IAF Redefining Maritime Power Projection with Advanced Fighters and Strategic Island Bases

In a strategic shift, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is enhancing its maritime capabilities by leveraging advanced fighter aircraft and fortified island bases.

This innovative approach aims to provide a more cost-effective and secure alternative to traditional aircraft carriers while maintaining a robust maritime defence posture.

Upgraded SEPECAT Jaguar IM/IS: A Formidable Maritime Strike Asset​

The IAF's SEPECAT Jaguar IM/IS fleet, armed with AGM-84L Block II Harpoon missiles and equipped with Israel Aerospace Industries' Elta EL/M-2052/2060 AESA radar, has emerged as a formidable maritime strike asset.

The Harpoon missile's precision and destructive power, combined with the advanced radar system's enhanced detection capabilities, significantly bolster the Jaguars' effectiveness against naval targets.

Sukhoi Su-30MKI: Versatile Fighter with Enhanced Maritime Strike Potential​

The IAF's Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters, now armed with the BrahMos-A supersonic cruise missile, have further solidified India's maritime strike capabilities.

This versatile fighter aircraft's enhanced strike potential ensures robust deterrence and a swift response to any threats in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

The strategic deployment of Su-30MKI squadrons at Thanjavur on India's southeast coast underscores the IAF's commitment to safeguarding India's seacoasts and the wider IOR.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands: An Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier​

In addition to advanced fighter aircraft, there is a growing emphasis on upgrading the military infrastructure of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Establishing an anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) maritime ‘exclusive zone’ around the archipelago would create a formidable deterrent against potential adversaries, particularly the Chinese navy.

The Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, with its strategic location and potential to host a range of military assets, offers significant advantages as an unsinkable aircraft carrier. Upgrading its capabilities is viewed as a cost-effective alternative to maintaining an expensive and vulnerable aircraft carrier fleet.

A Pragmatic Approach to Maritime Defence​

This shift towards utilizing advanced fighter aircraft and fortified island bases reflects a pragmatic approach to maritime defence. Aircraft carriers, while symbolizing power projection, come with significant financial and operational costs. They are also susceptible to modern anti-ship missiles and other asymmetric threats.

Leveraging platforms like the Jaguar IM/IS and Su-30MKI fighters, coupled with enhanced capabilities on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, offers a more economical and secure solution.

These aircraft provide rapid response capabilities, extended strike ranges, and operational flexibility, ensuring a persistent and resilient maritime defence posture for India.

The effectiveness of the IAF's new approach will ultimately depend on continued investments in modernization, training, and technological advancements. However, the integration of advanced fighter aircraft and the strategic development of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands represent a significant step towards ensuring India's maritime security in the 21st century.

 

[Anant]

Virtually during emergency, even during peace time, that's why Chinese are using Sunda straight betwenn Indonesia's Java and Sumatra islands to Sri Lanka and to Arabian sea.

It is one thing to sail through a Strait, and it is another thing to block it off. In times of war, we can, with suitable cooperation, enact a quarantine of sorts on the Straits of Malacca. However, this would be through military ships and aircraft screening the Strait, and not by building artificial Islands.

 

[vinod nair]

When we have adversaries like ours then we should adopt multipronged approach. And when indigenous solution what's the issue atleast 4 AC is must. Yes IAF should be their also at forefron but not alone

 

[Tanishq Bafila]

It is highly improbable that a Chinese aircraft carrier strike group could successfully transit the Strait of Malacca and sustain operations in the Indian Ocean. The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) faces significant challenges, including a relatively inexperienced carrier air wing and command structure, as well as naval platforms primarily based on foreign designs. Operating over 4,000 kilometers from home waters, the PLAN would likely encounter substantial logistical and operational difficulties, raising questions about their long-term survivability in a high-intensity conflict.

A more accurate assessment would focus on the challenges the PLAN might face in maximizing the combat effectiveness of their carrier strike group. Coordinating complex flight operations, including simultaneous launches and recoveries, as well as efficient use of the carrier's elevators and weapon systems, would likely present significant hurdles for a relatively inexperienced carrier air wing and command structure.

Additionally, the PLAN's logistical capabilities in sustaining prolonged operations far from home waters remain untested. Maintaining complex naval platforms and ensuring adequate resupply of fuel, munitions, and spare parts pose considerable challenges, especially in a contested environment.

While basic seamanship would not be an issue, the PLAN's ability to fully leverage its carrier strike group's potential in a high-intensity conflict remains a valid concern.