Need To Emphasise On Preparing For Long-Term Wars: IAF Chief

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which began in February, has highlighted the importance of preparing for long-term wars rather than short-term operations, according to Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari on Saturday.

Responding to a question about his force's operational readiness requirement, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said IAF’s preparations have been to deliver weapons of our choice at the time of our choice at the AajTak Agenda programme.

Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said that his force is focusing on eliminating obsolete norms and practises, while also considering the possibility of a tri-services rank system.

We are figuring out which practices are irrelevant. We are considering some personnel changes. For example, he said we are thinking about changing the ranks and making it a common tri-services sort of rank/nomination. 

We have a petty officer rank among our sailors. What exactly is petty? Why should a petty officer be chosen? A chief petty officer sits above him. Why should chief petty officers be the only ones? We can give them a good name. Similarly, there are old rules that are no longer applicable. We are modifying them, he further stated. 

He also said that the Ukraine conflict has highlighted the importance of having air superiority over battle zones.

In response to a question about what lessons India can draw from Russia's invasion of Ukraine given that Moscow has yet to achieve its goal after a nine-month military offensive, Chaudhari said it is premature to draw complete lessons from the war, but that three-four important aspects have emerged based on available information.

First and foremost, having air superiority over the battle zone is critical, he said.

The Air Chief Marshal also said that it is unknown when the conflict will end and that the length of the offensive has military implications.

We used to plan for brief and decisive wars. We must now prepare for the possibility of protracted wars. We must expand our logistics footprints, technology and tactics, he said.

Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari stated that the IAF intends to transform into an aerospace force.

He also stated that a new IAF doctrine has been implemented to meet the demands of modern warfighting. The doctrine is in its fourth edition.