Indian joint army exercise had been “called off”, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is strengthening its air defense in Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China by putting in place a series of special mountain and light-weight radars. In a path-breaking move, the two armies held the first ever exercise, named “Hand-in-Hand” in December 2007 in Kunming province of China, when a 100-strong Indian Army delegation took part in a counter-terrorism exercise. This was followed up with the second exercise last year when India hosted the Chinese military personnel at Belgaum in Karnataka for a similar counter-terrorism exercise. But, China has informed India that they will be busy with the 60th National Day celebrations scheduled for Oct. 1, and hence will not be able to host the Indian Army personnel for the exercise this year. Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Vishnu Prakash stated the two countries had mutually decided to have the exercise next year in 2010. 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 defense in Ladakh along the LAC with China by installing a larger number and variety of radars. Browne stated that different types of radars would be put in place along the 667-km LAC with China, the air defense of which is WAC's responsibility. “The Air Force is keenly examining the option of special type of radars, which we call the mountain radars and we are also looking at Low Level Light Weight Radars (LLLWR). So there is a definite plan,” Browne said. The IAF's move comes close on the heels of reports of recent incursions by Chinese military helicopters into Indian airspace. “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,” he asserted. Browne said the IAF would put in place these radars in the next four to five years to make the air defense system along the LAC robust. He said the IAF also had the option of an indigenously developed LLLWR. At present, the IAF has placed along the LAC two Rohini radars developed by DRDO and manufactured by BEL. “These, I think, will take care of detection of any threats that come from across the LAC,” he added. Browne parried queries on the IAF's response to Chinese helicopters violating Indian airspace in Ladakh, but he said India needed to keep talking to all its neighbors and at the same time maintain highest levels of military vigilance. “We do need to talk to everybody. Every one of our neighbors and at the same time keeps our gun powers dry. We should maintain our preparedness at the highest levels,” he said. The WAC chief admitted to media that the IAF was fully aware of what was going on along the LAC, but reiterated that there were issues such as differing perceptions of the LAC on both sides. On the recent remarks of Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik that India's Air Force fleet was just one-third of China's, he stated the IAF was extremely well-balanced on all fronts such as numbers, technology, modern platforms and equipment. “It is not just a question of numbers, there are other issues such as technology and capability too,” he said, dismissing the Chinese fleet strength as a threat. Chinese military activity across the LAC facing Ladakh had increased in recent times. The WAC chief considers it routine, “they are doing their activity during summer. It is their side of the LAC. They have full freedom, just as we have, to operate in their area,” he stated. Recently, a British newspaper, The Sunday Times, has claimed that nearly 47 years after the two countries fought a war, many Chinese still perceive India as their main enemy.
