The Indian Air Force (IAF) marked a significant milestone with the Weapon Systems School (WSS) inauguration at Air Force Station Begumpet, Hyderabad, on July 1, 2024.
Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), presided over the ceremony, marking a crucial step in establishing the Weapon System (WS) branch, which was approved in 2022. This initiative aims to modernize and prepare the IAF for future challenges, representing a transformative leap for the armed forces, particularly the IAF.
Air Vice Marshal Premkumar Krishnaswamy, Commandant of the WSS, welcomed the CAS. The event also saw the presence of Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Training Command, along with other senior IAF officers, including the Commandant of the Air Force Academy, the Commandant of the College of Air Warfare, the Air Officer Commanding of Air Force Station Hakimpet, and the Station Commander of Air Force Station Begumpet.
The WSS aims to provide contemporary, effect-based training tailored to meet the evolving needs of the IAF. With the inauguration of the WSS, Flight Cadets of the WS Branch will now undergo their second semester of training at this new institute. The WS Branch comprises four distinct streams: Flying, Remote, Mission Commanders, and Intelligence. The Flying stream focuses on operating weapons and systems on airborne platforms such as the Sukhoi-30 MKI and C-130J. The Remote stream is dedicated to operating Remotely Piloted Aircraft. The Mission Commanders and operators handle Surface-to-Air and Surface-to-Surface weapon systems, while the Intelligence stream deals with space-based intelligence and imagery.
During his address, the CAS emphasized the strategic importance of the WS Branch in unifying operators of ground-based and specialist weapon systems under one umbrella, thereby significantly enhancing the IAF’s warfighting capabilities. He urged the instructors to recognize their pivotal role as pioneers in this newly established branch, highlighting that they are the foundational pillars of the envisioned training regime to deliver decisive air power. The CAS also commended the school's founding members, encouraging all personnel to establish the WSS as a premier centre for weapon systems training in India.
The CAS initially announced the WS Branch during the Air Force Day Parade celebrations on October 8, 2022. Establishing the WSS and the WS Branch underscores the IAF’s commitment to innovation and excellence, positioning it as a future-ready force capable of addressing emerging threats and challenges.