Dragon in the Air: Transformation of Aviation Industry and the Airforce

Vishal Nigam

Dragon in the Air: Transformation of China’s Aviation Industry and Air Force is a comprehensive and multidimensional study of the air force and the emerging aviation industry in PRC. The author has made a bold effort to trace the changing character of Chinese Air Force from the time of nationalists and perspicuously hunted down the history by dividing PLAAF into three distinct periods. The first stage from 1949-1979 has been characterized by the early blues of PLAAF under Mao’s leadership. Deng then had an overbearing influence in the second stage from 1979-1993, also instrumental in initiating the process of transformation from an ancillary of PLA into an independent arm. The third stage was however the defining moment which witnessed the start of modernization of PLAAF under the leadership of Jiang Zemin. The author has very lucidly tried to explain the strong link between modernisation of PLAAF and the emergence of China’s aviation industry and therefore divided the book in two parts. While the first part of the book maintains focus on the air force and the process of modernisation; the second part dwells with the evolution of the aviation industry and the changes in the organisation structure. He has pointedly highlighted China’s increasing defence spending and growing military capabilities resulting in China developing new aerial platforms, ballistic missiles and modern firepower. As a result China is enhancing strategic power projection by building capabilities to carry out air strikes, reconnaissance and early warning and air and missile defence to put together a potent military force by the middle of this century.

Vishal Nigam Vishal Nigam accepted commission in 1991 and is a career officer holding the rank of Wing Commander in the Indian Air Force. Vishal is a qualified Instructor with 4500 hours of flying on all types of tactical and strategic airlift aircraft. During his career spanning more than two decades, Vishal has worked as Deputy Director, Intelligence and participated in military exercises in India and multinational exercises across the globe which includes ‘SINDEX’ with Singapore Air Force at Paya Lebar and ‘Indradhanush’ with the Royal Air Force at Waddington, UK. He is now actively involved in Geopolitical and Strategic Analysis pertaining to the changing trends in the aviation sector. With a background in Economics (Hons) from Delhi University and Diploma in Management from Symbiosis Pune and Fu Hsing Kang Taiwan, Vishal is currently working at Centre for Air Power Studies focusing on issues related to national security, defence, and aerospace industry in the emerging strategic and international security environment. He has presented research papers at prestigious conferences in India and abroad and has more than a dozen published articles in magazines and journals.