IAF-CHINA 2

Noting that nobody with a right frame of mind wanted a
war, Naik said, "We are having a set of capabilities, we are
building a set of capabilities, infrastructure. It is not
adversary-specific. The ultimate aim of all wars is peace. The
idea of having a defence force is to deter," he added.

On China modernising its armed forces, Naik said India
too was modernising "in a big way."

He said the IAF's focus was on building capabilities to
"see first and farthest, reach first and farthest, hit
accurately and hard, and protect the assets."

Naik said for improving its reconnaissance and
surveillance capability, the IAF had inducted an Airborne
Early Warning System from Israel, two more of which would be
inducted by end of 2010.

It also possesses the Aerostat radars, currently deployed
along the borders to keep a tab on enemy airbases and troop
movements.

The IAF had bought the C-130J transport aircraft for
India's Special Forces operations and these aircraft would be
based in Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad near the Capital, he
added.

Also, the IAF got six IL-78 air-to-air refuelers and it
is in the process acquiring more refuelers, for which a
proposal was pending with the Finance Ministry, he said.
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