Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha on Saturday termed the Chinese incursions in ladakh a “mystery” given that they generally coincide with high-profile visits here from the neighbouring nation even as he admitted to serious shortcomings in India’s Defence capabilities in the North-Eastern States facing China.
Making this observation in the backdrop of frequent intrusions into India by the Chinese troops, including the recent 15-day face-off between the two Armies in Chumar last month, the IAF chief said: “It has always been a mystery the way incursions take place and the way they get timed with various visits... It’s nothing new, it remains a mystery for all of us,” Raha said in apparent reference to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit when the stand-off took place.
Without naming China, the Air Chief said here during the annual Press conference preceding the 82nd IAF Day on October 8, “You all know that in diplomacy a lot of signalling is done, especially so with our northern neighbour. It could be part of some signalling to my mind. But I am not going to guess what it really means.”
As for the North-East, he said the strategically important region lacked Air Defence, radars and airfields besides related infrastructure including roads. Aware of this critical shortcoming, the Government had given the go-ahead to the IAF to bolster its capabilities in the North-East region some years ago. Raha hoped that the force will plug all the gaps in the next five years.
The IAF is now increasing its radar network and strengthening air defence besides deploying surface to air missiles. Moreover, several airfields and advanced landing grounds have been modernised, he said, adding related infrastructure was also toned up. Six advanced landing grounds in the region will be fully operational by next year end thereby enabling big transport planes to land and take-off from there, Raha said.
In an attempt to counter any threat from China in the ladakh region, the Air Chief said the leh and Thoise airbases were getting upgraded to enable the long-range SU-30 jets to operate from there. Moreover, the Nayoma advanced landing ground in ladakh was also modernized for fighter aircraft operation, he said. "One or two more squadrons of SU-30 will be inducted in the western sector shortly," he maintained.
As regards delay in acquisition of jets to replace ageing aircraft, Raha admitted it was a matter of concern that almost all key projects like induction of Tejas light combat aircraft(lCA), 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft(MMRCA) and fifth generation fighter aircraft(FGFA) are running behind schedule.
While final trials of indigenously designed and produced Tejas are on and the IAF expects to induct the first squadron in two years, contract negotiations for MMRCA project are in final stages between the Indian government and French aviation giant Dassault, whose Rafale aircraft emerged as the lowest bidder for the Rs 45,000 crore deal. The FFGA project is joint venture between India and Russia and it is still on the drawing board stage.
On the issue of having a permanent Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee(COSC), Raha said the government should take a quick decision as the three service chiefs have approved the proposal in this regard.
The post of COSC as single window advisor on Defence issues to the political leadership, including the Prime Minister, was proposed three years back by the Naresh Chandra panel on higher defence management. The COSC will be one of the service chiefs and the senior most amongst them will be considered for the post, Raha said.