1. Air and aerospace power today extends far beyond aircraft and missiles. The decisive advantage lies in ‘doctrine, employment strategy, training and clarity of leadership’, reinforced by new domains of ‘space, cyber, electronic warfare (EW), and artificial intelligence’ (AI). These elements compress the OODA loop (Observe–Orient–Decide–Act), enabling a force with sharper doctrine and quicker decision-making to dominate an opponent that may possess larger numbers or advanced capabilities.
2. South Asia offers one of the clearest demonstrations of this reality. Both the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) operate diverse fleets and increasingly integrate satellites, cyber capabilities, and AI-enabled decision aids. Operation Swift Retort (2019) and May 2025 conflict, show that psychological and strategic effects often outweigh hardware.
3. This Round Table will explore how air and aerospace power functions as both a strategic instrument and a psychological lever in the Indo-Pak setting. The speakers will examine: –
(a) The strategic drivers of superiority.
(b) The psychological mechanisms that shape public opinion and political decision-making, drawing lessons for doctrine, training, and leadership in a multi-domain environment.
