Indian Air Force Must Be Ready for Every Challenge, New Chief Ashutosh Dixit Outlines Four Priorities

New Delhi: Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, the new chief of the Indian Air Force, made his vision clear about the Air Force's preparedness and future strategy the very next day after taking charge. He said that every unit of the Air Force has to be ready at all times to deal with any emergency. For this, every squadron, radar, air defence unit and air soldier will have to work with complete alertness. He included increasing the number of fighter aircraft to the approved level, increasing self-reliance in the defence sector and better coordination between the Army, Navy and Air Force among his main priorities.

What are the four main goals of Air Force's new strategy 'Vayu'?

Air Chief Marshal Dixit has named his action plan as 'Vayu'. Under this, special attention will be given to four major areas. These include being alert and operationally prepared at all times, promoting self-reliance, developing strategic skills and maintaining cohesion among the three services. He believes that the country's security challenges are constantly changing. In such a situation, the Air Force will have to develop its capabilities not only according to the current needs but also keeping in mind the challenges of the coming years.

What are the challenges facing the Air Force amid changing warfare technology?

The Air Force Chief said that the nature of modern warfare is changing rapidly. Now war is no longer limited to just fighter planes and conventional weapons. Drones, long-range precision weapons, space technology, cyber attacks, artificial intelligence and electromagnetic systems are becoming an important part of military strategy. In view of the increasing use of these technologies, the Indian Air Force will have to change its functioning, training and military capabilities. Keeping in mind the needs of the next decade, it will also be necessary to adopt modern technology and new military platforms.

Why is increasing the number of fighter planes a big priority?

Air Chief Marshal Dixit stressed strengthening the combat capability of the Air Force. He said that it is necessary to bring the number of fighter squadrons to the approved level. Along with this, radar networks, air defence systems and other military units need to be kept alert 24 hours so that any threat can be detected in time and responded to immediately. According to him, strong air power is very important for the security of the country.

Why will there be emphasis on indigenous weapons for self-reliance?

Regarding self-reliance in the defence sector, the Air Force Chief said that sensors, military platforms and weapons developed with Indian technology will be given priority. The Air Force will have to develop the capability to conduct effective operations with indigenous equipment. It will not be enough to develop technology alone, but adequate availability of this equipment will also have to be ensured so that military operations can be conducted for a long time and external dependence is reduced.

Can strong air power stop the enemy from war?

According to Ashutosh Dixit, the role of the Air Force is not limited to just fighting and winning wars. One purpose of a strong air capability is to deter a potential adversary from initiating a conflict. For this, there will be continuous improvement in military plans, strategies and technical capabilities. He also described the importance of an artificial intelligence-based command system, a security system to deal with drones, timely repair of aircraft and equipment and security of military bases. Along with this, emphasis was laid on strengthening the capability of joint military operations through better coordination between the three armies.