Force Multipliers for the Indian Air Force

The IAF is currently embarked on a comprehensive and capital intensive modernisation plan. Over the next two decades, the combat fleet of the IAF will hopefully have 15 squadrons of Su-30MKI fourth generation air dominance fighter aircraft of Russian origin, up to nine squadrons of the fourth generation Rafale Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) from Dassault Aviation of France, seven squadrons of the Russian Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft and ten to 15 squadrons of the indigenous Tejas Mk I and Mk II Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). There is also a fourth-generation combat aircraft designated as the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) in the design stage at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). As and when this aircraft is developed successfully, it will add to the combat potential of the fleet. While the number of squadrons for each type of combat aircraft may vary, the total number of squadrons in the combat fleet of the IAF is expected to go up to 42 squadrons initially and subsequently to 45 to cater for the possibility of a two-front war. All these would require an investment in excess of $75 billion over and above that already made.

Force multipliers in common parlance are those elements or capabilities in the domain of the military that when combined with a given force, help to substantially, in fact sometimes dramatically, enhance its combat potential, impact and effectiveness. In other words, when operating in sync with Force Multipliers, much more can be achieved for a given force level. Force multipliers could be in a variety of regimes, some intangible such as morale, level of training, reputation, strategy or tactics. While these factors are undoubtedly important and even indispensable, what is of equal if not of greater importance is the multiplier effect of “Technology” especially in the regime of air power. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is engaged in a constant struggle to remain abreast of technological advancement in order to maintain an edge over the potential adversaries. Induction of better technology also has simultaneous and positive impact on other intangible Force Multipliers.

Modernisation of the IAF

The IAF is currently embarked on a comprehensive and capital intensive modernisation plan. Over the next two decades, the combat fleet of the IAF will hopefully have 15 squadrons of Su-30MKI fourth generation air dominance fighter aircraft of Russian origin, up to nine squadrons of the fourth generation Rafale Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) from Dassault Aviation of France, seven squadrons of the Russian Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft and ten to 15 squadrons of the indigenous Tejas Mk I and Mk II Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). There is also a fourth-generation combat aircraft designated as the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) in the design stage at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). As and when this aircraft is developed successfully, it will add to the combat potential of the fleet. While the number of squadrons for each type of combat aircraft may vary, the total number of squadrons in the combat fleet of the IAF is expected to go up to 42 squadrons initially and subsequently to 45 to cater for the possibility of a two-front war. All these would require an investment in excess of $75 billion over and above that already made.

The transport fleet of the IAF is also going through complete transformation. Apart from the six squadrons of C130J Super Hercules four-engine military transport aircraft from Lockheed Martin Corporation of the US already inducted, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has already contracted for ten four-engine C17 Globemaster III strategic airlift aircraft from Boeing Defence, Space & Security of the US at a cost of $5.8 billion. Induction of this fleet is expected to begin by the end of this year. Capable of airlifting 75 tonnes, this aircraft will provide trans-continental reach and the capability of power projection in the areas of interest. The IAF is also planning to procure six additional C130J Super Hercules aircraft to make up full squadron strength.

Other major inductions planned are the twin-engine Multi-Role Transport Aircraft (MTA) to replace the ageing fleet of AN-32 medium tactical transport aircraft. Currently under development as an Indo-Russian project, the IAF plans to acquire 45 of these. The other project on the cards is induction of 56 tactical transport aircraft to replace the ageing fleet of twin-engine Avro HS-748 aircraft acquired in the 1960s. Similarly, in the rotary wing regime, the IAF will induct 22 Apache AH-64D Longbow attack helicopters and 15 CH-47F Chinook twin-rotor heavy-lift helicopters, both from Boeing Defence, Space & Security, a large fleet of Russian MI-17 V5 and the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv designed and developed by HAL.

The overall operational capability, efficiency and impact of the formidable fleet of combat platforms, tactical and strategic transport aircraft as also the rotary wing fleets that the IAF will have on its inventory in the years to come, will require the support of other allied elements referred to as “Force Multipliers” to facilitate exploitation of their full potential and to enhance their effectiveness. These are elaborated on in the succeeding paragraphs.

Flight Refuelling Aircraft

Since 2003, the IAF has been operating a fleet of six four-engine IL-78 flight refuelling aircraft procured from Uzbekistan. This fleet helps extend the radius of action of the combat fleet of the IAF especially the Su-30 MKI fleet, to undertake out-of-area operations and enhance the overall operational potential. The Jaguar and the Mirage 2000 aircraft at the time of induction came with refuelling probe that were deactivated as the IAF neither had flight refuelling aircraft on its inventory at that point in time nor was there any likelihood of their induction in the foreseeable future. However, soon the situation changed and the aerial refuelling facility on the Jaguar and Mirage 2000 fleet had to be reactivated.

Based at the IAF air base at Agra, the potent Force Multipliers can carry 35 tonnes of fuel for delivery to the aircraft receiving fuel. With availability of in-flight refuelling guaranteed, the Su-30 MKI can get airborne with maximum payload, can remain in the air for over ten hours and with extended range, can undertake deep strike missions into enemy territory. Such capabilities are extremely relevant for power projection in the region as also for operations against China. However, with the expanding fleet of combat aircraft, the IAF will need to enlarge the fleet of flight refuelling aircraft. Subsequent to the issue of a tender for the second time for flight refuelling aircraft and exhaustive field evaluation of the contenders in the race, the IAF has shortlisted the twin-engine A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, a new generation aerial tanker from Airbus Military, to augment its in-flight refuelling capability.

The A330 MRTT carries 111 tonnes of fuel and 30 tonnes of cargo and compared with the IL-78 aircraft, and by virtue of just two engines as against four on the IL-78, as also endowed with far better technology overall, has a much lower life-cycle cost. Contract negotiations for the nearly $1.5 billion deal for six Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft is to begin in the near future. Employing the “probe-and-drogue” system as opposed to the “flying boom”, the Airbus A330 MRTT will have the capability to refuel in-flight aircraft of not only Western but those of Russian origin as well.

Eye in the Sky

To ensure the sanctity and inviolability of the national airspace, necessary infrastructure to provide a gap-free surveillance cover is a prerequisite. Ground based radars have inherent limitations especially against aircraft or missiles operating at low level inhibiting exploitation of the full range of capabilities of the combat fleet. To address this limitation, the IAF inducted the first of the three Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft on May 28, 2009. The AWACS aircraft for the IAF is a combination of the Russian IL-76 platform with the Israeli Phalcon radar. The $1.1 billion tripartite deal for the three AWACS platforms was signed among India, Russia and Israel in 2004. In December 2012, the Indian Ministry of Defence approved the acquisition of two additional IL-76-based AWACS aircraft taking the total to five. With the induction of the AWACS, India became a part of the exclusive club of six nations that possess this capability. The nations are the US, Russia, Britain, Japan, Australia and Turkey.

This AWACS platform provides gap-free radar cover down to the lowest altitude at which hostile aircraft or missiles operate. It is also able to look deep into enemy territory and in fact is able to pick up enemy aircraft from the time it get airborne from its base. Operating in-depth in a relatively secure airspace, the AWACS aircraft functions as an airborne Air Defence Direction Centre (ADDC), collating information from a variety of sensors to build a comprehensive picture of the air defence environment and directs own air defence aircraft to intercept enemy aircraft violating Indian airspace. Airborne surveillance enhances the overall effectiveness of the combat fleet as also provides for better security of the airspace in a hostile environment for other aircraft to operate in.