The head of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshall PV Naik, said this week that modernization plans include dominating the entire spectrum of information, cyberspace, and air space, according to an official release. India’s DNA reports that Paik said, “The modernization process would include preserving, maintaining, upgrading, and improving the current assets, as well as the cases for acquisition and replacements on a fast track.” The news service said the IAF is acquiring 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft, new airborne early warning and control systems, heavy-lift transports, attack helicopters, and upgrading its MiG-29 and Mirage fighters. China View reports that Paik also recently said, “As the spectrum of capability gets wider we need to modernize to have capability edge over most of the air forces in the world.” (Readers may remember that India bested USAF fighters during an exercise a few years ago.)
Aircraft readiness will suffer if Congress does not approve some $1.5 billion worth of spare parts the Air Force requested in its annual Unfunded Priorities List, sent to Capitol Hill last week, Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said.