‘China Can’t Get the Better of Us’: IAF Amid India-China Tensions

The IAF has said that India is well-positioned and that it has made deployment in all relevant areas.

File image of Indian Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria.

(Photo: IANS)

The Chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF), Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, has said that the IAF is prepared for any conflict including a two-front war amid the rising tensions between India and China and that in the ongoing standoff in the north, there is no way the Chinese can defeat India, according to ANI.

Days before the Air Force Day parade, scheduled on 8 October, Bhadauria on Monday, 5 October, said that the IAF is “well-positioned and have made deployment in all relevant areas,” with Ladakh being a small part of the plan.

When questioned on the tactical edge that China would have in Ladakh, the Air Marshal said that “there is no question that in any conflict scenario, China can’t get the better of us.”

Bhadauria said that the situation in the coming few months will depend on how talks go between the two countries and further action will be taken accordingly.

He said that the force's immediate offensive deployment of combat-ready units in response to the stand-off along the LAC in the North is indicative of the operational state today.

He also pointed out that, so far, there is no indication of any collusive threat from China and Pakistan.

Speaking to PTI, Bhadauria said that the induction of the Rafale has given the IAF an “operational edge” but cautioned that we should not be underestimating our adversary.

“Rafale is a 4.5 generation, twin-engine omnirole, air supremacy, interdiction, aerial reconnaissance, ground support, in-depth strike, anti-ship and nuclear deterrence fighter aircraft, equipped with a wide range of weapons,” IAF had tweeted on Saturday, 3 October.

During the IAF parade, all eyes will be set on the Rafale jets that are also in the lineup of the total 56 aircraft that will take part in the parade. You’ll have an illustrious lineup of Jaguar, Sukhoi-30, Mig 29, Tejas, Mirage 2000, Mig 21 Bison and there will also be 19 choppers and 7 aircraft transport vehicles that will fly.

The newly inducted Rafale fighters have already been deployed in the Ladakh region which is one of the spots on high alert. Currently, the IAF has a fleet of 5 Rafale fighters. In 2016, India ordered 36 Rafale jets from France in a deal that is estimated to be worth Rs 59,000 crore.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI.)