by: Vikramaditya Singh & Ashwani Sharma

Instead of focusing solely on acquiring new platforms, India must ensure its combat aircraft strategy fits within a broader vision of a networked, sustainable, and future-ready air combat ecosystem. The goal should not just be to match adversaries in aircraft count but to create a force multiplier effect that ensures dominance in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

PM Modi’s visit to the U.S. and the Bangalore Airshow took place simultaneously earlier this month. These events sparked a comparison between two modern combat aircraft—the stealthy F-35 and the aerobatic Su-57—both of which stole the limelight at the airshow. This debate also highlighted the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) worrying deficiency in fighter aircraft numbers and the urgent need to acquire new combat jets to bridge this gap.

The IAF has several options beyond the F-35 and Su-57, including the Gripen, Rafale, and F-21. Choosing the right aircraft is always challenging due to the numerous operational, strategic, and logistical factors involved. However, the key determinant must be operational performance. More importantly, rather than evaluating individual aircraft in isolation, the focus should be on how they integrate into the overall system and deliver the desired combat impact.

Modern warfare is not fought by standalone fighter jets but by interconnected systems operating in a network-centric environment. Any new combat aircraft must integrate seamlessly with India’s existing and future assets, including airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, drones, ground-based radar, and naval aviation. Interoperability with indigenous platforms such as the Tejas, AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft), and even future unmanned systems will be crucial in creating a robust, multi-layered air defence network.

A fighter jet is only as good as the weapons and sensors it carries. Integrating indigenous weapons such as the Astra beyond-visual-range missile, BrahMos-NG, and indigenous electronic warfare suites will enhance operational. The new aircraft should also be compatible with India’s growing space-based surveillance and communication network.

 

Case study: F 15 and the integrated US Airforce System

(Caveat: This case study is not an endorsement of the F-15. As emphasized throughout this article, we strongly recommend a ‘system of systems’ approach.)

The American air force’s arsenal is a carefully orchestrated ecosystem—a network of interconnected systems designed to amplify each other’s capabilities and create a force multiplier on the battlefield. This “system of systems” approach emphasises integration and interoperability across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains. The F-15 Eagle, with a combat record of 104 kills to 0 losses, serves as an excellent case study in weapon system design and operational doctrine. Shocked into action with the unveiling of the Soviet MiG -25 ‘Foxbat’, the Americans were taken aback by what they believed was a high altitude, high speed interceptor which outclassed all NATO fighters in inventory. What the Americans would not realise, until the defection of Soviet pilot Victor Belenko in a MiG-25 in 1976, were the compromises the MiG’s designers had made in manoeuverability and performance.

In September 1968, a request for proposals was released and the SQR called for single-seat, air superiority fighter having a maximum take-off weight of 18 tons for the air-to-air role with a max speed of Mach 2.5 and a thrust-to-weight ratio of nearly 1:1 at mission weight. The first Eagle, an F-15B, was delivered on 13 November 1974, with the first kill scored by Israeli Air Force ace Moshe Melnik in 1979 in Lebanon. The F-15 would go on to become one of the most successful weapons systems ever produced.

While its superior speed, thrust-to-weight ratio, and weapon systems make it formidable, no fighter operates in isolation. The reality is that air combat is rarely a duel between lone aircraft; instead, it is a coordinated effort where information dominance often decides the outcome before a missile is even launched. The F-15’s success is not just about its raw performance but about how it integrates into a larger network of sensors, command assets, and supporting platforms that ensure its overwhelming advantage.

The Kill Chain. A long-range kill in modern aerial combat is rarely a case of a pilot spotting a distant enemy and firing a missile. Instead, it is the result of a well-executed kill chain, where every component of the network plays a role. AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft serve as high-altitude sentinels, scanning hundreds of miles beyond the onboard radar. By relaying real-time threat data, they allow the pilots to remain passive, minimising their own radar signature while still tracking enemy movements.

Once a target is identified and classified, the pilot can manoeuver into an optimal engagement position, often using countermeasures to remain undetected. By the time the enemy becomes aware of the threat, the missile is already in flight, guided by mid-course updates from the radar/ data links from AWACS or other fighters. This seamless coordination allows the aircraft to engage and destroy adversaries from beyond visual range.

Conclusion. A modern Airforce doctrine of integrated warfare must ensure that each asset, from AWACS to electronic warfare aircraft to stealth fighters, contributes to a collective combat advantage. The combat aircraft thrives not in isolation but as part of a carefully orchestrated symphony—one where superior information and coordination decide the battle before the enemy even knows it’s begun.