IAF To Get New Cadre Of Weapon System Specialists As It Charts Future Course

Vishal Thapar Oct 08, 2022

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has announced the creation of a new cadre of weapon systems specialists, as it prepares to transform to meet the requirements of future wars and execute missions in “an environment of denial”.

This announcement was made by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari in his address at the Air Force Day Parade on October 8. In a break from tradition, this year’s Air Force Day Parade was held at Chandigarh. It marks the 90th anniversary of the raising of the IAF.

“On this historic occasion, it is my privilege to announce that the Government has approved the creation of a Weapon System Branch for Officers in the IAF. This is the first time since Independence that a new operational branch is being created,” Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari announced.

“This will essentially be for manning of four specialised streams of Surface-to-Surface missiles, Surface-to-Air Missiles, Remotely Piloted Aircraft and Weapon System Operators in twin and multi-crew aircraft. Creation of this branch would result in savings of over Rs 3,400 Crore due to reduced expenditure on flying training,” he said.

Sources said recruitments for this cadre are scheduled to commence from 2023.

As the nature of warfare transforms, the new weapons systems cadre will have equal, if not greater prominence as the hitherto dominant Flying Branch, which so far has commanded formations and air assets and provided the Air Force its leadership.

The Weapons Systems cadre will assume salience and profile as the role of stand-off targeting with ground-based missiles and the use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft - including combat drones, drone swarms and counter-drone systems – increases. This cadre is also likely to form the core for the Space Command of the future.

In his address, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari gave a glimpse of his assessment of warfare in the future, urging that “tomorrow’s conflicts cannot be fought with yesterday’s mind-set”.

“The traditional domains of land, sea and air have expanded to include space and cyber. We are increasingly seeing the convergence of all these domains into one continuum in the form of Hybrid Warfare. The use of non-kinetic and non-lethal warfare to supplement kinetic means has changed the way wars will be prosecuted. Therefore, conventional systems and weapons will need to be augmented by modern, flexible and adaptive technology. Technology has given us the wherewithal to be innovative,” he said.

In a clear reference to Pakistani denial and disinformation in the aftermath of India’s historic cross-border air attack at a terrorist camp at Balakot in February 2019, the Air Chief said the IAF would need to achieve military objectives in an atmosphere of denial. “To be able to execute all missions in an environment of denial will increasingly be the basis of our training in the Air Force,” the IAF Chief said.

The theme for this year’s anniversary celebrations - “IAF: Transforming for the Future” - highlights the IAF’s need to redefine, reimagine and recalibrate to transform into a contemporary and future ready force.

Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari brought in jointness and tri-service integration into his vision for war fighting in the future, emphasising “flexible, robust and redundant Command and Control Structures which will allow a joint force to dominate across domains”, which was a nuanced reference to the IAF’s opposition to the proposed Army-led Theatre command structures. The IAF has repeatedly emphasised on building a joint operational capability over the kind of structures which could relegate the Air Force to a secondary role.

“Keeping this in mind, there is a need to plan for integrated and joint application of combat power. The key to success in multidomain operations is to have flexible, robust and redundant Command and Control Structures which will allow a joint force to dominate across domains. No single service can win a war on its own. Work is in progress to enhance jointness amongst the three services” he said.

Exhorting the IAF to be a “fearless and potent force”, he urged air warriors to have the confidence and resolve “to do the impossible”. Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari called on the IAF to “preserve those elements of our culture that strengthen the Air Force” and “shed those that are barriers to efficiency and mission accomplishment”, as it navigates to the future.