India is one of the two major powers in Asian Continent. In population and size she is only next to China. In terms of military power she has her unique position. Keeping in mind her geographical location, she is required to maintain powerful navy, air force and land force. Additionally, owing to the unholy alliance between her western and eastern neighbours and their relentless hostility towards us, India has to be prepared for any eventuality in terms of defense of the borders. Recently, a report has emanated from an expert in Carnegie Endowment Institute of Washington. The expert thinks that India has slid backward in regard to the air power which her two adversaries China and Pakistan put together have improved extensively. The study speaks of comparative air power, number of combat aircrafts and the quantum of deployment of air power by the two hostile countries in a scenario of war. The report is alarming because it shows that our Air Force is dismally deficit to distressing level. China and Pakistan put together have the strength of 750 advanced air defence/multirole fighters against the IAF’s 450-odd equivalents. This glaring shortfall in the number of fighters is further heightened by the fact that our air bases are not as much upgraded as these should be where bigger planes can land and take off. The expert suggests that good number of Indian Air Force machines are outdated and bear no comparison to the advanced aircrafts of China and Pakistan. Another deficiency of India lies in not having upgraded technical support structure for her Air Force. The expert suggests that India should continue defence collaboration with Russia because much of Indian military hardware has originated in the former Soviet Union.
Our defence experts and officials have seen this report and they would naturally reflect on it. We are not in a position to decide whether Indian Air Force is actually suffering with these shortcomings or not. But we know that Indian Government had been protesting to the US against selling F-16 Fighters to Pakistan as these are capable of carrying nuclear weapons. This is clearly an inimical act of Washington as it is tantamount to disturbing balance of power in the subcontinent.
Whatever the case, we have to be self-reliant and we need to divert more of our budget to defence preparedness to meet the looming challenge from two most unpredictable and undependable neighbours.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel