Founded on October 8, 1932, the Indian Air Force came into existence at Karachi’s Drigh Road, with just six RAF-trained officers, 19 air soldiers, and four Westland Wapiti IIA biplanes. Over the decades, it transformed from a small auxiliary unit into the world’s fourth-largest air force. Its motto, “नभः स्पशृं दीप्तम” (“Touch the Sky with Glory”), borrowed from the Bhagavad Gita, makes the chest of every Air-Warrior swell with pride. From its early operations to the critical precision strikes of 1971 and turning the tide during the 1999 Kargil War, the skies have long echoed with the formidable roars of the MiG-21, Folland Gnat, Hawker Hunter, Sukhoi Su-7, Mirage 2000, and the MiG-29. Yet, behind these gloriously fought victories and elite tactical excellence lies a side of the force that demands a hard, honest look.
The Indian Air Force faces severe structural, technological, and operational vulnerabilities that threaten its combat readiness in an increasingly hostile neighborhood. Despite efforts toward self-reliance under Atmanirbhar Bharat, the IAF remains caught in a loop of operational shortfalls due to mismatch of Sanctioned Squadrons numbers with effectively working Squadrons, engine technology voids; for example, the Kaveri engine 1.0 program was asked to shut and was de-linked from the LCA Tejas fighter jet project in 2009, as it could not consistently generate the required 90+ kN of wet thrust (maxing out at ~72 kN) and faced severe thermal metallurgy challenge, fifth-generation delays because Of intergovernmental delays and lack of technological advancements, and last, the dependency on Foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs); for example, the acquisition of 36 Rafales did bring instant operational superiority, but they come with high life cost, and with Restricted source codes.
Being the youth of our country, I believe that addressing these vulnerabilities is not a disrespect of our armed forces; it is the first prerequisite for true greatness. A nation that builds its own defense systems builds an unassailable future. To ensure the IAF remains a world-class aerospace power in the 21st century, India must pivot sharply toward radical structural reforms: Defense R&D should not remain confined to state-run laboratories alone; it must foster deep partnerships between DRDO, academia (IITs/NITs), and private defense startups to achieve breakthroughs in stealth materials, hypersonic tech, and propulsion—fields that demand venture-style agility and massive initial funding.
India boasts the largest youth population on Earth—a pool of unmatched software engineers, roboticists, and AI pioneers. By integrating young talent into defense incubators, drone warfare research, and autonomous systems development, we can take technological development in Research and Development sector on a 6th Generation Level. And the biggest pride of any young mind will be that their innovations helped the nation.
The men and women in uniform have proven time and again that their courage and tactical skill are second to none. It is now up to the nation’s visionaries, researchers, and young innovators to match that courage with world-leading indigenous technology. When our engineers and our warriors fly together in locally designed, high-tech machines, the Indian Air Force will not only touch the sky with glory—it will command it. Jai Hind.
- Manprit Shekhawat
