Amphibious Aircraft: The Next Possible Disruptor in the Indo-Pacific

Over the weekend, I tried reliving a lost part of my childhood and was reading a Biggles novel after a long time, “The Black Peril”. To those who do not know him, he is a fictional RAF fighter pilot, Wg Cdr James C. Bigglesworth, DSO, MC and Bar, a veteran of both World Wars who surprisingly continued to fly even into the Cold War, created by Capt W.E. Jones, and was my childhood hero.

This reread, however, made me think on a different tangent. The novel was set in the interwar period, first published in 1936. The plot revolves around a hidden German-Soviet plot to conduct bombing raids using seaplanes and secret bases and an airborne invasion of the British Isles. And unsurprisingly, Biggles and his “chums” Algy, Ginger and Smyth save the day and Britain.

This time I was thinking about the mythical Vickers Vandal that the four fly in. (The Vickers Viking is sometimes regarded as the original inspiration for the Vandal in the novel series.) An amphibious biplane aircraft with a retractable undercarriage for use on land and wing floats for use over water was built for what is today called ISR. Biggles and his trusted crewman Flt Sgt Smyth had conveniently modified and used it as a civilian pleasure aircraft.

Biggles and Algy had faced a fleet of heavily modified German Dornier Do X seaplane bombers. The two aircraft engage in an elaborate hide-and-seek in and around the coastline of Northwestern Europe.

This time, I was struck by the relevance of the then-prevalent tactics and doctrines in various modern-day scenarios. Amphibious aircraft’s high survivability and versatility can add a new dimension to the amphibious, island and expeditionary war-fighting as it exists today.

Speed: They will be able to move in troops to beachheads faster than the usual method of using landing ships. Modern technology can offer an air/sea lift capacity for moving armoured and mechanised columns into beachheads.?

Survivability: They are extremely survivable. They are hypermobile and flexible, and so are their basing requirements. They can move across the theatre of operations and in diffused concentrations, avoiding being tracked and targeted by the adversary.

Relative Advantage over Carrier-based Aviation: They can outclass any carrier-based aircraft in range. The carriers can harbour only so much air power on their decks and inside their hangars. The adversary’s disabling of an aircraft carrier disables its entire air arm. A seaplane may be able to retire to seas under friendly control and wait it out to strike back, thereby assuring the commander of an “airborne maritime second strike”.

Strategic and Tactical Versatility: Big carrier battle groups will be the focus of the adversary’s targeting efforts. However, they can retard and complicate the adversary’s targeting efforts. Not unlike using highways to augment land-based aircraft, these aircraft can park themselves in creeks and streams and continue to harass the enemy. Many technical permutations exist with amphibious aircraft, modified small surface vessels, submarines, and mobile collapsible jetties that can take on seaplane support roles. This versatile basing and roles can become the enemy strategist’s worst nightmare.

Relative Advantages over Rotorcraft: In terms of payload, they will outdo rotorcrafts by a significant margin. Nearly all technical advantages of turboprop fixed-wing aircraft are transferable to them. Amphibised C-130s, who knows? (I agree that rotorcrafts’ VTOL capacities are irreplaceable, but they can augment what exists. But most modern amphibious aircraft qualify as VSTOL or STOL too)

Search and Rescue: SAR is another significant role these aircraft can fulfil. Even for civilian SAR needs, a single aircraft may be able to take on and carry a larger number of evacuees or materials. There is only so much payload that you can winch into a helicopter. These can float and wait close to the site should this be needed. They can certainly add to, if not replace, the SAR capacities of any naval or military force. Many existing types can be reconfigured for firefighting roles too.

Maritime Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance: They will likely have a very long endurance and longer airtime, making them suited to maritime ISR roles. Their ability to cruise very close to the surface makes them great platforms for ASW and underwater survey roles.

Other roles: There are multiple possible configurations. Use as an AWACS platform? Fire control and direction? Combat air support to amphibious troops? Electronic warfare? Psychological warfare? Resupplying and replenishing islands too small for airstrips? Air-to-air refuelling tanker? A combination of all that is listed and a lot more?

It may become the next big disruptor in the Indo-Pacific. It can effectively combine the concepts of maritime control with air dominance. Imagine having the ability to place cruise missile batteries on remote islands at extremely short notice, a potent tool in the hands of the defenders. At the same time, it will allow the rapid insertion of a large force of invasion troops and mechanised platforms at a beachhead. It can overwhelm the defenders and win the battle for the invader. When deployed rightly, it can tilt the scales in one party’s favour.

The Chinese PLAN and PLAAF have given it a thought and are in the process of building the largest seaplane ever built, the AG-900. They already operate Harbin SH-5 for ISR and ASW roles. The Japanese JMSDF operates the amphibious turboprop ShinMaywa U-2s. The Russians have created a turbofan seaplane Beriev Be-200 recently inducted into service with the first militarised version being delivered. They also operate the turbofan and turbojet compound Beriev A-40 and turboprop Beriev Be-12 for multiple roles, including maritime ISR and ASW. Many former Soviet States also received some of the Be-12s, notably Ukraine, which continues to operate them in a limited strike role. Canada also operates a handful of seaplanes and flying boats for SAR and firefighting roles.

Is India willing to step up to this challenge too? News of purchasing the U-2 for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard was reported about four years back, but nothing was heard about it again.

The time is indeed ripe for a rethink on amphibious, airborne operations. (Wow! Such a “jointsmanship” boosting idea that certainly combines maritime, air and land-based assets and capacities into a single platform.)

Atmanirbhar Bharat provides fresh impetus to the aviation and defence manufacturing sectors. Leading Indian firms have already established technical expertise and working arrangements with global leaders. In fact, as per reports, the Mahindra Group had signed an MoU with the ShinMaywa Group as early as 2018 on extending support, including MRO operations in India, should India acquire US-2s. Will an Indian firm, a foreign joint venture, or a PPP initiative deliver a next-generation amphibious aircraft to Indian armed forces? Only time will tell.

There is a question of who gets these platforms’ functional and operational command once they arrive. Will it be the Indian Air Force entrusted with the nation’s air defence? Or the Indian Navy tasked with the nation’s maritime security? Or will it be placed under the Indian Army brigade or division commander heading the airborne and seaborne invasion force? We should address these problems only when we decide to induct the platform. At this point, it is only a mere hypothesis.

A renewed focus on India’s island territories of Andaman and Nicobar and the Lakshadweep has been generated in the wake of worsening Sino-Indian relations and increasing chances of violent clashes. While most of us have viewed islands as “unsinkable aircraft carriers” for a long time, there now exists a chance that they may be “sunk”. Ballistic missiles or a well-directed airstrike may take out an airstrip on an island, which will be difficult to rebuild quickly. On the other hand, amphibious aircraft can continue to operate with only very basic shore-based support on such islands.

Is the induction of an amphibious aircraft a silver bullet to cure all existing issues? Definitely not. No single platform or type of platform can ever be. Nevertheless, having many varied tools in your toolkit increases your chances of having a favourable tactical and strategic outcome. The amphibious aircraft is one such tool, with the potential to be both a scalpel and a sword depending on by who and how it is wielded.

The views, observations and statements made by the author are the author's own and do not reflect the views of any of the organisations the author is associated with. The content is not endorsed or sponsored in any manner by any institution.