SOURCE: AFI
In a historic ceremony at the Air Force Academy (AFA) in Dundigal near Hyderabad, the first batch of officers for the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) newly established Weapon Systems Branch was commissioned. This event took place during the Combined Graduation Parade on Saturday, where 204 cadets, including 26 women from the flying and ground duty streams, were sworn in as flying officers. The parade was reviewed by Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, the Chief of the Air Staff.
The Weapon Systems Branch officers undergo a rigorous two-stage training program. The first stage is conducted at the AFA, providing foundational knowledge and skills. Following this, the cadets move to the newly established Weapon Systems School at Begumpet, also near Hyderabad, for specialized training tailored to the branch’s unique roles. According to Air Chief Marshal Choudhari, this branch is designed to manage four distinct streams:
- Flying: This category includes officers who will operate weapon systems onboard aircraft such as the Su-30MKI, attack helicopters like the AH-64E Apache, Soviet-origin Mi-25/35, indigenous Prachand, and the special operations aircraft C-130J Super Hercules. These officers are essential for enhancing the combat effectiveness of these platforms.
- Remote: Focused on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), this sub-stream deals with the operation of drones used for attack, surveillance, and logistics. The IAF employs a mix of foreign-sourced UAVs from nations like the US and Israel, alongside indigenous models, showcasing India’s growing capability in unmanned systems.
- Intelligence: Officers in this stream will specialize in the analysis of imagery from various surveillance platforms, including space, aircraft, and UAVs. Their roles will extend to intelligence analysis, information warfare, signal intelligence, and the operation of space systems, providing critical support to operational decision-making.
The creation of the Weapon Systems Branch is not only a step towards modernizing the IAF’s operational capabilities but also has significant economic implications. Air Chief Marshal Choudhari highlighted that the establishment of this branch would lead to savings of over Rs 3,400 crore by reducing the need for flying training, which traditionally has been both costly and time-consuming. This approach allows specialized personnel to focus on weapon systems operations without diverting trained pilots to non-flying roles.