basic doctrine of the indian air force    have catastrophic effects. This limits the extent to which they can be exposed to the risk of enemy fire. Impermanency. This limitation relates to air power’s inability to hold ground. As such, air power is an impermanent form of military force. The effects it creates are transient, and to sustain those effects, operations have to be repeated or complemented by other arms of military power. Political Constraints. The limitations of air power’s relevance, especially in sub-conventional contingencies, lie not in its capabilities, but in the political will to use these capabilities. Political constraints on the use of air power can only curtail its effectiveness and make it counterproductive. Managing perceptions regarding the effectiveness of air power in diverse situations is key for shaping political opinion on the employment of air power, particularly in the sub-conventional domain. Weather. Notwithstanding the technical advances that facilitate 24x7 operations, air power continues to be more affected by weather compared to land and maritime power. SOURCES OF AIR POWER Air power is a derivative as also an indicator of national power. The ability of a nation to utilise all air power resources at its disposal determines its air power capabilities. Air power, hence, is the sum total of a nation’s aviation and related capabilities. It comprises national aviation assets usually described as air forces, air arms and civil aviation, along with their associated organisations, infrastructure, logistics and personnel. The use of space, either independently or in support of air power, is on the rise and consequently the term ‘aerospace power’ is coming increasingly into vogue. The different sources of air power are as follows:  Air Force. This is the traditional term for the independent military force that delivers air power. The capabilities of air forces reflect national perspectives, priorities and strategic needs. It is only the air 22