Indian Air Force veterans on Saturday expressed deep anger and shock at chief of defence staff General Bipin Rawat describing the IAF as a “supporting arm” in the planned integrated theatre commands of the three armed forces.
Speaking at the same event later on Friday, Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria had disagreed with Rawat, a former army chief, saying “airpower has a huge role”.
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Rawat, tasked by the Narendra Modi government to facilitate the integration process, had been asked at the programme, organised online by the think tank Global Counter Terrorism Council, about the IAF not being keen on the proposed theatre commands integrating the capabilities of the tri-services.
New Delhi, July 2
Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat on Friday cleared the air on creating theatre commands, saying the Northern Command of the Indian Army for the time being would remain as it is while there would be dedicated integrated commands for China and Pakistan.
These would have the Air Force component, separate from the Air Defence Command that would be the exclusive mandate of the IAF. General Rawat was speaking at a ‘Global Counter-Terrorism Council’ webinar on artificial intelligence and other modern technologies. He also talked of the existing counter-drone systems. He said as far as the Indian Air Force was concerned, the country’s entire airspace would be looked after by the Air Defence Command.
Air Chief RKS Bhadauria s comments came after Defence Chief Bipin Rawat called IAF supporting arm
Highlights Fully committed to the theaterisation of armed forces, says Air chief
Both Air and defence chiefs were speaking separately at a conference
New Delhi:
Air power has a huge role to play in any of the integrated battle roles, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria said on Friday, asserting the Indian Air Force was fully committed to the theaterisation of the armed forces.
Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria s comments on air power came soon after Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat talked about the IAF s air defence charter as well as its role as a supporting arm to the ground forces just as the artillery or engineers support the combatants within the Army.
General Bipin Rawat suggested that the new structures will emerge within one year s time
New Delhi:
India needs a distinct military command structure and a complete paradigm shift to confront the emerging security threats like grey zone warfare, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat said on Friday, justifying the ambitious theaterisation process in the Indian armed forces.
Referring to the drone attack on the Jammu Air Force Station, he said if such strikes impact India s national security, it should reserve the right to respond at a place and time of its choosing and in a manner in which it wishes to respond.
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 2
Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat on Friday cleared the air on creating theatre commands, saying the Northern Command of the Indian Army for the time being would remain as it is while there would be dedicated integrated commands for China and Pakistan.
These would have the Air Force component, separate from the Air Defence Command that would be the exclusive mandate of the IAF. General Rawat was speaking at a ‘Global Counter-Terrorism Council’ webinar on artificial intelligence and other modern technologies. He also talked of the existing counter-drone systems. He said as far as the Indian Air Force was concerned, the country’s entire airspace would be looked after by the Air Defence Command.