IAF CONCLUDES NO.5 WARFARE & AEROSPACE STRATEGY PROGRAMME (WASP)

NEW DELHI - The fifth edition of the Capstone Seminar, marking the successful culmination of the Warfare & Aerospace Strategy Programme (WASP), was held on June 29th. The event was graced by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal AP Singh, as the Chief Guest. The seminar was also attended by former CDS Gen Anil Chauhan (Retd), former Chiefs of the Air Staff and distinguished veterans, underscoring the strategic importance of the initiative.

The Capstone Seminar serves as the culmination of a rigorous, six-month intellectual journey jointly conducted by the Centre for Aerospace Power and Strategic Studies (CAPSS), New Delhi, and the College of Air Warfare (CAW), Hyderabad. This year, participating teams presented deep-dive analyses on two critical themes: "Evolution of Aerospace Power: From Classical Strategy to Contemporary Limited Conflict'' and "Future-proofing Aerospace Power: Innovation, Integration and Force Design."

WASP is a selective programme designed for mid-ranking officers of the Indian Air Force and is also open to personnel from all three services and civilians from the Ministry of Defence. With a vision for global cooperation, the programme aims to extend invitations to friendly foreign countries in the future as well.

In an era increasingly dominated by Artificial Intelligence, WASP distinguishes itself through a foundation of extensive reading, comprehension, and the analysis of seminal texts and papers. This academic rigor is paired with dialectical discourse and high-level engagements with globally renowned experts, focusing on military history. aerospace power, technology, doctrine, and international relations.

The programme's primary objective is to institutionalize national security discourse by embedding a strategic thought process and broadening the operational vision of the nation's future leaders. The success of this approach is reflected in its alumni, who currently occupy pivotal roles within the government, premier think tanks, and military educational institutions.

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh congratulated the participants for their endurance and academic discipline. He urged the graduates to maintain an intense pursuit of knowledge throughout their careers and to actively nourish the ecosystem of strategic thinking across the country to meet future operational needs. During the seminar, the inaugural WASP CAW Journal was also released.

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HT/VK/GK