NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, SEPT 29
The present security scenario along India’s northern frontier is at an “uneasy no war no peace” status, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria said on Tuesday, referring to the festering border row with China in eastern Ladakh.
Addressing a conference, Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria also said the Indian Air Force has responded to the situation with rapidity and is fully resolved to counter any “misadventure” in the region.
Attended the launch of Defence India Startup Challenge (DISC 4), “iDEX4Fauji” initiative and Product Management Approach (PMA) guidelines at South Block today.
Each of the these initiatives will help the iDEX-DIO to scaleup the programme qualitatively and quantitatively. pic.twitter.com/0ILhKdShlp
— Rajnath Singh (मोदी का परिवार) (@rajnathsingh) September 29, 2020
“The present security scenario along our northern frontiers is at an uneasy no war no peace status. Our defence forces are prepared for any eventuality as you are aware,” the Chief of Air Staff said.
The IAF is looking at inducting around 450 aircraft and helicopters in the next two decades, besides upgrading at least 200-300 planes during this period, Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria said.
He also said the recent induction of Rafale fighter jets along with previous acquisitions of C-17 Globemaster aircraft as well as Chinook and Apache helicopters have provided the IAF with substantial tactical and strategic capability enhancement.
#AtmnirbharBharat 300th ALH rolled out today from HAL BC. Advance Light Helicopter..multi role..
Any mission! Any place! Any time!@SpokespersonMoD @drajaykumar_ias @rajnathsingh @adgpi @IAF_MCC @indiannavy @HALHQBLR @DDNational @PIB_India @PTI_News @IndiaCoastGuard pic.twitter.com/GfyJXa5kL4— Samir Gangakhedkar PRO (Def) Prayagraj (@PROdefprayagraj) September 29, 2020
“Airpower will be a crucial enabler in our victory in any future conflict. It is therefore imperative that IAF obtains and maintains a technological edge over our adversaries,” he said at the conference on energising the Indian aerospace industry.
Five French-made multirole Rafale fighter jets were inducted into the IAF on September 10. The fleet has been carrying out sorties in eastern Ladakh in the last couple of weeks.
The IAF has already deployed almost all its frontline fighter jets like Sukhoi 30 MKI, Jaguar and Mirage 2000 aircraft in the key frontier air bases in eastern Ladakh and elsewhere along the Line of Actual Control.
The IAF has also been carrying out night time combat air patrols over the eastern Ladakh region in an apparent message to China that it was ready to deal with any eventualities in the mountainous region.
The IAF Chief said the raising of two squadrons of light combat aircraft Tejas and integration of some indigenous weapons on the Su-30 MKI combat jets in a very reduced time frame has been the “most promising” development, reflecting the country’s capabilities to develop indigenous military hardware.
The Chief of Air Staff also strongly backed the indigenous development of a fifth-generation aircraft.
“We strongly support the indigenous development of a fifth-generation aircraft. We need to have a single point agenda to have a fifth-generation aircraft with sixth-generation technology,” said Bhadauria, while congratulating all the stakeholders in the development of the light combat aircraft Tejas.
He also complimented the Defence Research and Development Organisation for its airborne early warning and control system Netra, calling it a pathbreaking achievement.
Bhadauria also asked the DRDOs and defence public sector undertakings to include the private sector in key projects and treat them as their own.
“Overall, we are looking at 450 aircraft orders. It will include the helicopter fleet,” Bhadauria said.
“There cannot be a better time to energise the aerospace sector and there cannot be a better opportunity…IAF is ready to be an engine of growth for the aerospace industry, you have to be ready to provide the requirement and get on board with confidence and determination,” he said.
China says it is opposed to India’s infrastructure development at borders in Ladakh
China on Tuesday voiced its opposition to India undertaking infrastructure development for military purposes in the border areas of Ladakh and maintained that both countries should avoid any activities that might complicate the situation upsetting the consensus reached between them to ease the situation.
“China has not recognised Ladakh Union Territory illegally set up by the Indian side,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a press briefing here while replying to a question by a western media journalist that India was prioritising construction of high altitude road network on its border with China in the Ladakh region.
It may be recalled that when China first expressed its opposition to India’s move to create a separate Union Territory of Ladakh, a day after the state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two union territories on August 5, 2019, the then External Affairs Ministry spokesperson had said India does not comment on the internal affairs of other countries and similarly expects other countries to do likewise.
“We are opposed to conducting infrastructure development for military purposes in the border area. Based on the two sides’ consensus no side should engage in the border areas in any activities that might complicate the situation to avoid undermining efforts by the two sides to ease the situation,” Wang said.
To another question on reports that China has carried out massive development of border infrastructure, Wang said reports released by “some institutions” stating that China has built new military bases on its side is “completely false”.
“First some institutions once released the so-called information on new military bases or facilities China has built on its side. Such reports are completely false. They are driven by ulterior motives,” he said.
“Second China consistently and strictly abides by the agreements signed with the Indian side. We are committed to maintaining peace and stability along the border with India and at the same time we firmly safeguard our sovereignty, territorial integrity and security”, he added.
Wang said that for a long time China has been conducting activities on its side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and they have always complied with relevant agreements.
“We hope the Indian side to work for the same purpose, together with China to achieve the cooling of temperature on the ground and to prevent adding complex factors to the concerted efforts by the two sides to ease the situation,” he said.
India and China are locked in a nearly five-month-long border standoff in eastern Ladakh.
After marathon 14-hour talks between India and China at the Corps Commander level on September 21, both sides released a joint statement saying the two countries had decided to stop sending more troops to the frontline in eastern Ladakh.
The joint statement had also stated that both sides will enhance communication to avoid misunderstandings and also implement the five-point consensus reached by their foreign ministers S Jaishankar and Wang Yi on the sidelines of the SCO meet in Moscow on September 10.
