Aerospace Command: MoD yet to take off despite rap

Despite harsh rebuke from the Standing Committee on Defence for going slow in taking a decision on an Aerospace Command for the IAF...

Despite harsh rebuke from the Standing Committee on Defence for going slow in taking a decision on an Aerospace Command for the IAF, the Defence Ministry is still to take concrete action. Without an option and with depleting surveillance platforms, the IAF has set up a Directorate of Aerospace in Thiruvananthapuram.

Run by an Air Commodore-rank officer who reports to IAF Vice-Chief Air Marshal Ajit Bhavnani8217;s office through the Directorate of Concepts and Doctrines Camp;D at the Air Headquarters, the Aerospace Directorate has prepared a detailed conceptual presentation for the government, but is still to get an opportunity to present its case.

The Indian Express reported last year that the government had virtually shot down the IAF8217;s demand for an Aerospace Command, citing prohibitive expenses that could be avoided in the near term. The IAF had then decided to set up an Aerospace Cell under Southern Air Command and progressively demerge it into two separate commands over five years.

When it is finally set up, the Aerospace Command will have a communications, navigation and surveillance CNS profile.

But indications are that the government is not even in a mood to listen, since it has already made its stand clear. While the IAF laments the lack of movement, the government is yet to fully buy the IAF8217;s submission that it would be the best of the three services to operate such a command. The MoD also told the House panel that it had reservations on an Aerospace Command because it did not want to trigger an arms race in outer space.

It is learnt that the conceptual presentation, divided into sub-sections, outlines asset sharing, the participants in the command and users other than the three services. It also identifies and allots roles for each key participant, including the ISRO, DRDO and Bharat Electronics Ltd BEL.

Currently run by just a handful of officers, the Aerospace Directorate has also outlined a basic procurement plan for the next five years to mesh it in and make it a 8216;8216;key elemental node8217;8217; in the larger tri-services network-centric warfare NCW doctrine.