Even as there is escalation of cross-border terrorism from Pakistan and India’s ‘surgical strikes’ response has been befitting, it is a matter of urgency that the Indian armed forces are modernised in double quick time. That the Narendra Modi government took a quick decision to induct 36 Rafale aircraft from Dassault Aviation, which will go to make up additional two squadrons in the Indian Air Force, is commendable. We all know how the supposed to be the ‘Mother of All Deals’, the MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) of 126 aircraft went into a limbo of sorts, while the IAF was wanting quick replacement of aircraft.

As we celebrate the anniversary of the Indian Air Force with great pride, the Rafale deal is going to change the scheme of things in India at different levels. As mentioned earlier, it will add two more squadrons, though we will still be short of the required 42 squadrons. The aircraft which is omni-role and has potential to carry nuclear warheads will indeed add to the combative strength of the IAF. Group Captain B. Menon (Retd) has opined that the combat aircraft fleet is in a period of transition with a large segment of fighter assets such as MiG-21 variants and MiG-27s, overdue for phasing out. The rate of replacement is lagging far behind the rate of retirement from service. If all procurement plans fructify, the required 42 squadron strength may only be achieved by 2032. Can it be ensured that there will be no war till then? he asks. In another article, Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd) says India needs a strategic bomber, but then the costs have to be kept in mind.

On the industrial front, the induction of the aircraft will throw open spin-off benefits, the first of which has already been announced – a joint venture between Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group and Dassault Aviation to avail the offset options. This will spur industrial activity at micro, small and medium enterprises, besides at a larger level too, thus answering the Prime Minister’s clarion call for ‘Make in India’.

Moving from military aviation, we see that India is at the cusp of major transformation in the aerospace sector, per se. The announcement of the National Civil Aviation Policy and the draft Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) are going to change the landscape of Indian aviation. In an interview the Vice President of Embraer Commercial Aviation, Mark Dunnachie, has indicated how the RCS announcement is going to boost connectivity in secondary and tertiary cities across India. He discusses how airlines can avoid the traps of the ‘Red Ocean’. We also have an article on how the government plans to connect unserved and underserved airports/airstrips.

The ecosystem is slowly falling in place as can be seen by activity in maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) with Lufthansa Technik making forays in South Asia with focus on India. Similarly, we see how there is strengthening of relationship of engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce with the Indian Air Force.

Wrapping up the edition, we are proud to hail the women fighter pilots of the IAF. The first batch of three women pilots – Avani Chaturvedi, Bhawana Kanth and Mohana Singh – who were inducted into the fighter stream have created history.

All this and more.... Happy reading!