New Delhi: The arrival of three more Rafale fighter aircraft all the way from France that landed in the Jamnagar airbase in Gujarat on Wednesday after a non-stop flight has only underlined the growing mix of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) flying platforms, equipment and weaponry.
Responding to a pointed query whether it would be a challenge to ‘integrate’ or ‘marry’ the varying platforms that originate in different geographies and configured with dissimilar systems, a top IAF official told ETV Bharat: “This issue has already been addressed and resolved as India boasts of one of the best Integrated Air Command and Control Systems (IACCS) in the world. For us, it hasn’t been a problem at all.”
“Even at a smaller level, take the fighter aircraft for example. It may be of Russian, French or American origin, but a lot of components are common, like the ‘digibus’ for example, which can be plugged into any of the fighters,” the official added on condition that he is not named.
A ‘digibus’ is an instrument that enables two-way relay and communication about the health and condition of all the sub-systems in the fighter to its mission computer and back.
The integration effort has resulted in combinations that incorporate a flying platform that originates in a foreign country, carries weapons and instruments from another country, not to speak of Indian-made components and tools.
Asked if the supplying countries object, the official added: “There are certain reservations and no-go areas when it comes to strategic platforms but for others, there hasn’t been too much of a problem.”
A result of the global trend of moving towards Net-Centric Warfare, the IACCS aims to integrate all ground-based and air sensors, weapon systems, airbases and other air force establishments.
The top official’s assurance is reassuring considering the fact that besides the targeted formation of two Rafale squadrons or 36 aircraft, the IAF mainstay fighters include the Russian-origin Sukhoi 30 and MIG-29, the French-origin Mirage-2000, and the indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft.
The striking mix of assets also extends to other IAF flying platforms like helicopters, military transport aircraft and airlifters and indications are that the varying combinations may only grow in future. This is particularly so in the backdrop of foundational agreements with the US which will lead to the availability of more technology, information, intelligence and fighting assets.
IAF’s helicopter fleet includes the recently-acquired US-origin Apache and Chinooks, Russian-origin helicopters of the Mi series, while the military transport platforms include the US-origin C-130J Super Hercules and the C-17 Globemaster, the Russian-origin IL-76 and the AN-32 workhorse.
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