Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari, the Chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF), emphasized the significant role of aerospace power in modern warfare during his speech at a seminar titled "Aerospace Power in Future Conflicts." He highlighted that “Balakot-like operations” have shown that given political will, aerospace power can be effectively used beyond enemy lines.
Reflecting on the historical significance of the skies as a realm of exploration and wonder, Chaudhari underscored the reality of intense competition and the pursuit of aerial supremacy, which has historically influenced the fate of nations and the outcomes of wars.
“Through the annals of human history, the skies have often been regarded as realms of wonder and exploration, where dreams take flight and boundaries dissolve into the vast blue expanse,” he said.
Acknowledging the evolving nature of warfare, he outlined the characteristics of future conflicts, emphasizing the integration of kinetic and non-kinetic forces, heightened battle space awareness, multi-domain operations, precision targeting, and the challenge of operating under intense media scrutiny.
Chaudhari pointed out that operations similar to Balakot illustrate the feasibility of deploying aerospace power even in scenarios marked by a delicate balance between peace and conflict, amidst nuclear tensions, without necessarily escalating into full-scale war. Additionally, he stressed the growing importance of space as a critical domain for military operations, emphasizing the need for seamless communication, navigation, and surveillance capabilities to bolster the survivability of modern military forces.
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