New Delhi, India

Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari has said that the Indian Air Force is "keeping a close watch" on the developments in the Indo Pacific and "collaborating with our friendly air forces to carry out the exercises quite regularly". Indo Pacific, a region that is seen a driver of global growth has seen concerns over aggressive actions by China. 

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Speaking to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal at Air Force station Adampur, Punjab, he assured that the Air Force is "ready to take on any situation", when it comes to challenges emerging at Northern Borders.

The Air Chief also detailed the role of Indian Air Force in humanitarian operations undertaken by it, from Afghanistan to South Sudan. Speaking about the Kabul operation, undertaken after fall of Afghanistan to Taliban, he said, "We had to launch an aircraft which could take the role of an airborne air traffic control. There was no ground control. We had to land our special forces first which had to secure the area around the aircraft."

The Air chief also took a sortie at the Air Force station Adampur, Punjab in a Su-30 MKI.

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WION: The significance of sortie which you were part of?

Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari: Essentially it's a good idea, every time coming to the field level to see the level of training, the kind of exercises that are undertaken by the pilots, a large formation exercise that we undertook today, so it gave me first-hand experience of the kind of tactics, training and everything else that goes with it. So it's a good idea to get first-hand experience about what’s happening at the field level.

WION: On the role of Indian Air Force in humanitarian exercises, how risky are these operations?

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Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari: IAF have always been the first respondents to any crisis across the globe, particularly in the vicinity. In the past many years, we have developed our skill level and training level to execute such missions with confidence. The evacuation of our diaspora from south Sudan, even from Kabul back in 2021, the missions were fraught with a lot of uncertainties and danger. But our trained crew and commando forces which went along with these aircrafts ensured these missions were executed flawlessly. It required a lot of teamwork, preparation, training, and this is precisely what we go through on our daily basis in Air Force. We are always preparing for such conditions that may arise anywhere across the globe. Recently, along with Indian Navy we carried out an operation of dropping speed boats from C-17 aircraft, 2500 km from our coastline along with Indian Navy. So, the kind of roles and missions we’re expected to do can be very... but with a lot of confidence we’re capable of pulling out any operation that comes our way.

WION: How dangerous was the Kabul operation that happened in 2021?

Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari: It was a time when there was no air traffic control over Kabul. The entire airspace was uncontrolled airspace. We had to launch an aircraft which could take the role of an airborne air traffic control. There was no ground control. We had to land our special forces first which had to secure the area around the aircraft. We managed to put in as many Indian nationals as we could in each of these planes and one of the interesting sorties was when we took off in absolute pitch darkness using night vision goggles in an uncontrolled airspace. This is the pinnacle of transport operations.

WION: On planning to increase the zones ? Expansion of Indian Airforce capability in terms of humanitarian disasters reaching out at that time?

Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari: The reach provided by the strategic airlift and even the aircraft like C-130 allows us to respond to any situation like this probably anywhere across the globe. So it is only the requirements that may arise anytime, providing supplies during any humanitarian situation, or whether it is rescuing or evacuating our diaspora from anywhere across the globe. I think we have the capability and the training to carry out such missions

WION: How do you see the situation in the Indo Pacific? There are increased signs of worry.

Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari: The centre of gravity, like I said, is now the Indo Pacific region for all the militaries to keep our focus on and we are keeping a close watch on all the developments there. We have been collaborating with our friendly air forces to carry out the exercises quite regularly and interacting with them we are quite clear of how they are going to tackle the situation and anything that may arise in that region. And we are also fully prepared to join hands with them.

WION: How do you assess the current situation when it comes to India's northern border. So how is the Indian Air Force prepared to deal with that as well?

Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari: We are always prepared, we will remain prepared. We will handle any situation that may arise based on the circumstances that come up at that time. But let me assure you that we are always ready to take on any situation

WION: Any lessons from the situation that emerged in last two or three years?

Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari: Our initial issue was with sustaining and maintaining our forces in high altitudes in the eastern Ladakh in particular, because you're aware that the Air Force was never equipped or trained to operate for sustained periods. So the first challenge was to deploy our units and thereafter now, keep them going there for such a long period. So with good help from an administrative support from the Indian Army and the ITBP, I think we are now quite settled in those high altitude regions.

WION: Western border- How much is the worry there and how are we geared to deal with any crisis?

Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari: I think it's suffice to say that we are always prepared. Whenever any new development takes place, we will redeploy as required. We will relook at our deployment policies and the way we conduct our operations. We will always respond to any situation.

WION: How has the engagement been with the Russians as we have number of Russian assets as well. Has the Russia-Ukraine conflict increased concerns over the repair?

Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari: We have a large inventory of Russian equipment, hardware, weapons and so on and to a large extent yes, we are still dependent on supply of spares from this country. Over the years, have indigenised components and spares when it comes to the aircraft fleet for example, the Sukhoi 30 itself is being manufactured under license by Hindustan Aeronautics, the engines are being manufactured under license. So the reliability on a whole lot of components has definitely reduced over the years.

WION:  So the conflict hasn't had much impact on the Indian Air Force's capabilities is it correct to say?

Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari: Not really a major impact. Of course, there are certain some critical components for which we are still dependent on them. But it is not a situation that I will be alarmed about.

WION: Any lessons from the conflict that has happened in Europe?

Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari: Very much. If we start at the strategic level, I think the first lesson is the requirement to be self-sufficient. In manufacturing, production and sustenance. We cannot continuously rely on somebody else to provide us arms and ammunition. So that's the first lesson. The second major lesson of course will be at the operational level where the requirement of maintaining some degree of control of the air or what they call air superiority or air supremacy has come out loud and clear. Alongside that is of course the defence measures that are required to see the plethora of objects that need to be defended against starting from small drones to hypersonic weapons, like missile and so on. So we need to have a robust air defence network that can actually counter all the threats which are present, and which are emerging. At the tactical level, of course, we keep studying what are the lessons and we keep honing our skills based on some of the lessons keeping in mind that some of them may necessarily not be applicable in our area, it may be more relevant to that area of operations.

WION: How do you see the relationship in terms of the Air Force level with Russia?

Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari: I think we do not have very, we have not carried out too many exercises with the Russian Air Force. But it's more with the Russian industry, sustained. I suppose will continue for some time as long as we keep maintaining it.

WION: United States - there have been a multiple exercises which have been happening, if you can talk about that. How do you see this exercise going forward?

Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari: I think the engagement with the United States Air Force has been growing steadily over the years. We had taken part initially in a series of exercises, where US air force used to come to India and operate alongside us, We sent our Air Force to the United States for the exercise red flag on some occasions and going through this along with some other engagements in the multilateral exercises done in some other countries. We have now reached a fairly high level of confidence of operating very easily alongside the United States. So when it comes to understanding each other's tactics, understanding the methods of operation and so on, I think we have reached a high-level of comfort.

WION: Make in India is another flagship programme of the government. How is it taking off for the Indian Air Force and Tejas has been one example of it. How much has been the enthusiasm in other forces for Tejas?

Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari: I think the best way to propagate the qualities of the Tejas is to take it outside to the world and show it in their displays and make it a part of the exercises that we do with other air forces. So we have actually now started carrying out displays of the Tejas at various air shows . And across the world, many countries many air forces have really started showing interest in this, small and potent platform.

WION: There was a crash which took place. What do you have to say about that? Are you worried about that?

Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari: The Court of inquiry is still in progress, to establish the cause. Will takes some time to put everything together put all the evidences that are available. I will be able to comment on this only after we get to see the inquiry.

WION: West Asia has emerged as key partner, we have undertaken exercises, if you can give an overview?

 Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari: Yes, we are engaging regularly firstly with the UAE Air Force. We have conducted exercises called Desert Night. We also have been doing exercises over the Arabian Sea along with the United Arab Emirates Air Force. We engaged with the Air Force of Oman through an exercise called Eastern bridge. Along with that, we also engage with the Egyptian air force in exercise Brightstar just last year, you may be aware that we are going to conduct multilateral exercises in the later part of this year. All these air forces will be taking part in this forthcoming exercise.

WION: With middle powers like France and Australia. What kind of engagement we are looking at?

Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari: We have annual exercises with these countries. The French we had two exercises last year. This year again they are coming in for the exercise in India. With the Australians we are going out to their multilateral exercise called Pitch Black again sometime in the month of August. So our engagements with these air forces will continue.

WION: How do you see the Indian armed forces' role in terms of anti-piracy operations and perhaps my second question is linked to it. How do you see jointness as well because it is a perfect example of jointness. What's your view about that as well?

Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari: Yeah, so joint planning and execution of such missions is going to remain crucial to success of any operation and future and I think we are adequately prepared to carry out joint planning of any such mission in future along with Indian Air Force.

WION: The western part of the Indian Ocean, how do you see it as and do you see more involvement of the IAF?

Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari: Wherever the Indian Navy calls upon us to carry out a joint mission. We will always be there.