Indian Air Force Evolving Counterforce Capabilities and Emerging Challenges for Pakistan’s Security

Abstract

India is procuring qualitatively advanced weapons. Indian Air Force (IAF) is raising mini-air-force
and retrofitting fighter jets Sukhoi or SU-30MKIs, Modernizirovannyi Kommercheskiy (I) stands for
India, Rafale, Tejas, MiG-29s (K) with Standoff Weapon (SOW) capabilities and procuring Airborne
Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) to ensure total spectrum escalation dominance.
Modernized IAF will pose serious threats to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) power
projects, Special Economic Zones (SEZs), counterforce assets. This paper attempts to bring into
limelight IAF modernization, the rationale behind Balakot surgical strike, threats to CPEC, and
challenges posed to regional strategic stability. Major finding of the paper is Balakot strike exposed
IAF’s weaknesses. India will complete procurement of sophisticated military hardware by 2025. It
will create sense of security and full-spectrum escalation dominance in New Delhi-based strategic
planners. India will inevitably execute/operationalize preemptive strikes. It creates fear of all-out
war resulting in deterrence breakdown and endangering regional strategic stability.