IAF chief not in favour of use of air power against Naxals

AHMEDABAD: IAF chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik today said he was not in favour of use of air power in anti-Naxal operations, a day after the worst ever Maoist attack in which 76 CRPF personnel were killed in Chhattisgarh.

As a stunned Government took stock of the situation and mulled various strategies, Naik said the IAF will be ready to join the operations against the Naxals if a decision is taken in this regard.

He said the Military is trained for lethal operations to inflict maximum lethality. “The military–Air Force, Army and Navy–are not trained for limited lethality. The weapons that we have are meant for the enemy across the border.”

“Therefore, I am not in favour of use of Air Force in situations like the Naxal problem,” the air chief said.

Naik said it is the prerogative of the State when the naxal situation reaches that level to involve the Armed Forces.

“They can order us in at any time. At the present moment, we must leave it to the para-military forces because they are trained, they are slowly being equipped. They have the intelligence also to undertake these operations,” he added.

Naik also visualised a scenario if the IAF is called in. “Let us say that air force is called in for attack in Naxal locality and it needs to fire a rocket, which is fired at a minimum distance from 1500-1800 metres…from that distance we are not able to visualise what the target is,” Naik said.

“Unless we have 120 per cent intelligence that they (Naxals) are enemies, it is not fair to use air force within our borders. The basic thing is Naxals are our own citizens,” he said, when asked if it was time for the military to join the anti-Naxal operations.

Home secretary Gopal K Pillai yesterday ruled out use of air power in the fight against Naxalites.

“I don’t think we need to use air power at the moment (in the anti-naxal operation). We can manage with what we have. Our strategy is unfolding and we should be able to manage without air power,” he said.

However, Pillai made it clear that the air power will be used only for evacuation and for mobility of troops.

Source

Mhadei Rounds Cape Of Good Hope On Final Leg

Indian Naval Sailing Vessel Mhadei rounded the Cape of Good Hope, today, enroute the final leg of the solo circumnavigation of the world-Sagar Parikrama. Cdr Dilip Donde had sailed out from Cape Town, South Africa on Apr 3, 2010, at 10:30 am for the final leg of the Indian Navy’s global solo circumnavigation venture –Mhadei was seen off by the enthusiastic local community and well wishers that had gathered to bid farewell to her on the long passage to Mumbai.

With a vibrant yachting industry in Cape Town, the stay served to undertake routine checks and expert care for the boat. Cape Town, being the hub of yachting activity in the Southern Hemisphere also provided a unique opportunity for the skipper to interact with veterans of ocean sailing and exchange notes on their experiences.

Commander Donde speaking on the occasion of his departure talked about his daunting voyage ahead, he mentioned that on leaving Cape Town he planned a wide berth to the Cape of Good Hope, the seas around which are so treacherous that in maritime circles it is commonly known as the graveyard of ships. He intends to sail well south until hitting the 40 degree latitude, also known as the roaring 40s for the gale force winds that blow in the region, before turning north east. The final leg to Mumbai comes with a posse of new challenges for the expedition. With a distance of 6500 miles to go, the last leg from Cape Town to Mumbai is also longer than any other leg of the project. Sailing from 40 degrees South to 20 degrees North would also ensure a wide variety of sailing conditions – from the roaring 40s in the south to the frustrating doldrums close the equator, the steady trade winds and the not very comfortable monsoons. Yet the timely setting in of the Monsoons is important as Cdr Dilip Donde is relying on the South Westerly winds for helping him cross the equator and his home run thereafter. Increasing instances of piracy as far east as Maldives is a cause of concern. However, the Indian Navy is not leaving anything to chance as far as Mhadei’s security is concerned.

This leg of the circumnavigation will also see the name of Mhadei being added to the list of volunteers for the South African Weather Services when she deploys two weather buoys at designated locations along her track. These buoys will form a part of chain that will help in gathering met data for accurate weather forecasts.

Mhadei is scheduled to arrive at Mumbai by mid May and will receive a befitting welcome.

Source

India’s Scorpene submarine programme delayed

India’s controversial Scorpene submarine programme was first hit by technical delays, then it faced allegations of kickbacks, and later a CBI probe. Now, it’s confirmed that the Rs 18,000 crore defence deal signed in 2005 will not be available to the Indian Navy before 2014.

“We have had delays due to various reasons. I expect the first submarine to be delivered in four years time. That is 2014 – 2015. That’s a delay of 2 – 2/12 years. There were certain issues to be addressed with the government and the owner. These issues have now been sorted out and we are placing orders for various equipments,” said Retired Vice Admiral H S Malhi, Chairman and MD, Mazgaon Docks Limited.

The impact of the delay could be serious because by 2012 the Indian Navy will be left with only nine of its 16 submarines; the others would be too old to use.

And that’s not all. The makers of the Scorpene, the Mazgaon Docks Limited, say the delivery of the first of the six submarines is dependent on when they get the various equipment they are still to order for. If that is delayed then for the Indian Navy and the country, it’s going to be a long and tense wait.

Source

I doubt it is the same thing, if so why was something that was available since 1994 being flight tested in Fort Worth in the last quarter of 2008 ?

IIRC this can be used on any F-16 fitted for CFTs. It’s an additional piece of bolt-on equipment, not an India-specific modification of the aircraft.

It may be retrofitted for other F 16s. But it was made specifically for the MRCA requirements.

The F110-GE-132 has also been selected to power the F-16IN, the Fighting Falcon proposed for India for the Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft program. If selected, the F-16IN will be the most advanced F-16 design to date. This aircraft will feature a refueling boom that retracts from the right conformal fuel tank. The boom allows the F-16IN to operate with India Air Force probe-and-drogue style aerial refueling systems similar to those used by the US Navy. The refueling boom is now being flight tested in Fort Worth. Even without aerial refueling, an F-16IN with conformal tanks can fly from Bangalore in the south of India to Leh in the north.
Several other systems distinguish the F-16IN from the Block 60, including an electronic warfare system and radar modes tailored for India, dragchute, datalink, satellite communication, and a helmet-mounted cueing system. The F-16IN will carry the Sniper targeting pod as well.

http://www.codeonemagazine.com/archives/2008/articles/jul_08/f16-evolution/index.html

Hi,

I’m curious if there is any public info available on ‘rough’ differences between offered F-16IN and UAE block 60?

Also, just for the interested discussion – what would be your personally suggested ‘optimal’, advanced block F-16 loadout, for an alert intercept sortie (say a fictional F-16 block 60+ operator, if you wish)?

Lastly, wiki-p apparently lists UAE block 60 as employing MICA missiles?? What would be the cost and difficulty involved with integrating a MICA-IR into Block 60’s (or block 50/52+ for that matter) interface?

Thanks in advance..

Differences.

1. India Specefic radar modes.

2. Different EW suite Falcon Edge in UAE block 60/ Raytheon ACES in F 16 IN.

3. Refuelling probe in the RHS CFT allowing it to use USN/IAF style refuellers.

Could the Mirage Upgrade deal be the real reason behind France’s NO to Pakistan ?

India inks Mirage deal, France says no to Pak

India last week finalised a $2.2 billion deal with France to upgrade its fleet of Mirage 2000 fighters, even as reports from Paris say the country has suspended the sale of electronics and missiles for Pakistan’s JF 17 fighters, supposedly under “Indian pressure”.

While the IAF deal for upgradation of 51 fighters had been hanging fire for the past two years, sources said the Price Negotiation Committee last week finalised the cost. The deal is likely to be signed shortly.

At $2.2 billion, the cost of the upgrade is considered to be on the higher side, given that several countries are offering new fighters for that price. However, the French argue that the upgrade, which will give the aircraft new radar systems, a new weapon suite, missiles, electronic warfare system and modern electronic warfare, will convert the combat-proven aircraft into next-generation fighters.

The final price negotiations were held even as reports from Paris, carried by French newspapers and agencies, said that its plans to sell $1.6 billion worth of military equipment for Pakistan’s JF 17 fighters had been put on hold.

The reports said that the contract was suspended under Indian pressure and doubts over Pakistan’s ability to pay for the systems.

Source

Confusion over aircraft trials for Air Force

BANGALORE: Confusion shrouds the trials of 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) as it is uncertain if the flight tests will be completed by the end of April, as planned by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The IAF has been maintaining that the trials for the $10 billion deal will be completed by the end of April.

However, Gripen NG, one of the six contenders, will complete its trials only by mid- May. The IAF has reportedly given a grace period till mid- May to the Swedish-based firm for to fly in its Gripen NG for evaluation.

Gripen had last month failed to send its Gripen NG fighter jet for evaluation and instead sent its older Gripen- D jets for trials which the IAF had objected to.

All the other contenders — Boeing’s F/A-18, Lockheed Martin’s F-16, Russia’s MiG- 35, Dassault Rafale and EADS’s Eurofighter Typhoon — have completed trials.

The Gripen jets were not showcased in the last edition of Aero India, while all contenders barring the Rafale performed in the show. The IAF plans to
procure 126 MMRCA in order to replace the ageing MiG-21 aircraft.

Source