Indian Air Force Archives

Multi-Domain Operations: Air Force as the Central Node

The modern battlespace is heavily influenced by technology and it has forced modern militaries to reflect on the question, ‘What comes after Joint.’1 There is growing recognition that in the contemporary operational environment, focus on ‘joint’ is no longer sufficient. The character of warfare has undergone a profound transformation; the modern battlespace has become an intricate, multifaceted environment where success is contingent upon the harmonious orchestration of capabilities spanning diverse operational domains.2 While the term ‘joint’ usually signifies integration at the operational level, ‘multidomain’ aims to achieve integration across all levels—from strategic to tactical.3 Multi-Domain Operations (MDOs) have evolved as a method to integrate and synchronise activities across land, sea, air, space, cyber and information domains to achieve strategic objectives. The ability to seamlessly operate across these domains is crucial for military success in any contemporary and future conflict. This commentary argues that air forces are best suited to play the predominant role in these operations due to their advanced technological capabilities, strategic flexibility, robust command and control structures, and a culture of innovation. The commentary will dwell on these attributes and their implications for MDOs, drawing on historical evidences and will also carry out a comparative analysis with other military branches—namely the army and navy—highlighting the distinct advantages of air force in conduct of MDOs.

Establishing India’s Military Readiness Concerns and Strategy

Military readiness is perhaps one of the least studied and understood concepts in the field of strategic studies. In the absence of any significant literature in the public domain, defence policy makers and practitioners worldwide tend to define military readiness in several different ways.

Air Power and National Security: Indian Air Force Evolution, Growth and Future

Publisher: Pentagon Press

In over a century since the first manned flight, air power has made spectacular progress. Every conflict since World War II has seen an increasingly bigger role of air power, but despite this, to a general reader, air power continues to be esoteric. The study highlights major air power lessons of all the major conflicts, and explains air power roles and missions. It frankly yet fairly discusses the somewhat contentious subject of air power in support of surface forces and traces the IAF’s contribution in war and peace in the last 68 years since independence. It critically examines if use of air power in the Indian subcontinent is indeed escalatory.

ISBN 978-81-8274-853-8
E-copy available

India–US Jet Engine Deal: A Major Milestone

Prime Minister Modi and President Biden recommitted to expeditiously work towards supporting the fulfilment of the GE-HAL jet engine deal, at the meeting ahead of the New Delhi G20 Summit.

Arvind Khare
September 11, 2023
IDSA Comments

Talent Management Best Practices and HRM Concepts in the Armed Forces

A wide range of talent management initiatives are being implemented by armies across the world to ensure the right mix of skills, experience, and leadership to meet the challenges of modern warfare.

Corporate Talent Management and Subject Matter Experts in the Armed Forces

The development of Subject Matter Experts involves identifying individuals with specialised knowledge and skills and providing them with additional training and support to deepen their expertise.

Eagle Unleashed IAF Strategy and Operations

The only unfettered use of air power in India’s wars was in 1971, and it produced disproportionate and decisive outcomes. IAF’s air strategy, the extent of its role in contributing to the failure of Pakistan’s strategy in the west, and the vast range of operations carried out towards the surface war on both fronts simultaneously, are relatively unknown.

Who is Responsible for Defence of India?

Defence of India is a multi-dimensional responsibility involving coordination with not only organisations within MoD, but also several external departments and agencies. Irrespective of whether the subject of defence of India is assigned to DoD or DMA, it is the defence minister who is responsible for the subjects allocated to the ministry.

Time IAF Upgraded its Largest Combat Fleet

While Rafale’s enhanced combat capabilities has added punch to India’s airpower, the developing threat scenario in India’s neighbourhood lends urgency to upgrading the IAF’s largest combat fleet, the Sukhoi fighters, to retain edge over the enemy.

Anurag Sharma
September 30, 2020
IDSA Comments

Defining the Charter of Chief of Defence Staff

Having decided to create the post of CDS, the next logical step for the government is to define its charter of duties and responsibilities. The government needs to examine not just the CDS’s role as a single-point military advisor, but also his role in other matters that are equally important in driving critical defence reforms.