins India. Tibet Military Command (TMC) under WTC is responsible for operations against India.11 As regards the PLAAF, there are three Fighter Divisions (6, 33 and 37) one Bomber Division (36) and one Transport Division (4) in WTC.

In WTC what is of special significance is the build up in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) that directly adjoins India…

Apart from a nuclear missile base in Quinghai province which clearly targets India, China has built five fully operational air bases (Gongar, Pangta, Linchi, Hoping and Gar Gunsa) and an exclusive rail network and over 58,000 km of roads in TAR.12 In 2015, another full-fledged air base at Kashgar located 600km North of Srinagar was operationalised. In April 2017, an open source reported the construction of Nyingtri airport close to borders of India and Myanmar. This civilian airfield is reported to be capable of dual use. Construction of new airfields and upgrade of Advance Landing Ground (ALG) is a continuous process in TAR.13

The limitations of high altitude operations with combat aircraft of yesteryears stands diluted to a large extent with the induction of modern aircraft such as the SU-27 and the J10. To add to this, are the other enablers such as air-to-air-refuellers, AEW aircraft and a strong ground-based air defence/ BMD cover centred around S-300/400 and a hierarchy of air defence missiles.

•  While weapon by weapon analysis of the Chinese air threat across the entire spectrum is beyond the scope of this paper, what needs to be done by the defenders in countering the said threat is covered below. The capability to carry out effective surveillance of the TAR region with sensor efforts integrated across ground/shore/space mediums resulting in a comprehensive air situation picture.

•  A seamless Air Defence Battle Management System anchored on auto/real – In keeping with China’s high growth trajectory, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has followed an impressive growth profile time data transmission on satellite media with due redundancy.

The limitations of high altitude operations with combat aircraft of yesteryears stands diluted to a large extent with the induction of modern aircraft such as the SU-27 and the J10…

•  Wherewithal and capability to carry out all-weather Counter Air Operations (CAO), interdiction and Counter Surface Force Operations (CSFO) across the border both in pro-active/pre-emptive, as well as, retaliatory mode.

•  Building a degree of survivability in air defence command, control and communication centres both electronically, as well as, through equipment redundancy.

•  Building an integrated family of ground, air and shore-based Air Defence Weapon Systems to ensure continuous and successive punishment to the air threat right through its ingress into own territory.

For ground based air defence, the above capability must result in the following:–

•  Modernised and technologically-enabled gun-missile deployment to cover the entire range-height spectrum from long range to terminal weapons along with their sensors and associated support systems.

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•  Capability to take on contemporary, as well as, futuristic threat from the PLAAF in including stand-off threat and the threat of a slew of smart/intelligent weapons and PGMs.

•  Futuristic kill capability in the form of directed energy (laser, charged particle beam, high power microwave) weapons and fielding a counter for stealth aircraft, ARMs and cruise missiles, and building BMD capabilities at the national level to take on the threat of SSMs.

Notes

  1. Pakistan Air Force – Official Website at https://www.paf.gov.pk. accessed on 30 Aug 17
  2. Pakistan Air Force Squadrons at https://wwwGlobalsecurity.org. accessed on 31 Aug 17
  3. Pakistan will acquire three new Saab Erieye AEWC&S at https://www. quwa.org>2017/05/21 accessed on 19 Sep 17
  4. People’s Liberation Army Air Force at https://www. en.m. wikipedia.org . accessed on 10 Oct 17.
  5. http://en.m.wikipedia.org Chengdu J 20
  6. http://www.popsci.com stealthier stealth? Seventh upgraded Chinese stealth fighter
  7. IHS Janes’ International Defence Review, vol-45, Feb 2012.pp 45
  8. www.strategy page.com/htmw/ht air w/20070516.aspx
  9. Roger Cliff, John Fei, Jeff Hagen . “ Shaking the Heaven and Splitting the Earth’ Chinese Air Force
  10. Indian Defence Review Vol 30.4 (Oct-Dec 15)
  11. https:// Western Theatre Command at https://www.global security.com. accessed on 13 Oct 17
  12. https://www.times of India.indiatimes.com/2011-03-08/india/28668105
  13. China’s Infrastructure development in Tibet evaluating trend lines at https://wwwclaws.in/images/publication.pdf/1317312941MP%2032%20inside.pdf. accessed on 14 Oct 17
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The views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of the Indian Defence Review.

About the Author

Lt Gen (Dr) VK Saxena (Retd.)

former Director General Army Air Defence. Currently Distinguished Fellow VIF and Visiting Fellow CLAWS.

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