Begging for a Beating

Modern air power may still not be good enough to win wars alone as air power purists have been promising for a century now, but with precision aerial weapons and sensors blanketing the battlefield, the army that does not have air superiority is in for a world of hurt.

India needs air power as their first priority, I've argued, and their purchase of replacements for their aging Mig-21s is a key decision.

So far, India is screwing the pooch on the air power issue:

The Indian Air Force is facing "critical deficiency" of trainer aircraft and simulators, fighter squadrons are depleting and some airfields do not have certain landing facilities, a parliamentary panel has been informed.

The IAF has 34 fighter squadrons against the sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons and the number is likely to reduce further to 31 during the 12th plan period, the parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence was told during a recent presentation by top officials of IAF and the Defence Ministry.

I guess advances in Chinese military power--especially air power--isn't enough of a worry in India to inspire a little more action to redress this longstanding deficiency.