Amid a debate over allowing the Indian Air Force use fire power in self-defence while operating in naxalite-affected areas, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik on Thursday emphasised that the option would be a last resort to protect in the event of being attacked.
"We are against Armed Forces, Army, Navy and Air Force being used for internal security. We are there to defend threats from across the borders… we are not attacking (naxalites) with helicopters or weapons on our aircraft’’, ACM Naik said during an interaction with correspondents after the Air Force Day parade at Hindon station.
The Air Force, he said, sought permission from the Government to use retaliatory fire only to protect its personnel and helicopters being used in casualty evacuation, reposition, extraction or insertion of para-military forces and police in naxalite areas.
The Air Chief said the IAF helicopter had come under attack from naxalites last year while carrying out casualty evacuation in Chhattisgarh last year resulting in the death of an air warrior.
In any case, even if the Government gives permission to fire in self-defence, he said, the option would be exercised under the clear command of the Captain of the helicopter and is the last of stringent steps.
"We will use minimum force and cause minimum collateral damage’’, he said adding that a highly trained gunners from its Garud force would be on board with a view to suppress any firing from naxalites. "It will not be a free-for-all and not like a Rambo’’, he said.
Already, the self-defence measures that the IAF is undertaking includes protective armour for the helicopters, body armour for the personnel, tactical manoeuvres and sanitising the area where the helicopters are to fly on the mission by police.
In response to preparedness, the Air Chief sought to dispel doubts over the strength stating that the IAF with some 30 to 32 fighter squadrons was not some pushover. He said its was working on a plan of capacity building to reach its optimum level of fighter squadrons by 2014. The IAF plans to have 42 fighter squadrons by then as against it current sanctioned strength of 39.5.
Earlier, addressing the assembly on the 77th anniversary of Air Force Day, the Air Chief mentioned of the all-round work being done by the force outlining its futuristic plans to emerge as an aerospace power.
He inspected an impressive parade, witnessed an enthralling display by air warriors, and with their deft handling of a bayonet topped .303 rifles that literally danced around their hands.
During the fly past, IAF showcased the country’s first AWACS (Air Borne Warning and Control System) aircraft along with a sample of the transport and fighter aircraft in its fleet. The advanced light helicopters’ Sarang’ and the Surya Kiran also held a breath-taking display.
The parade was witnessed by the Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor, the Vice Chief of Navy Vice Admiral V.K. Dewan, Military attaches from various diplomatic missions, former Air Chiefs and a large number of air force personnel and their families.
