Exploring Multi-dimensional Trends for the Indian Air Force

Air power is a critical aspect of national defence and plays a vital role in safeguarding a country’s interests within and beyond its borders. Possessing one of the world’s largest and most diverse air forces, India has a significant stake in the evolution of air power and must stay abreast of the latest trends and developments in this field. India has already begun to incorporate these trends into its air force. It is looking towards developing its capabilities in these areas further to maintain its military capabilities and protect its national interests. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has recently revised its doctrine and facets of multi-domain operational trends are expected to be incorporated. This article intends to explore some critical multi-dimensional trends in air power and how they shape the IAF’s capabilities and approach to defence. These trends include aspects in the operational, technological and human resource domains and will be evaluated with the lessons learned from recent global conflicts and the technological revolution in the air power domain. In addition, the analyses will examine a few doctrinal issues relevant to the Indian context. Finally, the article will also provide some valuable lessons and recommendations culled from academic research for addressing these multi-dimensional trends.