“IAF plans are not adversary-specific”
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, on Thursday asserted that the capacity-building plans of the Indian Air Force were aimed at making it one of the most potent forces in the world, and not “adversary-specific.” Addressing a press conference here ahead of the October 8 Air Force Day, he downplayed the recent projection in the media of China and its military power stating the IAF had based its capacity building on four pillars and requirement in the future. These were: “See first and see farthest,” followed by “Reach first and reach farthest,” then “Hit hard and accurate, whenever required,” and finally “protect the country’s airspace and assets both in peace and war.” The IAF modernisation was taking place around these concepts — be it in the form of acquiring fighter jets, transport planes, missiles, and radars, electronic surveillance and warfare. “We cannot be adversary-specific and decided to develop capability that will be required in future based on these four pillars,” Air Chief Marshal Naik said. As for the Inter-Government Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft being developed jointly with Russia, the Air Chief said the technical requirements had been exchanged.
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