Redefining the Role of Airpower for Nation Building in Peacetime

Abstract

Airpower is offensive by nature. In the post conflict situation after the defeat of brutal terrorism in 2009, airpower was performing its traditional role of preserving the peace for almost a decade. However, economy and development of the nation crippled by two consecutive incidents. The Easter Sunday attack in 2019 and COVID-19 pandemic. These two incidents directly influenced fields such as trading, tourism, finance, education, transportation, development and so on. The high cost involved in maintaining airpower in battle ready condition has become an extra burden for the nation with the depleted economic status. Thus, gradually truncating of budgetary allocation for the maintenance of airpower occurred. Re-fleeting plans had to be suspended. Hence, an exploratory qualitative study was conducted with an inductive approach examining the present gap between sustenance of Air Force and national interest. Further, the potentials/competencies of airpower could be utilized in nation building without hampering its primary role of assuring security, and safety of the nation was examined. During this paper following key potentials were highlighted which can contribute for national growth. They are United Nations (UN) deployment of air assets, enhance surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, restart manufacturing of military equipment, and improve research and development capabilities. Recommendations were made in order to achieve the improvements such as procuring aircraft for UN peacekeeping operation deployments, optimizing surveillance and recce, improve research and development facilities and recommencement of military equipment manufacturing. These recommendations would contribute for national growth, and support the sustenance of airpower in the long run.