SubscriberWrites: May the force ‘Multipliers’ be with you

Force multipliers enhance efficiency by optimizing existing resources, from radars and AWACS to night vision goggles, transforming modern warfare with strategic advantages.

Representational Image of an Airbus' A330 MRTT | www.airbus.com

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In this article, let us try to under what force multipliers are, what are the force multipliers for Air power and specifically look at Indian Air Force and its force multipliers. 

What is a Force Multiplier

A Force multiplier can be anything which allows to use any existing resource in a more efficient and effective way. This not only means that you had more equipment’s or support systems but also optimize the existing system to get more advantage from them. Even though the principle or the concept of Force Multiplier goes back to ancient warfare, the term is modern. In Modern terms we can associate it with Radars, AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System), Air support to Night Vision Goggles etc.

Air Power & Force Multipliers

From an Air Force perspective, force multipliers are extremely important. This specially applies to things like Aerial Refueling allowing the fighter jets, bombers to be airborne for a longer time and complete mission objectives to Electronic Warfare system which can interrupt enemy communications reducing the efficiency of their platforms, to Stealth tech which helps to evade enemies radar detection etc. But force multipliers are not restricted to this alone, it can be even the air exercise that is conducted with various ally nations to understand the best practices and gives a real combat like experience. 

Indian AirForce and its Force multipliers

According to the Global Air Powers ranking by WDMMA (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft, IAF holds 6th Position overall and third most powerful Airforce globally, having around 1645 active Aircraft. Even though it comprises of Soviet Era aircrafts which will soon be replaced with newer Tejas, AMCA, the number is still huge and to add to its disadvantage we have a range of platforms from different vendors. The importance of force multipliers arises from the fact that we have two highly contested boarders with China & Pakistan plus we have sea routes to be protected, Indian Ocean. 

Few of the force multipliers in this regard is as below, 

1. Aerial Refueling Tankers: One of the most important force multipliers as Aerial Refueling Tankers enable the fighter jets and bombers to operate for a longer time and complete the mission.

• Russian Origin IL 78 MKI – Currently operational.
• Airbus A330 MRTT – Potential Acquisition.

2. AEW&C Systems: Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems allows us to be the eyes of Air Warfare, that they provide early warning and situational awareness which allows the fighter jets and bombers to get insights into enemy operations. 

• Netra AEW&C 
• Phalcon AWACS

3. Transport Aircraft: These are huge aircraft which can carry troops, even tanks into remote locations which helps in rapid troop deployment. These are also used widely in humanitarian support, carrying vast number of medicines, general supplies etc. 

• CJ130 Super Hercules 
• C-17 Globemaster III
• An-32

3. Drones & UAV’s: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Drones are the very future of Air Warfare, these are used for surveillance & reconnaissance and even targets air strike, like 31 MQ 9 Reaper deal we have recently signed with USA. 

• Israeli Heron
• Rustom

The above are just some of the Force multiplier for Indian Airforce, there are few others such as Electronic Warfare Suite, having more advanced multi-role fighter jets etc. Now as I said before, it is not just adding more equipment’s that will act as a force multiplier, think about the Air Exercises we do with other countries Airforce which also is a force multiplier as it gives us rich experience and enable us to understand how to fight a war integrated technology. Naming a few below

1. Exercise Vayu Shakti 2024: Involving around 121 aircraft including but not limited to our Tejas, SU 30 MKI, Rafale, Mi-17 helicopters, this was more of an exercise to show how we integrate with Indian Army and indigenous system such as our Akash Missile systems.
2. Exercise Tarang Shakthi 2024: This was India’s largest multi-lateral air exercise involving sixty-seven fighter jets from different nations such as Germany, France, The UK, Spain to name some. This show cased our ability to fight an integrated war and shows its interoperability with these friendly nations.
3. Exercise Pitch Black 2024: Conducted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) involving IAF’s SU 30 MKI supported by C-17 Globe Master and IL-78 Refueling aircraft.

As Indian AirForce is going through a modernizing journey, it is of immense importance that the focus remains on force multipliers as well because other issues like depleting Squadron strength can be to an extend balanced. Over a period, this will help us to project Air Power and ensure our borders are safe. 

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