While Gen Rawat could have been more particular with his words, the IAF has opposed any and all changes being attempted from a very long time. They were the reason for the CDS not to be created for so long because they feared turf loss. Now they fear more loss of turf, which will be a reality , that's the nature of theatre commands. Unfortunate but inevitable.
The airforce and the navy have been somewhat operating in silo mode. The IAF's selection of the Rafale is a clear indication of that. Pick the most expensive aircraft and then insist that money be found. What kind of competition was run where they pit different aircraft of completely differering weights but picked the "best" without ever considering a trade off between price and features. Everyone in the world would have seen through the madness. Look at how the Finnish competition has been structured, they have indicated the funds available and asked the manufacturers to offer their products, including numbers and features tailored to that. If the IAF or the navy is allowed to continue the way they have so far, we are done for. We will have no money and very limited capability. Asking the navy to rethink the 3rd carrier is sensible, we simply don't have the money for that and in the meantime, we have many more urgent requirements. Silo thinking may be helpful and even necessary to protect respective turfs but if we are going to have any kind of capable military with the budget we can manage, we need many more bulldozers of the Bipin Rawat type.
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