The world has witnessed heightened geopolitical tensions recently, with evolving warfare strategies placing air power and air defence at the forefront of national security dialogues. For India, there has been a change in its military posture along the western border with Pakistan. This is in light of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir and the subsequent response by the Indian Armed Forces through Operation Sindoor. This has renewed the urgency to bolster air readiness.
India has, in the past, had air face-offs with Pakistan in the 1965, 1971, and 1999 wars and during the recent airstrikes in Balakot. Our neighbourhood provides enough reasons to improve our air power. The Group of Ministers Report on Reforming National Security System, submitted after the Kargil War, also stresses the vitality of India’s Air Defence. Over time, expanding the use of unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) and instances of UAVs breaching borders have also demanded significant attention.
India’s Air Power: Not Just in the Air
The security dynamics of India’s neighbourhood highlight the criticality of air defence. The Kargil War outlined the value of developing and deploying an integrated air defence system to protect our skies and effectively repel aerial threats. As a result, the Indian Ballistic Missile Defence (IBMD) Programme was initiated in 2001 after the Kargil under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). India’s commitment to developing and improving its BMD capabilities demonstrates its commitment to protecting its people and critical assets from potential missile attacks. The BMD capability also gives a strategic edge whilst acting as deterrence.
India is currently developing Project Kusha, an ambitious long-range air defence system. Designed to intercept hostile aircraft and missiles, Project Kusha is expected to be deployed by 2028–29. It would be a network of automatic missile launchers connected to radars that detect and neutralise incoming missiles. While Project Kusha is materialising, the 5-layer shield around the National Capital Territory (NCT) is another attempt to protect the National Capital. The innermost shield of the system is built with NASAM-II, and the outermost with indigenous-built BMD systems. The layers in between are powered by Akash, S400, and Barak 8 systems. The 5-layer shield for the NCT has been in discussion for a long time since 2019.
In 2024, DRDO successfully tested the Phase-II interceptor missile for high-altitude interception under the BMD programme. India has also begun inducting indigenously developed AESA radars, boosting early warning capabilities. The Combat Air Teaming System (CATS), a manned-unmanned teaming initiative by HAL and DRDO, aims to pair fighter jets with autonomous drones for offensive and reconnaissance missions. The Tapas-BH UAV further adds to India’s capacity in Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), which is set to be used by the Indian Navy for maritime surveillance. The Tejas Mk-1A fleet expansion will improve India’s air strike agility.
The DRDO recently conducted a successful 1000-second scramjet engine test—a major leap in propulsion technology essential for long-duration strategic and space missions. This test underpins future launch vehicles and signals India’s growing competence in sustaining complex, high-endurance propulsion systems. This foundation supports both deterrence and rapid-response strike systems.
Challenges
One of the significant challenges to defence advancement in India is insufficient self-reliance. We are yet to reach the stage of viable production. While there is a fall in the import of arms with the boost given to self-reliance in defence, Brigadier (Retd.) Rahul Bhonsle expressed that importing defence equipment will remain a reality for years to come despite the best efforts at indigenising defence needs.
The lack of self-reliance directly leads us to import and procure our essential defence needs from other countries. India has partnered primarily with Russia, Israel and the USA. Over a period of time, the issues in procurement and the delays have created a vacuum in the defence system of India. As a result, Indian Foreign Policy is affected by mixed perceptions and opinions by nation-states across the globe. For instance, the USA warned India with sanctions during the India-Russia S-400 deal.
Whether it is to develop our own defence systems or to import, the greatest challenge has been budgeting and cost management. The Fifteenth Finance Commission recommended in its 2020 report the establishment of a non-lapsable Modernisation Fund for Defence and Internal Security (MFDIS). The total size of the MFDIS over the period 2021-26 is ₹2,38,354 crore. It also becomes pertinent to note the delays induced by departmental procedures in equipping our forces and securing our territory, airspace included. The procedural complexities stem from the multi-stage acquisition procedures; the requirements of each of these stages are complex and time-consuming. This is coupled with bureaucratic delays.
Is the Cycle Really Vicious?
Systematic and systemic interventions are needed to improve the air defence situation in India. As a short-term approach, improving the financing of defence modernisation is the need of the hour. Speeding up the delivery of finalised deals can be of merit.
A medium-term option to ease the pressure can be to bring smaller and actionable changes in the Defence Procurement Procedures (DPP). As some of the changes have already been set in place with the DPP-2020, building upon them with the advice of experts from the forces needs to be considered.
A long-term solution would be to develop viable indigenous technology, build the capacity to produce for India’s needs, and facilitate export. Creating favourable conditions for education, research and innovation in manufacturing defence equipment must be fostered.
In the face of persistent Indo-Pak hostilities and the increasing sophistication of aerial threats, India’s strategic calculus must prioritise air power and defence. A well-prepared air force, backed by responsive policy, indigenous innovation, and swift execution, will be India’s deterrent against any potential Blitzkrieg– as Greek Philosopher Plutarch says, “To make no mistakes is not in the power of man, but from their errors and mistakes, the wise and good learn wisdom for the future.”
[Photo by Indian Air Force, EdictGov-India, via Wikimedia Commons]
Dr. Chetan Singai is the Dean of the School of Law, Governance & Public Policy, Chanakya University.
Gowri Dixit is a PhD Scholar at the School of Law, Governance & Public Policy, Chanakya University. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors.
