Indian Air Force - News Folder - December 2004
New Air Chief for space protection
Protecting India’s assets in space — mostly satellites for surveillance and communications — will be a major priority of the new chief of the Indian Air Force, Mr SP Tyagi, who takes over tomorrow as Air Chief Marshal.
Speaking to The Statesman, the new air chief said: “The Indian Air Force needs to get into space. We have assets for reconnaissance and communications and these are being used by a lot of people. We have to start focussing on how to protect them.” History suggests, he said that air operations are going higher and higher. During World War I, planes flew at 3-4,000 feet. By World War II, planes were flying at 20,000 ft and in recent years planes like the SR-71 Blackbird, the US espionage plane, flew at over 70,000 feet. “Machines are going up, up and up. As machines move up, so does warfare.”
Even networking is via satellite. “Everyone wants private satellites. But if they are knocked off, you’re in the dark. This is where warfare is heading. The Air Force has a lot of long term plans, but we have to focus on space.”
Asked about Car Nicobar, he said: “The whole situation has been traumatic. People are walking around wearing vests. There is no water. There is no fuel. People have seen their wives float away. They have lost children. These people have to be rehabilitated, posted to the mainland. They must be moved out of the place.” Air Marshal Tyagi felt that the IAF flag will continue to fly there. “A job has to be done. We will rebuild the base immediately. We have experience in rebuilding bases, we did it in Bhuj. In Car Nicobar, we have a role to play in terms of the civilians there. Work on repairs will start.”
He also spoke about a “basic strength” of the Air Force. “We cannot go below certain numbers. One plane can do today what several once did, but we have to place planes at different places. It is exceedingly important that we maintain quantity. We have about 39 squadrons and they have to be brought up to numerical strength — the government is well aware of the situation. Once we take care of this, we can look at enhancing our strength.”
Protecting India’s assets in space — mostly satellites for surveillance and communications — will be a major priority of the new chief of the Indian Air Force, Mr SP Tyagi, who takes over tomorrow as Air Chief Marshal.
Speaking to The Statesman, the new air chief said: “The Indian Air Force needs to get into space. We have assets for reconnaissance and communications and these are being used by a lot of people. We have to start focussing on how to protect them.” History suggests, he said that air operations are going higher and higher. During World War I, planes flew at 3-4,000 feet. By World War II, planes were flying at 20,000 ft and in recent years planes like the SR-71 Blackbird, the US espionage plane, flew at over 70,000 feet. “Machines are going up, up and up. As machines move up, so does warfare.”
Even networking is via satellite. “Everyone wants private satellites. But if they are knocked off, you’re in the dark. This is where warfare is heading. The Air Force has a lot of long term plans, but we have to focus on space.”
Asked about Car Nicobar, he said: “The whole situation has been traumatic. People are walking around wearing vests. There is no water. There is no fuel. People have seen their wives float away. They have lost children. These people have to be rehabilitated, posted to the mainland. They must be moved out of the place.” Air Marshal Tyagi felt that the IAF flag will continue to fly there. “A job has to be done. We will rebuild the base immediately. We have experience in rebuilding bases, we did it in Bhuj. In Car Nicobar, we have a role to play in terms of the civilians there. Work on repairs will start.”
He also spoke about a “basic strength” of the Air Force. “We cannot go below certain numbers. One plane can do today what several once did, but we have to place planes at different places. It is exceedingly important that we maintain quantity. We have about 39 squadrons and they have to be brought up to numerical strength — the government is well aware of the situation. Once we take care of this, we can look at enhancing our strength.”