SOURCE: AFI
In a sobering assessment of the evolving nature of warfare, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF), has underscored the need for India to prepare for prolonged conflicts that could stretch over months or even years. Speaking at a recent defense conclave, Singh emphasized that the era of swift, decisive battles is over, and future wars—potentially involving adversaries like China and Pakistan—may involve sustained, low-intensity engagements.
Drawing lessons from the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, now in its third year, he stressed the critical importance of establishing local production lines for weapons, ammunition, and systems integral to IAF operations to ensure uninterrupted combat capability in the face of disrupted external supplies.
Air Chief Marshal Singh’s remarks reflect a growing recognition among military strategists that modern conflicts are increasingly protracted and complex. The Ukraine-Russia war, which began in February 2022, has become a stark example of how wars can drag on, with both sides engaged in a grueling attritional struggle. The conflict has highlighted the importance of self-sufficiency in military logistics, as reliance on external supply chains can become a vulnerability when sanctions, blockades, or geopolitical pressures disrupt access to critical resources.
Singh pointed out that India’s potential adversaries, China and Pakistan, possess the capability to sustain low-intensity conflicts over extended periods. China’s vast industrial base and Pakistan’s strategic alliances provide them with the resilience to wage prolonged campaigns, whether through border skirmishes, proxy warfare, or hybrid operations. For India, which shares contested borders with both nations, the risk of such conflicts escalating into broader, sustained engagements cannot be ignored.
The IAF operates a diverse fleet of fighter jets, including the Sukhoi Su-30 MKI, Mirage 2000, Rafale, and the indigenous Tejas LCA, alongside an array of precision-guided munitions, missiles, and electronic warfare systems. Many of these platforms and their associated weaponry rely on imported components or are sourced directly from foreign suppliers, such as Russia, France, and Israel. While these partnerships have bolstered the IAF’s capabilities, they also expose a critical vulnerability: in a prolonged conflict, external supplies could be disrupted due to sanctions, logistical blockades, or diplomatic pressures.
Singh highlighted that a months-long conflict would require a steady supply of munitions—ranging from air-to-air missiles like the Meteor and R-73 to air-to-ground weapons like the BrahMos and SCALP missiles—as well as spare parts for maintenance and repair of aircraft. If these supplies were cut off, the IAF’s operational tempo could be severely hampered, undermining its ability to maintain air superiority and support ground operations.
To mitigate this risk, Air Chief Marshal Singh advocated for the establishment of local production lines for all critical weapons systems and ammunition used by the IAF’s fighter jets. “We cannot afford to have our hands tied by external dependencies in the middle of a conflict,” he said, stressing that self-reliance in defense manufacturing is not just a strategic advantage but a necessity for national security.
However, Singh noted that the pace of indigenization must accelerate to cover the entire spectrum of IAF requirements. While indigenous platforms like the Tejas are a step in the right direction, the IAF still relies heavily on imported munitions and subsystems for its frontline fighters, including the Su-30 MKI and Rafale. Establishing local production for these systems would require technology transfers, joint ventures with foreign partners, and significant investments in domestic manufacturing infrastructure.
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