ABSTRACT
Doctrinal evolution in the IAF has been a slow process, impeded as it has been by a continuous struggle for doctrinal space within a ‘land-centric’ military environment. Despite a rich operational legacy left behind by the British and the innovative employment of air power in independent India’s first war with Pakistan over Jammu and Kashmir (J and K) in 1947-48, there was not much development on the doctrinal front for almost four decades, given that the force structure and capabilities of the IAF did not go much beyond providing limited counter-air and interdiction, localised air defence and tactical air support to the Indian Army (IA). This chapter endeavours to provide an insight into the doctrinal evolution of the IAF over the last eight decades since its inception as an independent air force.
