PLAAF DEPLOYMENT OF LONG-RANGE BOMBERS OPPOSITE LADAKH REGION : IMPACT ON INDIA

Over the course of its 75-year history, the PLAAF (People’s Liberation Army Air Force) has transformed from a limited force with a homeland focus to a “strategic air force” equipped with cutting-edge fighters, long-range aircraft, bombers, and drone systems. With more than 2500 aircraft overall, of which about 1900 are combat-capable, the PLAAF and PLAN (People’s Liberation Army Navy) aviation are currently “the largest aviation force in the Indo-Pacific region and the third largest in the world.” In last decade or so, in pursuit of China’s worldwide aspirations, President Xi Jinping is advancing air, space, and naval capabilities and is concentrating on not only enhancing their tech capability, but also on their deployments word wide. The main objectives of the PLAAF currently include air deterrence, offensive air operations, air blockade, and support for maritime and ground forces. Towards this objective, PLAAF has modernised its bomber fleet of H-6 Bombers too.

Historical Background and Developments

The bomber aircrafts were extensively used both by axis powers as well as by allied powers during the world war, as they constituted the main fire delivery platforms of airpower during that era. Post world war, with rapid development of fighter technology, tactics and war fighting methodology as also the emergence of potent Air Defence (AD) systems, the utility of long-range bombers gradually diminished except for major powers like USA, Russia and China. Presently, the bomber fleet of B-1, B-2, B-52 of USA, TU-22, TU-95, TU-160 series of Russia and H-6 series of China are strategic long-range bombers and are all nuclear armed platforms. The role of erstwhile tactical bombers is now being performed by fighter bomber class of aircrafts like SU-30, F-18, F-35 etc as multirole fighters.

The Chinese strategic Bomber H-6 is an assembled version of Russian TU-16 that was transported to China in Semi Knocked Down / Complete Knocked Down (SKD/CKD) stage in early 1960. Later in 1967, China achieved success in a nuclear test weapon delivery from H-6, thereby becoming the fourth nation in the world to achieve such capability after USA, Russia and UK. The H-6, when first introduced in China, was designated as a strategic bomber meant to function as a nuclear deterrent. Subsequently, its role shifted primarily toward conventional bombing and the deployment of cruise missiles. So far, more than 200 bombers are in service with PLAAF. In China, the quest for modernising its bomber fleet had continued and by 2009 they had upgraded version H-6K with enhanced range 0f 3500km and glass cockpit with LCD multifunction displays and is armed with YJ-12 and CJ-10 (range over 2000KM) Air Launched Cruise Missiles (ALCMs).

Deployment Pattern of H-6 Bombers

There are three conventional bomber divisions of the PLAAF which are the 10th Air Division Eastern Theatre Command (ETC), 8th Air Division Southern Theatre Command (STC), and 36th Air Division Central Theatre Command CTC). H-6s have traditionally been garrisoned mostly at Anqing, Luhe, Shaodong, Leiyang, Lintong, Wugong, and Neixiang Air Bases, that are evenly spread out amongst three Theatre Commands viz. ETC, STC and CTC. It is very obvious from such deployment that while PLAAF has huge presence of its strategic Bomber force for any threat in South China Sea (SCS) and their southern theatre as well as for countering US threat in Indo-Pacific. Traditionally, China had never placed its Bombers in the airfields opposite India in the Ladakh region. There were multiple strategic and tactical reasons like weapon load capability while operating from these high-altitude airfields, limited Runway length, lack of support infrastructure, high vulnerability of such High Value Air Assets (HVAA) due to lack of sufficient defences.

What has Changed in last Decade?

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has experienced considerable transformations since its initial efforts towards modernization that commenced in 1980s. President Xi launched two significant reforms: organisational and command-control changes in 2015, followed by service-level force standardization and doctrinal updates in 2017. However, his latest initiatives for a swift modernisation of the PLA, along with assertive measures to fulfil its foreign policy objectives, have raised alarms around the globe, particularly in the United States (US), neighbouring countries in the East and South China Sea, and India. Specifically speaking of PLAAF, there has been a great impetus on to modernise and indigenise its aircraft, bombers, and drone systems, with focus on overcoming the shortcomings of operations, technology and training. It is in this regard that PLAAF in its doctrinal shift has now focused on moving its strategic assets H-6K bombers to forward locations (In Tibet region and Ladakh region opposite India) on a regular basis towards operational training.

Impact on Indian Defences

Till recently, Indian air Force (IAF) had retained advantage over PLAAF in the Ladakh area and Northern boundaries across Line of Actual Control (LAC), due to huge differential in terms of air assets and number of airfields that can be used to generate combat force in the warzone. The limited infrastructure on existing limited airfields opposite India in the Northern region across LAC ( Hotan, Kashgar, NagriGunsa and Shigtse in Tibet) as well as their altitude, prohibit PLAAF from planning any major sustained air operations from these airfields. The absence of HVAA like H-6 Bombers, Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) and Flight Refueling Aircrafts (FRAs) in this zone further imposed severe limitations on PLAAF operations and worked to the advantage of IAF in the region. However, with the modernization plans of PLA and their focus on moving these HVAA on regular basis, the balance of airpower in this region may shift away from IAF, unless India does not take adequate measures to counter this emerging threat. Even though these Bombers while operating from this high-altitude airfield would have limitations in terms of carriage of weapon load, their regular presence would definitely add to the fire power generation against Indian targets covering almost entire Northern and Western region of India. More so, since these platforms carry standoff weapons of long range, they may target Indian Vital Areas/Vital Points (VA/VPs) deep inside our territory that were relatively safer prior to this development.

What India needs to Do?

Undoubtedly, such developments across LAC are a serious concern for safety and security of our borders and assets and India needs to take adequate measures to counter this emerging threat. Firstly, we need to enhance our air defence capability in the zone by placing suitable network of Radars, advanced Air defence Weapon systems like S-400 to impose threat on enemy bombers. Simultaneously, India needs to fast track its infrastructure development towards providing hardened Shelters to its aircrafts, radars, communication centres and other VA/VPs. Adequate active and passive defensive measures including electronic jamming of incoming threat need to be instituted.

In addition to the above, IAF needs to reposition its Air defence fighters for continuous aerial combat patrol during hostilities to inflict maximum damage to the incoming bombers, who would mostly be undefended due to lack of sufficient air effort by PLAAF in that zone. IAF also must cater to destroying such HVAAs at PLAAF airfields itself since most of these assets would be parked in open area and can easily be targeted by SU-30, Rafale, Jaguars and Mirage-2000s. the IAF must keep a close watch on further developments of PLAAF in the region and take measures to counter such moves by China.