EVOLVING TACDE OF THE AIRFORCE TO PREPARE FOR FUTURE CHANGING SPECTURM OF WARFARE

The Indian Cinema industry recently launched subsequent two Indian movies which are based on true story , That involves near realistic scenarios where the fictional actors have taken as role as elite fighter pilots which they had demonstrated their fictional fighter skills and role in destroying adversary assets and also performing an extraordinary aerial combat demonstration where multiple enemy aircraft formations were destroyed , Subsequently it ended with fictional hero portrayal as an ace pilot ! But it is far from reality and there is great ocean of separation between fictional aerial combat events and real scenarios .

Such demonstrations and high risk maneuvers can be performed by India's Top GUN school called as TACDE ,Where this institution teaches both tactics development and training of the air crew with proper documentation of those aerial exercises without violating physics laws and This institution recruits Top percentage of pilots and other highly capable and professionals from various branches to teach them art of performing realistic and difficult scenarios where the air force need to perform complex missions by reducing the losses occur in the war. For preparing the TACDE to perform such complicated scenario in future ,It requires modernization and regular updating of the latest technological standards of the institution to provide high degree of technology exposure to aircrews where they are trained typically under this academy

The thought process is to have a training wing under the TACDE where it will be divided into two categories of having a stealth combat course and Complex combat course .

Here use case of Ghatak or Lakshya improved version with sophisticated level of implementing AI , ML AND DL with use of digital transformation and metaverse can leverage the sophisticated of performing target practices to simulate a enemy advanced stealth aircrafts where the training will be more enhanced and future ready .

The next wing under second category will have electronic warfare assets , air defense systems that include lasers and microwave weapons with more harden scenarios which will be developed and performed in virtual simulation under metaverse to have necessary cutting edge training for all air force groups to perform under complex combat course. The important point to remember is that these two wings will be part of existing training development of crews with additional support from Test pilot school of air force with ADA where they can play major role in providing top class training tools and methods such as advanced technology to mimic enemy and friendly signature to better training exercises which are routine in TACDE .

Looking at current scenarios one of our adversary are constantly enhancing their power by deploying 5 the generation fighter aircrafts with well sophisticated radar technologies with improved avionics software with long range BVR missiles where these can pose threat towards our air force in terms of having better equipped than our fighter aircrafts and the other adversary with a thought of a note plan of inducting 5 th gen fighter aircrafts by early 2028-2029. If i only talk about changing spectrum of aerial warfare , I can say that air force is preparing well for a potential conflict with neighbors despite the threat facing from our adversaries deployment of sophisticated weapons right away from the border , Airforce knew how to counter by performing innovative tactics and strategy to overcome the obstacle as interim solution . Well yes the air force is largely inducting sophisticated air defense systems , Electronic warfare command and mobile posts protecting airfields and installations , Enhancing layered and multi band communications systems and loitering munitions which can be able to be part of long term modernization plan along with fighter aircrafts and induction of long range BVR missiles developed by DRDO where they can boost air force long range shooting capabilities . But with changing Landscape of AI , Digital transformation and Unmanned systems such that we can have a stop gap in a challenging electronic warfare domain and improving Manned - Unmanned teaming to have coordination with various unmanned platforms to supplementing the decaling squadron strength with improving the survivability of the assets .

The long vision and strategy of inducting and developing technologies for future is crucial for the hour and the long term plan of Indian defense ecosystem with goal of Aatmanibhar -Bharat should be executed to have complete sustainment of our air force needs