Winning India’s Next War: The Role of Aerospace Power

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Two recent experiences clearly highlight the core issues involved in our wars and the role of aerospace power in our national defence: the war in the kargil sector during the summer of 1999, and the 10-month military mobilisation to initiate military action against Pakistan as a consequence of the terrorist attack on our Parliament on December 13, 2001 -our 13/12. The former was the first war since India and Pakistan formally declared their nuclear weapon status after the tests in May 1998. And the latter was clearly the first serious attempt at coercing Pakistan with the potential threat of launching a war. But before we examine these, it would be useful to look at some basic factors and principles affecting modern wars and aerospace power. Within a century from its inception, air power (and now increasingly aerospace power) has acquired a dominate role in the foreign policy of nations in wars and use of force not necessarily leading to war. In spite of some enthusiasts claiming otherwise, aerospace power cannot win a war by itself’ but it is also true that no modern war can be won without it. In fact, neither the ground forces nor the naval forces can win wars by themselves, especially where hostile air power exists and is used, however poorly. Such situations do not, and are not likely to, exist in the foreseeable future in our context and we will have to contend with robust hostile air and space power in the future. Planning for, and gaining, air dominance, therefore, would remain a strategic priority to win our future wars.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR T.D. Joseph

Group Captain T.D. Joseph (Joe) VM is a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force. Born in the sunny south of India, in the state of kerala, the Author had his schooling at Loyola School, Thiruvananthpuram, and mayo College, Ajmer. An alumnus of the prestigious National defence Academy and Air Force Academy, he was commissioned on December 20, 1982, and was the winner of the nawanagar Sword of Honour for having topped his course. Highly experiences on the MiG-27 and MiG-23MF fighter aircraft, Group captain Joseph has commanded a front line strike squadron in Operation Parakram, the Indo-Pak standoff during 2001-02. A graduate of the defence Service Staff College at Wellington, the author has held important appointments such as Air Force Examiner, Joint Director Personnel Officers at Air headquarters and Chief Operation Officer of one of the largest air bases in the country. An experience Cat A Qualified Flying Instructor, the author is presently serving as the Commanding Officer of the Flying Instructors' School at Tambaram, Chennai. He was awarded the Presidential honour of Vayusena medal (VM) for distinguished service in 2003. He is married to Sophie and they have two sons.

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Bibliographic information

Title
Winning India’s Next War: The Role of Aerospace Power
Author
Edition
ist ed.
Publisher
ISBN
9788187966746
Length
xxii+262p., Tables; Figures; Maps; Notes; 25cm.
Subjects