SOURCE: AFI
Saurav Jha, Director of Delhi Defence Review, has urged the Indian Air Force (IAF) to shift its focus toward enhancing Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS), long-range missile mid-air refuellers, and a super-dense air defence network as the IAF grapples with a declining fighter jet squadron strength.
Speaking to News9 Plus, Jha emphasized that these investments are critical to maintaining air dominance and deterring adversaries, drawing lessons from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Jha argues that bolstering ISR and AWACS capabilities is non-negotiable in this context. “Fighter jets alone won’t suffice as squadrons dwindle,” he told News9 Plus. “ISR and AWACS provide the situational awareness to maximize limited assets, enabling precise strikes and early threat detection.” India currently operates three Phalcon AWACS on IL-76 platforms and two indigenous Netra AEW&C systems on Embraer jets, but experts, including Jha, advocate for at least 10-12 such systems to cover its vast airspace.
Jha also highlighted the need for long-range missile mid-air refuellers to extend the IAF’s operational reach. With only six aging IL-78 tankers in service—plagued by maintenance issues—the IAF’s ability to sustain long-range missions, especially over the Indo-Pacific or Himalayan frontier, is limited. “Mid-air refuelling extends the endurance of fighters like the Rafale and Su-30 MKI, pairing them with long-range missiles like the BrahMos or Meteor to strike deep into enemy territory,” Jha noted. The Defence Acquisition Council’s February 2024 approval of six additional refuellers under the ‘Buy (Global)’ category is a step forward, but Jha stresses urgency in deployment to counter China’s growing PLAAF capabilities, including its H-6 bombers and KJ-500 AWACS.
Perhaps most critically, Jha pointed to Ukraine’s air defence model as inspiration for India. Ukraine’s layered system—comprising S-300s, Patriots, and NASAMS—has denied Russia air superiority despite a smaller air force, leveraging dense missile and radar networks. “India needs a super-dense air defence system to deny any air force the chance of air superiority over its territory,” Jha said. “Look at Ukraine—integrated defences have neutralized numerical disadvantages.” India’s arsenal includes the S-400 (three of five units delivered by Russia as of 2025), Akash, and the upcoming indigenous Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAM) under Project Kusha, slated for 2028-29. Yet, Jha argues for a tighter mesh, integrating very short-range systems like VSHORADS with medium- and long-range assets, backed by advanced radars .
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