Air Chief urges hike in defence allocation

At the start of the first decade after Independence, the defence spending was just 1.7 per cent of the GDP which rose to 4.5 per cent in the aftermath of the Indo-China conflict, the Air Chief noted. However, thereafter, the defence allocation has stagnated at less than 2.8 per cent in the recent years.

Over and above hiking the defence allocation, there is also a need to reviewthe division of the defence budget, Air Chief Marshal Tipnis said while making a strong case for a greater share for the air force than the present share. He also stressed that air power would continue to remain a dominating factor in the future.

In this regard, he cited the Kargil experience. “Had air action not demolished several rear supply points, the casualties suffered by the Indian Army would have been much higher,” he stated.

Gen Pervez Musharraf withdrew from his positions not because of political pressure on him then, but because the aerial action by the Indian Air Force (IAF) had made the Pakistan General’s position untenable, the Air Chief said.