Rafale, Sukhoi, Chinooks: IAF to launch massive exercise in Eastern sector

Published
15th Dec, 2022

Context

The Eastern Air Command of the Indian Air Force (IAF) will be carrying out a major two-day exercise to test its war-fighting capabilities and tactics.

Details:

The upcoming air exercise would be at the command level.
All its bases in the Eastern Command – which include those in Assam’s Tezpur, Chhabua, Jorhat, and Panagarh – would be activated.
The exercise is being held by the Eastern Air Command.

Eastern Air Command (EAC):

It has a specific mandate both during peace and war.
It controls air operations over a vast area that straddles 12 states.
- It includes the seven northeastern states, Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar and parts of Orissa and Jharkhand covering over three lakh square kilometres.
The EAC also controls the air space over the 6300 Km long international boundary with China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.
The headquarters of EAC is housed in a spectacular location in Shillong, also called the ‘Scotland of the East’.

Fighter jets, transport aircraft, helicopters and UAVs will participate in the exercise.
Aircraft in action would include:
- Rafale (France)
- Sukhoi-30 MKI (Russia)
- Chinooks (Boeing- U.S.)
IAF has put in place a full offensive and defensive deployment to counter China’s strategy of “Anti Access Area Denial (A2AD)”.
No-fly-zone agreement: As per the agreement between India and China, no fighter aircraft or armed helicopters can come within 10 kilometres of the LAC.
- The limit for logistics helicopters is one kilometre.

China Response:

Chinese have increased their state of alertness in the wake of the IAF exercise.
- They have deployed airborne early-warning aircraft at its Shigatse airport.
- High deployment of long-range surveillance drones
China’s strategy of “Anti Access Area Denial (A2AD):
- Anti-access challenges prevent or degrade a force's ability to enter an operational area and can be geographic, military, or diplomatic.
- Area denial challenges are threats to forces within the operational area.

Steps that need to be taken:

India needs to build robust Infrastructure in difficult border areas in its territory to ensure the movement of personnel and other logistical supplies efficiently.
India needs to be vigilant enough for any new development in China near its border to protect its interests efficiently.
The two sides should abide by all the existing agreements and protocols on China-India boundary affairs and avoid any action that could escalate matters.