NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday asked top IAF commanders to draw up long-term plans and strategies to enhance capabilities towards countering threats in the future.
Addressing the IAF commanders’ conference, amidst the continuing military confrontation with China in eastern Ladakh, Singh said, “Changing dimensions of warfare now include advanced technologies, asymmetric capabilities and infodominance. It is very important the IAF’s preparations for the future must include these aspects.”
The IAF proved its mettle by ensuring “a timely and befitting response to the sudden developments” in eastern Ladakh last year, which included forward deployment of fighters, helicopters and surface-to-air missile batteries, he said.
Underlining the objective to enhance synergy among the Army, Navy and IAF in areas of joint planning and operations, Singh said the armed forces must continue to work proactively towards the integration process currently underway and the implementation of the joint logistics plan.
Reiterating PM Modi’s vision of ‘self-reliance’, Singh stressed on the need to promote “Atmanirbharta” in the defence sector. Towards this end, the recent Rs 46,898 crore order for 83 new indigenous Tejas fighters for the IAF would result “in a substantial boost to domestic defence industry and be a game changer from the indigenisation perspective”, he said.
The minister asked the commanders to continue their efforts for achieving even greater results in the field of indigenous defence production and aircraft maintenance.