IAF to beef up radar strength along LAC with China

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) went into damage control a day or so after its chief created an impression that his force was vastly outnumbered, and so, not really in a position to take on the Chinese air force. Western Air Command (WAC) chief air marshal NAK Browne held a media briefing to assert that the IAF was strengthening its air defence in Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China by installing a larger number and variety of radars.

Image: Indian Air Force

Air marshal Browne told reporters on Friday that different types of radars would be put in place along the 667-km LAC with China, including special mountain and light-weight radars.

"The Air Force is keenly examining the option of special type of radars, which we call mountain radars and we are also looking at Low Level Light Weight Radars (LLLWR). So there is a definite plan," Browne said to a question on the future air defence systems along the LAC.

The IAF chief had also asserted that there had been no incursions by the Chinese air force although reports of an incursion by Chinese military helicopters into Indian airspace had flooded India media.

These radars, air marshal Browne said, would be put into place over the next four to five years and would make the air defence system along the LAC a robust one.

"When I talk of operational infrastructure to be improved in the northern sector, the mountainous terrain is very tricky. Because you have huge peaks and normal conventional systems are very difficult to maintain there," he said.