New Delhi: Amid the ongoing conflict with China, the Department of Military Affairs has hastened the process of restructuring the armed forces as the new air defence command under the Indian Air Force (IAF) may come up at Prayagraj around the second week of October this year.
“The work has been hastened to prepare the structure of the command under an Air Force officer. Efforts are being made to put everything together and announce the creation of the air defence command at Prayagraj around the Air Force Day on October 8 this year,” government sources told ANI. The air defence command is proposed to be set up alongside the Central Command Headquarters of the IAF which controls important air bases including Agra, Gwalior and Bareilly.
The aim of the command is to combine the resources of the three services under one command and activate it to protect the air space of the country.
A study in this regard was done by the IAF’s Vice Chief Air Marshal HS Arora which has also suggested the structure of the proposed command comprising assets of all the three services.
The Department of Military Affairs under Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat has been given the mandate to create joint military commands along with theatre commands.
The CDS is also working on the creation of the combined maritime command which would come up either at Kochi in Kerala or Karwar in Karnataka.
Each service has its individual air defence set-up. The air defence command would integrate the air defence assets of the Army, Air Force and Navy and jointly provide air defence cover to the country.
The CDS has also made it clear to the armed forces that he would not create any additional post at a three-star level for manning any of the new commands and the new formations would be raised from the existing resources only.
Meanwhile, for protecting the air space of the country, a proposal for the acquisition of two new PHALCON Airborne Early Warning ad Control Systems from Israel and Russia has reached the Cabinet Committee on Security and may be taken up for clearance soon.
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Plz Indian air force
Vishal arvindbhai parmar
Indian air force
Our youths have no work .We have been importing defence equipments from more than 65 countries.Now getting Phalcon from Israel will neither henance our military capabilities. When they can make then why we can’t make. First IAF should give the pending dues to our 1971 war hero Flying Officer K.P Muralidharan MIA whom the IAF bileatedly and repeatly recommanded Maha Vir Chakra posthumously. This govt endorses TIME BAR FOR BRAVERY. What a nonsense and absurd reply to this brave soldier.Once we talk about IAF being artist of the skies. Now we have more air crash and lost many pilots than war. Flying Officer K.P Muralidharan MIA had three run over the Peshawar air base and destroyed many military installations. On return leg he was engaged with Wing Comdr Salim Mirza Baig and his colleagues and was shotdown by him after a long air battle. He not only saved his commander Sqn Ldr K.N.Bajpaye ‘s life but gave the enemy pilots a nightmare. The enemy pilots and the Pak press eloquently praised this pilots heroism and the courage exhibited in the air battle. IAF was convinced and recommanded as many times for MVC. Why IAF Chief and the Chief of Defence Staff not looking in to this matter seriousely and push for the award to. this poor soldier. October 8 is IAF Day.Hope the IAF chief or the CDS annouces the award on that prestigious day. The people of this country will not pardon the IAF or the govt for their mistake in not honouring this great warrior. Having few Rafael aircraft we will not win war with Pak or China unless the IAF recognises this war hero.He can not only motivates young soldiers but will attract many youth to join the diffence forces.