Decade of the Maritime Air Power
Maritime Air Power is applied in the maritime theatre to fulfill maritime objectives, as well as achieving the necessary degree of air control for maritime operations within this area of interest. Maritime Air Power has undergone historic transition in the decade gone by due to the fundamental shift in its role. Comprehensive National Air Power
It will be appropriate to mention the writings of Clausewitz, who suggested that war consists of a trinity; made up of people, the government and the armed forces. War comprises and balances between creative forces (symbolized by the armed forces action), rational forces (symbolized by the government) and emotional forces (symbolized by the people). Essentially it means that the Armed Forces are separable from the people (who do not take part in fighting) and from the government, which leads the war. Obviously Clausewitz’s analysis was influenced by the military and political context in which he lived. Now we are into 21st century. It is not so anymore.
Civilians were usually absent from theatre or the battlefield either because the battle occurred in relatively unpopulated area or they fled the area prior to onset of war. Today, this linearity has diminished severely. Now the civilians and civilian objectives are intermingled with military objectives. The valid targets which could not feasibly be struck in the past, now become vulnerable. The universe of strikeable targets multiplies and therefore the potential of collateral damage and incidental injury while still achieving military objectives.
Prime Minister Modi while addressing the Combined Commanders in 2015 said “beyond the immediate, we are facing a future where security challenges will be less predictable; situations will evolve and change swiftly; technological changes will make response more difficult to keep pace with. Threats may be known but the enemy may be invisible” He further said “full scale war may become rare, but force will remain an instrument of deterrence influencing behavior and the duration of conflicts will be shorter”.
Effectively, to handle today’s changed nature of warfare, comprehensive national power will have to be brought to bear to achieve political objectives in the short timeframe that would be available. While doing so, nations will ensure least collateral damage and incidental injury since military and civilian objectives will be difficult to discern, media will control dissemination and regulate public reaction. Clearly, precision engagements will underline military tactics and strategy which highlights the centrality of Air Power. It will consist of several systems of systems that enable military forces to locate the objectives or targets, provide responsive command and control, generate the desired effect, assess the level of success, and retain flexibility to reengage with the precision required. It is in this context that the maritime arm of the National Air Power has gained significance in the present decade while the land based Air Force’s air power has had a much longer wait towards sharpening their teeth what is truly desirable in the present changed nature of warfare. Indian Air Force deserves credit for being the alma mater of all varieties of military aviation in India. This article is a tribute to the alma mater of aviation from one of their frontiers – Maritime.
We are in the new decade, it is still counting. Induction of Tejas in Light Combat role, additional Su-30 MKIs, induction of Rafael fighters complement of C-17/C-130 strategic transport aircraft, Mi17 VE and Chinook heavy lift helicopters along with Apache attack helicopters induction are some important additions. The deliberation on manufacturing of advanced fighters under ‘Make in India’ drive is also in progress. In the absence of newer inductions IAF has done the country proud by innovating new avenues of application of air power; landing of Su-30 aircraft closer to NE and Northern borders, Demonstrating ability of strategic airlift upto DBO, supporting fighter operations outside the country, large number of HADR operations and maintaining highest levels of surveillance and response mechanisms in turbulent atmosphere around us.
Maritime air power has undergone historic transition in the decade gone by. There has been fundamental shift in the philosophy of maritime patrol, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare processes and carrier borne fighter operations. Prospects of strengthening anti-submarine rotary wing fleet, increasing surveillance bubble in the Indian Ocean by addition of more long range and Medium Range Maritime patrol aircraft, utility and multi-role helicopters (Sikorsky MH-60), drones and commissioning of the first indigenous aircraft carrier are very encouraging. We examine these fundamental shifts in concept and philosophies.
Long Range Maritime Patrol and Antisubmarine Warfare
From the year 1976, IAF relinquished the role of long range maritime patrol task to the Navy by transferring the Super Constellation aircraft. This was first occasion for the Navy to operate four engined long endurance aircraft. It was all new experience for the crew to be flying extended long hours and from an air station, maintaining alertness on the radar and visual watch, transfer data information manually to Maritime Operation Centre, criss cross number of FIR boundaries, operate close to open airspace of neighboring countries and in the process get intercepted by advanced fighter aircraft mainly of the US Navy. Aircrew developed the desired skills to handle the new ways in the changed operational environment. Earlier, carrier borne Alize provided surveillance in maritime patrol role which was adequate for domain awareness around the carrier task force, the MORs played limited role. With the induction of Super Constellation aircraft, long range maritime patrol became a reality. The MORs (maritime operations rooms) were upgraded to handle larger volumes of information over much larger area in the IOR. The IAF also began exercising their role of shore based anti shipping strike in coordination with the Maritime Patrol aircraft, leaving the Carrier Task Force to operate further away from EEZ in pursuance of power projection and making impact warfare over land in distant lands. It made the Navy truly blue water. However, shore based and shipborne air ASW operation still remained an enigma.
The Super Constellation aircraft was replaced by IL-38 aircraft which had capability of both the maritime patrol as well as ASW at long ranges giving the Navy ability to track submarines in far off seas particularly at vulnerable choke points. The aircraft was more modern than the Constellation, turboprop propulsion, had advanced electronics and ability to attack a submarine if it was confirmed to be hostile (being equipped with torpedoes and depth bombs). It still lacked very long legs in terms of endurance given the expanse of IOR and anti ship strike capability. Navy modified the aircraft to carry Sea Eagle anti ship missiles. Also, concept of shepherding shore based fighter aircraft for anti ship strike was developed which kept the adversary further away from areas of our interest. The IL-38 was later supplemented by one squadron of Tu-142 aircraft
Precision engagements will underline military tactics and strategy which highlights the centrality of Air Power