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IAF chief, CDS take separate stance on theatre command

Speaking at a webinar organised by a defence think-tank on Friday, Rawat had termed the Air Force as a supporting arm, while Bhadauria later said: “it is not”…reports Asian Lite News.

Indian Air Force (IAF) chief, Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria, has expressed his reservation over terming the air force as a supporting arm in the proposed theatre command system, which is intended to bring better synergy between the three branches of the armed forces.

Even IAF veterans have come out in support of Bhadauria, terming Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat talk about the IAF’s air defence charter as well as its role as a supporting arm to the ground forces as ‘controversial’.

Speaking at a webinar organised by a defence think-tank on Friday, Rawat had termed the Air Force as a supporting arm, while Bhadauria later said: “it is not”.

Rawat had said that the air force is required to provide support to the ground forces. “Do not forget, the air force continues to remain a supporting arm to the armed forces just as the artillery or engineers support the combatant arms in the army,” the CDS had said.

They have an adequate charter of supporting the ground forces in times of war, he had said.

The CDS said that the air force has got another charter and that is to provide close air support to land forces when they undertake operations and for offensive air operations in case one goes into the adversary’s territory.

“The same is for the navy, they too require air support,” the Chief of Defence Staff had said.

The theatres with the northern and western adversary (China and Pakistan) will be land-based theatres, Rawat had said.

Later in the same webinar, the IAF chief said that his service was not of a supporting role.

“It is not for a supporting role alone. Airpower has a huge role to play in any of the integrated battle areas and it is not an issue of support alone. And, there are a whole lot of things in any air plan. Those are the issues that are under discussion,” Bhadauria said.

He also said that the formation of the theatre command is much more complex.

“The air force is for the formation of theatre commands. But the issue we have raised is about how we should do it. It is the most important reform that has an impact on war fighting,” the officer said.

He clarified that every service has its own doctrine, and one needs to have the best knowledge of how to employ the capabilities and capacities to get the best results.

Theaterisation is one of the charters of the Chief of Defence Staff’s plans to integrate the forces into five theatre commands — air defence, maritime theatre, eastern theatre, western theatre and the northern theatre command.

ALSO READ-IAF chief begins Bangladesh visit

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NIA begins probe on Jammu AFS drone attack

An NIA team had visited the blast scene on Sunday to collect samples from the spot…reports Asian Lite News.

Hours after the Ministry of Home Affairs handed over the probe into the drone attack at an Air Force Station (AFS) in Jammu to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the NIA on Tuesday registered a case to probe the matter.

An NIA spokesperson said that the anti-terror probe agency, in pursuance of the MHA order, has reregistered the case under several sections of the Explosive Substances Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code.

The official said that while the NIA has been working with the other agencies since immediately after the incident, pursuant to the re-registration of the case, requisite actions as per the law have been initiated.

An NIA team had visited the blast scene on Sunday to collect samples from the spot.

In a first of its kind terrorist attack in the country, two drones were used to drop explosives at the vital military installation on the intervening night of June 26-27. Two consecutive explosions took place within a gap of five minutes at the high-security Jammu Air Force Station, injuring two personnel on duty in the technical area. The drones later flew away.

In the two back-to-back explosions, which occurred at 1.37 a.m. and 1.42 a.m., the roof of a building was damaged. However, the explosives missed the aircraft hangar nearby. No valuable equipment was damaged in the attack.

The Air Force Station is about 14-15 km from the nearest point on the International Border (IB) with Pakistan. The farthest that a drone from Pakistan has come so far on the Indian side of the IB and Line of Control (LoC) in the Jammu region is 12 km.

Pakistan-based terrorists are suspected to be behind the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to attack the Air Force Station, officials said.

The attack on the Air Force Station took place a few hours after Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested an alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba operative with an improvised explosive device (IED) weighing nearly 5 kg in Jammu.

ALSO READ-Suspected drone attack at Jammu IAF station

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IAF chief begins Bangladesh visit

Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria

The Indian military has for long flagged the threat of two-front war. With the disputed border with China and Pakistan active at the same point of time, the armed forces are stretched to the maximum…reports Asian Lite News.

Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief RKS Bhadauria arrived in Dhaka for a three-day visit on the invitation of Chief of Air Staff, Bangladesh Air Force, said the High Commission of India in Bangladesh on Saturday.

“Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC arrived in Dhaka today for a 3-day visit on invitation of COAS, Bangladesh Air Force His 2nd visit to Bangladesh on assuming command of Indian Air Force,” India in Bangladesh wrote in a tweet.

The visit comes after the Bangladesh government announced a nationwide ‘hard lockdown’ from Monday for seven days in a bid to stem the spread of COVID-19 cases.

Last week Bhadauria said that the Indian Air Force had gone through monumental transformation with unprecedented and rapidly evolving security scenario in the neighbourhood, pointing out that this has led to intense combat power in operations.

Speaking at the combined graduation parade at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, Hyderabad, Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria said: “Rapid infusion of niche technology and combat power in every facet of our operations has never been as intense as it is now.”

He added that it is primarily because of the unprecedented and rapidly evolving security challenges that “we face, coupled with arising geopolitical uncertainty in our neighbourhood and beyond”.

The Indian military has for long flagged the threat of two-front war. With the disputed border with China and Pakistan active at the same point of time, the armed forces are stretched to the maximum.

He said the last few decades have clearly established the critical role of Air Power in achieving victory in any conflict. “It is in this backdrop that IAF’s on-going capability enhancement assumes tremendous significance.”

Bhadauria also referred to how the Air Force maintained operational readiness, proactively assisting in the national fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Proactive vaccination and strict Covid discipline within IAF enabled us to undertake all Covid tasks on a war-footing, he said. (ANI/IANS)

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Suspected drone attack at Jammu IAF station

“One caused minor damage to the roof of a building while the other exploded in an open area,” said Indian Air Force (IAF) in a statement…reports Asian Lite News.

Two low intensity explosions took place early Sunday morning in the technical area of Jammu Air Force Station. Security agencies suspect that drones were used to drop bombs at the Air Force station, however, there was no confirmation from the Indian Air Force so far.

The explosions happened at 2 a.m. Bomb disposal and forensic teams were at the Airport and cordoned off the entire area.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is on his way to Ladakh to review operations preparedness of the force, spoke to Vice Air Chief, Air Marshal H.S. Arora regarding explosions at the Station.

Singh said that Air Marshal Vikram Singh is reaching Jammu to take stock of the situation.

“One caused minor damage to the roof of a building while the other exploded in an open area,” said Indian Air Force (IAF) in a statement.

The force said that there was no damage to any equipment. “Investigation is in progress along with civil agencies,” IAF said.

Defence ministry PRO, Lt Colonel Devender Anand said, “There were reports of an explosion inside Air Force Station Jammu. There is no injury to any personnel or any damage to any equipment.”

Security agencies suspect that drones were used to drop bombs at the Air Force station.

The security establishments stated that there is suspicion that drones were used to drop IED inside the airport to trigger the blast.

They also cited that drones were used to drop weapons in the past as it cannot be detected by radar.

Till now, IAF has not yet confirmed that drones were used to drop the bombs.

ALSO READ-IAF undergoing monumental transformation: CAS Bhadauria

READ MORE-IAF, US Navy to conduct joint drill in IOR

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IAF, US Navy to conduct joint drill in IOR

The Reagan Carrier Strike Group is currently deployed in the Indian Ocean Region….reports Asian Lite News

The US Navy and the Indian Air Force (IAF) will carry out joint drills in the Indian Ocean Region for two days starting Wednesday.

As a strategic outreach exercise with the defence forces of friendly foreign countries in the Indian Ocean Region, the Indian Air Force will participate in operational engagements with the US Navy in an exercise to be carried out with the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group (CSG) on June 23 and 24.

The Reagan Carrier Strike Group is currently deployed in the Indian Ocean Region.

The exercise in the area of responsibility of the Southern Air Command will see the IAF personnel operate from the bases under four operational commands and will include Jaguars and Su-30 MKI fighters, airborne warning and control system, airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system and air-to-air refueller aircraft.

“The US Carrier Strike Group is expected to field F-18 fighters and E-2C Hawkeye AEW&C aircraft,” the IAF said.

The exercise will be carried out south of Thiruvananthapuram, on the western seaboard, over two days.

@IAF_MCC

The IAF has extensive experience in maritime operations in the Indian Ocean Region. This has been consolidated over the years by the conduct of exercises from the country’s island territories, including participation in international exercises.

The multi-spectral capability of the IAF in IOR also includes humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions and logistics support undertaken in support of the friendly nations in the region.

This engagement with the US CSG offers one more opportunity to undertake joint operations in the maritime domain with a friendly foreign power.

The exercise with the US CSG will focus on multiple areas, including enhancing aspects of interoperability, nuances of international integrated maritime search and rescue operations and exchange of best practices in the maritime airpower domain.

ALSO READ: IAF undergoing monumental transformation: CAS Bhadauria

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-Top News Defence India News

IAF undergoing monumental transformation: CAS Bhadauria

Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria

Rapid infusion of niche technology and combat power in every facet of our operations has never been as intense as it is now, IAF Chief R.K.S. Bhadauria said, reports Asian Lite News

The Indian Air Force has gone through monumental transformation with unprecedented and rapidly evolving security scenario in the neighbourhood, said Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria, on Saturday, pointing out that this has led to intense combat power in operations.

Speaking at the combined graduation parade at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, Hyderabad, Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria said: “Rapid infusion of niche technology and combat power in every facet of our operations has never been as intense as it is now.”

He added that it is primarily because of the unprecedented and rapidly evolving security challenges that “we face, coupled with arising geo-political uncertainty in our neighbourhood and beyond”.

Indian military has for long flagged the threat of two front war. With the disputed border with China and Pakistan active at the same point of time, the armed forces are stretched to the maximum.

He said the last few decades have clearly established the critical role of Air Power in achieving victory in any conflict. “It is in this backdrop that IAF’s on-going capability enhancement assumes tremendous significance.”

IAF
Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria reviews combined graduation parade at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, Hyderabad (Photo/IAF)

Bhadauria also referred to how the Air Force maintained operational readiness, proactively assisting in the national fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Proactive vaccination and strict Covid discipline within IAF enabled us to undertake all Covid tasks on a war-footing, he said.

“IAF’s heavy lift capability was put into action for airlift of crucial Covid related equipment; wherein our transport fleet flew more than 3,800 hours within two months in a huge effort across the globe and domestically to transport critical oxygen Tankers, and all related medical equipment and supplies. You all are joining the field that operates at this level, across the spectrum,” he said to those passing out of the academy.

Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria reviews combined graduation parade at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, Hyderabad (Photo/IAF)

“It is also essential for all of you to bear in mind that as future leaders, you will stand shoulder to shoulder with your comrades in Olive Greens and Whites and prosecute integrated operations,” Indian Air Force Chief said.

He also said, “You will be an integral part of this important transition in the years ahead,” was the chief’s concluding message to the future leaders.

ALSO READ – IAF to induct Rafales’ second squadron soon

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India to press IAF into service for oxygen import

The Central government is also planning to press the Indian Air Force (IAF) into airlifting oxygen containers and equipment from other nations…reports Asian Lite News

India is deliberating on importing oxygen containers and equipment from friendly foreign nations to address the oxygen crisis faced by the country in the middle of the raging second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Central government is also planning to press the Indian Air Force (IAF) into airlifting oxygen containers and equipment from other nations.

“The deliberations are still on,” said a source, adding that the places from where these containers and other equipment could be airlifted have been identified.

Oxygen cylinders

The source said that the problem India is facing in importing oxygen is transportation due to an acute shortage of containers to carry the life saving gas. The government is in talks with all the stakeholders in this matter.

With the second wave of Covid-19 hitting India hard, the Centre has roped in the Indian Air Force to airlift oxygen cylinders, regulators, and essential medicines as the National Capital Region faces shortage of oxygen cylinders and medicines.

Also read:Delhi gasps for oxygen

The IAF has started airlifting personnel, doctors and nursing staff to help the government battle the pandemic.

Sources said that the IAF has airlifted doctors and nursing staff from Kochi, Mumbai, Vizag and Bengaluru for setting up of a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Covid hospital in Delhi.

The IAF transport fleet is supporting the fight against Covid-19(Twitter)

The force has also airlifted oxygen containers from the DRDO in Bengaluru for the Covid centres in Delhi.

On Tuesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had directed all the defence establishments to set up more Covid-19 hospitals, use emergency powers and bring in retired personnel to tackle the crisis.

A roadmap on how military infrastructure can be used to ramp up the fight against Covid-19 was also discussed in a Covid preparedness review meeting chaired by the minister.

Also read:Priyanka: People cry for oxygen, PM laughs at rallies

The DRDO had stated that it has set up a Covid hospital in Delhi with 250 beds, and the capacity will be increased to 500 and then to 1,000, if required.

Rajnath Singh had instructed that more fully functional Covid hospitals should be set up in Lucknow, Patna, Varanasi and Ahmedabad within 8-10 days and also at other places where they are required.

The IAF transport fleet is supporting the fight against Covid-19(Twitter)

He said that the ESIC Hospital, which was converted to a Covid hospital in Patna, has started functioning with 500 beds. He added that work is on at a war footing to set up a 450-bed hospital in Lucknow, a 750-bed hospital in Varanasi and a 900-bed hospital in Ahmedabad.

There were also discussions on roping in retired military doctors and nursing staff for assistance if they are willing to volunteer.

The minister had also suggested to utilise the services of vaccinated retired armed forces personnel to assist the civil administration and state governments to deal with the current situation.

Also read:24 Covid patients die after oxygen leak