What the Indian Air Force ought to do if Narendra Modi had a Spine

[RescueRanger]

India should look to regional partners and develop indigenous capacity.

 

[Batman]

India should look to regional partners and develop indigenous capacity.

Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines and Sri Lanka are potential regional partners for India. India could develop fighter jets in cooperation with some of these countries. Some have already purchased BrahMos missiles, while others are in talks.

BrahMos can be utilised to its full potential when air-launched from platforms such as the Tejas Mk1/Mk2, the upcoming GHATAK UCAV, CATS loyal wingman drones and the Su-30MKI, or deployed from Indian submarines and warships. Malaysia already operates the Su-30MKM and is a potential customer for India's upgrade package.

The satellite-based navigation and guidance capabilities required by BrahMos also highlight the importance of India's NavIC navigation system. These countries can have their own satellites in space using Indian launch vehicles, but bringing the entire region under a common network would be far more effective and cost-efficient.

There are several other areas in which these countries can cooperate, including artillery and combat vehicles. However, missiles, aircraft, warships and submarines require an intensive level of data-link integration. Satellites are becoming increasingly important for network-centric warfare capabilities, supporting everything from missiles to fighter jets and drones.