basic doctrine of the indian air force AIR POWER AND NATIONAL SECURITY The dominant role played by air power in modern warfare, the high cost of aircraft and allied equipment, and a host of other factors demand that its capability and role in securing national interests be closely scrutinised. The case of the IAF can be no different, since the strength of our nation’s air power is rooted in the IAF. It is hence essential to understand the place of the IAF in the national security matrix. The Preamble to the Indian Constitution summarises our aims and objectives as a nation which in turn determines our national security objectives. These, in turn, dictate the military strategy, which is the process of coordinating the development, deployment and employment of military forces to achieve national security objectives. Military strategy essentially is a combination of land, maritime and air strategies. Since land, sea and air have their distinct characteristics, advantages and limitations, the strategic options enabled by land, maritime and air power are equally distinct. Success in conventional conflict has historically hinged on the destruction of an enemy’s fielded forces, followed by the capture or capitulation of the enemy’s leadership. Hence, land and naval forces had few options apart from fighting their way through even if it meant having to accept significant attrition. The advent of air power changed all that. Air power could circumvent the enemy’s land, naval forces and directly attack the enemy leadership, their command and control centres and other critical vulnerabilities, which would hasten the enemy’s capitulation. This was illustrated in ample measure during the 1971 Indo-Pak war when following the bombing of the governor’s house in Dhaka by the IAF, Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire when most of its military forces in the western sector were largely intact. Air power can also decisively interfere with enemy land and sea operations without the reverse being true. A striking example of this is the battle of Longewala, wherein, Pakistan’s armour was decimated by the IAF without reciprocal damage. The IAF dominated the skies and hence it could operate freely as it pleased. 6