Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit Outlines VAYU Agenda After Taking Charge as Indian Air Force Chief

Key facts

• Dixit set out his priorities under the acronym 'VAYU', standing for vigilance and readiness, Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance), Yukti (ingenuity) and unity of effort.
• He named the indigenous Tejas Mark-1A and Mk2 fighters, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), along with Indian sensors and weapons, as the IAF's highest priority.
• Restoring the IAF's combat strength to its sanctioned level would be his foremost task; the force currently has 29 active fighter squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 42, its lowest in 60 years.
• Under unity of effort, the IAF will plan and fight jointly with the Army, the Navy and national agencies, in step with the vision of 'JAI': Jointness, Aatmanirbharta and Innovation.
• Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) was due to begin delivering the first tranche of 180 Tejas Mk1A aircraft in February 2024 but has delivered none, partly due to delayed American-made engines.
• Dixit listed innovation areas including AI-enabled networked command and control, layered counter-drone defence, and the use of near-space as an operational domain for the IAF.
• A proposal with a blueprint for integrating the armed forces into theatre commands awaits clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security.