Air defence command will be counterproductive, need integrated approach: IAF Chief VR Chaudhari

New Delhi: Air force chief VR Chaudhari has made a case against the creation of an air defence command, saying an integrated approach is the way forward to take on adversaries, and that isolating offensive missions from air defence will be ineffective and disjointed.

His comment comes even as discussions are on in the government for the creation of integrated theatre commands, a major military reform being undertaken following the creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

At a seminar in the national capital on Friday, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said that independent air defence systems have little relevance in future wars and an integrated approach with the linking of sensors, communications and "shooters" is the way forward.

"While there is a need for close coordination between all elements within the same airspace to ensure aerospace safety as well as effective Air Defence, creation of an AD Command may prove counterproductive because air defence operations are inextricably linked to counter air operations and all offensive ops, as the success or failure of one, will dictate the demands on the other," he said.

While the contour of the new commands has not been finalised, senior officials have been on record saying that an air defence command, a naval command and three army-led geographic commands are under consideration.

The air force has been resisting the air defence command model, arguing that it would be counterproductive to integration. Internal studies have been conducted by the services and a final decision is expected in the coming months. "Air defence and offensive missions are interdependent, and if executed in isolation, these would not only be disjointed but also ineffective in design or execution of the joint strategy," he said. The air chief said that standalone air defence systems can, in fact, cause more harm than good.

"Independent AD systems in the field will have very little relevance in tomorrow's wars unless they are a part of the larger Integrated Air Defence System," he said. "With little or no information about the ongoing air operations, such independent AD systems are more likely to cause self-harm due to lack of common identification and communication protocols."