The Galwan conflict made Pakistan elated initially, it believed that the IAF would struggle with a “Two Front Threat.” Its think tanks highlighted the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) ‘superior’ AEW&C and EW/ELINT capabilities, citing their ‘effective’ performance during the Balakot operations, and praised the ‘success’ of PAF’s post-Balakot “Swift Retort” operation.
BY RAVI SRIVASTAVA
FOR THE NEWS ANALYTICS JOURNAL
a 4 mins read.
Indian Air Force has a glorious history and serious responsibility towards national security. The history of Independent India is replete with gallant contributions from the brave air warriors who have not only risen to the call of duty but many a time have gone beyond that. This rich tradition of the nation before self has motivated every air warrior when he dons the uniform and inspires the nation at large. Since the beginning, the IAF has played a varied role within and outside of national borders. Some of the marquee operations that IAF has undertaken have been during Operation Cactus (Maldives), Operation Poomalai (Sri Lanka), Operation Vijay (Kargil) and the wars India fought with its belligerent neighbours.
It also played a key role as part of the UN contingent deployed in Sierra Leon where it’s Mi-8 and Chetak helicopters provided cover and fire support for UNAMSIL forces under attack by the Revolutionary United Front fighters. Operation Khukri has gone into IAF annals in golden letters when it played a pivotal role in the rescue of UN troops. Then in 1961 in Congo, IAF’s Canberras attacked and destroyed rebel aircrafts near the town of Kolwez, completely removing the aerial threat to UN operations.
The IAF’s resolute responses at the time of national crisis during the wars India fought have been a saga of gallant operations executed by air warriors defying many odds. The 1971 war saw the initiation of air aggression by the enemy, the Kargil offered IAF limitations on air manoeuvre near LoC and Balakot operations demanded stealth and speed. It reflects a multispectral response and action capability of IAF, where all operations are executed with fine precision and operational success as per the mandated brief.
The IAF is considered the world’s fourth-largest Air Force leading the table well ahead of some of the most modern Air Forces in the World. Recently, the IAF responded to a piracy attempt near the Somalian waters rescuing the international merchant vessel MV Ruen where it flew it’s C-17 aircraft for almost 10 hours mission. Add on the response during national calamities from time to time, IAF thus shoulders such a variety of roles which itself is very rare among it’s global peers. It would be apt to say, the IAF not only appears omnipresent but also leads as The First Responder.
Strategic Positioning
In May 2020 gallant troops of 16 BIHAR led by Colonel B. Santhosh Babu, Commanding Officer beat back nefarious Chinese incursions in Galwan. The bloody standoff resulted in the martyrdom of 20 Indian soldiers including the Battalion Commander who led from the front. The incident forever altered the response mechanism of the Indian Armed Forces in a conflict scenario. The hitherto dormant sector turned into a conflict flashpoint almost overnight.
The IAF had to rush in it’s assets strategically positioning them for any worsening scenario. Being the main stakeholder for securing national airspace it had to quickly ensure detailed mapping of air activities with commensurate resources along the entire LAC. This repositioning was designed to quickly augment the operational preparedness to address an emergent threat. It resulted in the readjustment of IAF’s resources that hitherto were either acting as reserve assets or in some cases deployed with a focus on the Western theatre. The decision though taken in the larger national interest did end up creating two fundamental challenges for the IAF. Firstly, how much to reallocate for the Northern Front? Secondly, where to move these assets from?
The joint production of the JF-17 and the acquisition of J-10C fighters from China highlights PAF’s confidence in Chinese systems. More such efforts, post-Galwan, reflect an inclination towards collaboration between China and Pakistan’s military forces.
Operation ‘Swift Retort’
The steps taken by the IAF in the immediate aftermath of Galwan would have surely been among the most difficult of all. It was never in favour of boosting one theatre of operation at the cost of another. It knew it was being watched by the adversaries across both the Western and Northern Theatres which only added to the dilemma. It was no secret to anyone, least of it to the IAF, that both China and Pakistan are colluding to put pressure and hype the threat forcing commitment of resources by the IAF where it may not be warranted.
Pakistan for instance is the one that initially felt elated with the developments. It factored the commitments of the IAF in the new theatre of operations and concluded that the ‘Two Front Threat’ would be overwhelming for the IAF to manage simultaneously. Some of the discussions evident from its Think Tanks tried to underscore the ‘superior’ quality of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in terms of more number of advanced AEW&Cs and EW/ELINT aircraft as compared to IAF. The performance of the same was ‘evidently effective’, it argued, during the Balakot operations. The PAF believes it successfully interfered with IAF to prevent any subsequent transgression and that its operation ‘Swift Retort’ codenamed for PAF operation post-Balakot allowed it to test itself against IAF Air Defence.
What appeared interesting in the analysis is the confidence shown in Chinese systems. Such as the joint production of JF-17 Thunder. It recently procured 36 J-10C “Vigorous Dragon” multi-role fighters from China of which 20 have been delivered. The aircraft has allowed the integration of high-end Chinese weapons and sensor suites including PL-10 HOBS missile, PL-15 BVR missile, Infrared Search and Track (IRST) and Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. If anything these acquisitions post-Galwan have clearly demonstrated the collusiveness between China and Pakistan to enhance interoperability and jointness between the two forces.
China does have an impressive array of modern aircrafts led by fifth-generation J-20 stealth fighters along with the J-16 and J-10C. China’s elaborate Anti Access/ Area Denial (A2/AD) strategy incorporates a wide array of ground and air assets primarily integrating the short-range HQ-11, medium-range HQ-9B, HQ-16FE and 170 Km long-range interception HQ-22 SAM systems. In 2023 it successfully tested it’s BMD Dong Neng-3 (DN-3) and is said to be deploying the same. It has procured and deployed the Russian S-300 and S-400 air defence systems. All were aimed at constraining the space for manoeuvre for the hostile air force and forcing them to operate farther from its strategic locations.
The IAF has adapted to the “Two Front Threat,” but its focus on the Western Front remains intact. Pakistan’s claim that its ELINT capabilities deterred further IAF ingression after the Balakot strike is flawed, as these systems existed prior to the strike but failed to prevent it.
China in it’s 14th five-year plan for 2021-25 has undertaken to vastly improve upon infrastructure in it’s restive Tibet region with an aim to invest approximately USD 30 billion in infrastructure projects there. Apart from 12 existing airports in Tibet and South Xinjian China has undertaken the construction of 30 new airports in and around this region. This wave of infrastructure development, China feels is necessary to deter any Indian plans for the counteroffensive.
Quick Response
At times steep challenges and sheer odds work out well, it offers a clear orientation of the gaps and new requirements. IAF was quick to assess and anticipate the new reality and has worked since then keeping the ‘Two Front Threat’ in all its operational plans. It is clearly visible in the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft, French HAMMER air-to-surface missiles and high-altitude UAVs. IAF pressed it’s modern assets from C-17, C-130J, and Chinooks for strategic airlifts. It operationalised numerous forward airfields and Advance Landing Grounds (ALGs) along the LAC. Since Galwan IAF has been maintaining its fleet in the “operational ready format”, implying aircraft are fully fuelled and loaded at all times to respond within minutes of any emergent situation. It has further augmented the air response mechanism with coordinated Combat Air Patrol (CAP) wherein the fighters remain airborne for quick response.
While IAF undoubtedly has reoriented itself towards the possibility of the ‘Two Front Threat’ it would be very immature to conclude that it has ‘lost sight’ of the Western Front. The challenging assessments made by India’s Western adversary in a PAF Vs IAF scenario have many holes in the foundational logic despite PAF’s certain modern capabilities. Arguing that PAF’s modern ELINT deterred IAF from ingression post the Balakot strike was like beating own argument. The fact is Pakistan didn’t acquire those capabilities post Balakot strike those still existed, yet they were caught napping as Indian fighters made their way through not only executing successful mission almost uncontested. Transgression into Pakistani airspace on subsequent days was never part of the operational plan. As far as the reality of PAF’s modern fighters J-17 and J-10C are concerned, it’s mediocre at best. Even China knows that, as it doesn’t use J-17 in its own fleet, while China could sell J-10s only to Pakistan!
On the Chinese design of rapid development in Tibet, it is assumed that it wants to avoid a detrimental ‘Two Front Conflict’ of its own, coupled with the serious challenge it faces in its Eastern Theatre. The IAF knows its mandate and role too well to design its strategy for safeguarding India’s interests. As it is said actions speak louder, the IAF’s reorientation strategy has proved effective in stabilising the situation along LAC. The qualitative gaps still exist and must be on top of the agenda of all stakeholders of national security. However, it’s reasonable to say that the collusiveness of China and Pakistan has been given a befitting response and has only acted to push the IAF into fast-paced action. This augurs very well for the force which carries the pride of it’s professionalism on its sleeves!
