IAF to schedule regular war games in south India

8220;India8217;s area of interest is expanding and the focus is now shifting to peninsular India and the need of rapidly deploying forces. The Southern Air Command is gaining prominence and we want to keep it fighting fit,8221; a senior IAF officer said.

While the IAF hurriedly moved two travelling radar units to south India earlier this year after the LTTE air wing conducted attacks in Sri Lanka, it is looking at basing more resources in the region, including a newly acquired low-level Aerostat radar.

8220;There is a move to improve the readiness of air bases in the region and they are being adapted to handle more types of aircraft. More assets are also being moved to cover gaps in the radar coverage,8221; the officer said.

Air HQ, which plans the annual exercise schedule for all commands, is keen that its pilots gain expertise on operating aircraft from location in central and west India for long range operations down south with the help of air-to-air refullers. This shift indicated a change in conventional current strategy that focuses on threats from China and Pakistan.