New Delhi: The Indian Air Force is ‘‘alive’’ to emerging threats that could arise in the Indo Pacific region, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa said Sunday, and asserted his force was prepared to deal with any challenge to protect India’s national interests.
Dhanoa said there is cause for concern over the rate of modernisation and induction of equipment in India’s neighbourhood, even as India faces challenges emanating from “unresolved territorial disputes” and “sponsored” non-state and transnational actors. But the IAF is capable of, and is moving ahead, for countering them effectively, he told reporters.
Asked whether the IAF can play a role in smashing terrorist camps across the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, he did not rule out such a possibility.
“The IAF is well equipped to take on threats which occur from across the border, be it in the realm of sub conventional or other domains,’’ the Air Chief Marshal said.
Referring to India’s security challenges, without naming China and Pakistan, he said, “The current challenges emanate from unresolved territorial issues, sponsored non-state actors and transnational actors who act against national interests through the global commons.”
“The IAF is prepared 24×7 for any threat and is ready for a befitting response to any contingency with all our available assets,” he told reporters.
Dhanoa also made an indirect reference to China’s rapid modernisation of its air force and about infrastructure development Beijing has carried out in Tibet Autonomous Region bordering India.
“The IAF is well equipped to take on challenges across the entire range of threats that could emanate across our borders. While there is a cause for concern as regards to the rate of modernisation and induction of equipment in our neighbourhood, the IAF is nevertheless, moving ahead with appropriate measures to cater to these new developments,’’ he said.
Asked whether the IAF was capable of playing a role to expand India’s geo-political influence in the Indo-Pacific region, he replied in the affirmative and talked about IAF’s capabilities including having the second largest fleet of C-17s.
At present, the IAF has a fleet of ten C-17 Globemasters, used for strategic airlift missions, transporting troops and cargo for long-range missions. The US has been pushing for a greater role for India in the Indo-Pacific which is seen by many countries as an effort to contain China’s growing clout in the region.
In November last year, India, the US, Australia and Japan gave shape to the long-pending ‘‘Quad’’ Coalition to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence.
Dhanoa said the IAF was adopting a holistic approach in harnessing available resources at its disposal to deal with various security challenges in a collaborative and cohesive manner.
‘‘The gradual shift in the centre of gravity of global financial power from the West to the East has brought many challenges to the fabric of existential peace in the Asia-Pacific,’’ he said.
‘‘Security is no longer confined to the preservation of territorial integrity alone. It also encompasses a comprehensive concept including all elements of national power,’’ he added.
On IAF’s ambitious modernisation plan, the Chief of Air Staff said augmenting the fighter squadron strength was his top priority.
“To achieve this, the IAF is looking at new inductions and midlife upgrades. Towards this, MiG-29, Jaguar and Mirage-2000 aircraft are being upgraded in a phased manner in order to equip them with contemporary capabilities,” he said.
He also mentioned the planned induction of 83 Tejas light combat aircraft and 36 Rafale jets.