“Multi-dimensional air threat is increasing exponentially and will be the most potent threat in the tactical battle area.”—Director General of Army Air Defence Lt General K.S. Dogra tells SP’s Land Forces, outlining plans and strategies to 2 8 combat such threats.

SP’s Land Forces (SP’s): Is there a clear-cut division of responsibility at the national level for air defence (AD) between army, navy, air force and civil agencies?

Director General of Army Air Defence (DGAAD): The clear-cut division of responsibility has been laid down in the Union War Book as well as in the Ministry of Defence War Book and is classified on need to know basis.

SP’s: On what parameters are the above responsibilities based?

DGAAD: Parameters reflect the core-competency of each service in their respective domain of usage—that is, land, sea and air—and the need for synergy.

SP’s: How does the Indian model compare with the organisation of other countries?

DGAAD: Several models exist for the higher AD organisation in various countries. In some countries, like Russia, AD is a separate service similar to the army, navy or the air force. In the US, AD is integrated at the macro level of army, air and missile defence commands responsible for theatre level strategic planning and execution of AD. In addition, there is a separate US Army Space and Missile Defence Command responsible for national missile defence and US Space Command for spacebased operations. In Pakistan, the army AD is a separate corps under the General HQ while Pakistan Air Force is a separate service. The AD operations are jointly conducted between the Pakistan AD Corps and Pakistan Air Force. In a similar manner, army AD in India is a separate corps and AD operations are executed jointly with the Indian Air Force.

SP’s: What do you think will be the ingredients of air power in the 21st century?

DGAAD: Gone are the days when air threat used to be uni-dimensional, mainly defined by the aircraft. Today, the same is fast becoming multi-dimensional with a variety of aerial platforms and munitions like unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned combat aerial vehicles, attack helicopters, anti-radiation missiles, cruise missiles, surface-to-surface missiles, precision guided munitions, as also, a large number of soft kill and electronic warfare platforms.

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