Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 15 Dec 2016

Manish_Sharma · Post by **Manish_Sharma** » 24 Sep 2017 08:32

darshhan wrote:
Come on Manish bhai. US will offer us laser systems that it is yet to induct itself. Even VivS is not claiming this.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 25 Sep 2017 06:05

Involve service chiefs in decision making, says Ex-IAF head P V Naik
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ ... k-4859255/

"Tap this wealth. Give them easy access to your office," Naik, who was IAF chief from 2009 to 2011, urged the new minister. Sitharaman, India’s first full-time woman defence minister, took charge of key ministry from Arun Jaitley earlier this month.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 26 Sep 2017 00:19

Oman continues to build bridges with India
http://www.arabianaerospace.aero/oman-c ... india.html

The Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) has completed the latest in a reciprocal series of joint exercises with the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Karthik S · Post by **Karthik S** » 30 Sep 2017 13:20

Livefist‏Verified account @livefist 6m6 minutes ago
More
The routine but critical notice the Indian Air Force issues every year to the national capital's people ahead of Air Force Day on Oct 8.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 30 Sep 2017 13:35

whatsapp forward

"One-Zero, Overhead”

The R/T in Air Traffic Control crackled, "Blackjack Tower; One-Zero, Two
Minutes". And there was panic! The SATCO had just enough time to respond
“Call Overhead” before he grabbed his telephone and called up the Station
Commander. In minutes, the news went round the Station. The AOC Operations
Command was descending (literally) on us for an inspection.

This was Air Force Station Adampur in 1957, a remote airfield in the heart
of the Punjab, where 27 Sqn was based. There was only one operational
Command at that time, covering the whole of India, commanded by the
legendary 38 year-old Air Cmde Arjan Singh DFC.

He was a typical "operational" officer who believed in absolute
professionalism. He was not impressed with the usual superficial
spit-and-polish carried out in preparation for an inspection. All he
expected was smartly turned out personnel who knew their job and carried it
out efficiently. He did not like any fuss made over him and insisted that
everyone went about their duties in their normal way.

He visited our operational base without any warning, flying in by himself,
in a single-seat fighter aircraft (Vampire Mk52). His distinctive callsign
was "One-Zero". And his R/T call to our ATC was the first indication that he
was just two minutes away.

Then followed the standard R/T calls, "One-Zero, Thirty Seconds", to which
ATC responded, “Clear Downwind”. And then, as we looked up at the sky, we
could see his aircraft running in to join circuit. Another crisp R/T call,
"One-Zero, Overhead", a smart peel off, and he could be seen on downwind,
lowering his undercarriage and calling, “One-Zero, Downwind, Three-Green”.
ATC responded, “Clear Finals”. He made a typical old time fighter pilot
curved approach, called, “One-Zero, Finals, Three-Green”, ATC responded,
“Clear to Land” and he touched down on the dumbbell.

During this time, there was a flurry of activity all over the Station.
Everybody was trying to get everything as ship-shape as possible, in the
very limited time available.

The AOC Ops Command taxied into the squadron dispersal, undid his straps and
eased his large and impressive silver overall-clad frame out of the cockpit,
to be met by the Station Commander and Squadron Commander. An open jeep with
the AOC’s flag pulled up close by, the AOC politely told the Cpl driver to
go back to the MT Section, he himself got behind the wheel and drove off all
alone.

For the next few hours the AOC drove himself all over the Station, still in
his flying overalls, visiting every nook and corner, from Airmen's Mess to
Bomb Dump, from Squadron Dispersals to Air Traffic Control, from Orderly
Room to MI Room, from Ops Room to Guard Room, observing the routine
functioning of various sections and stopping to have an informal word with
officers and airmen at each place. He even visited the DLTs (we had only
“dry sanitation” those days)!

He then drove back to the squadron dispersal, had a few words with the
Station Commander and Squadron Commander, in the latter’s office, and then
joined the officers in the Crew Room, for an informal chat and a glass of
tea.

After which he climbed back into his single-seat Vampire and flew back to
Delhi.

There was no ceremonial reception, no guard of honour, no fancy car, no
silver tea service, no cups and saucers, no formal dinner, no unnecessary
fuss. He did not bring a Staff Officer with him, or even an ADC. All he
wanted was to personally check on the operational preparedness of the
Station.

Those were the days, my friends!

We knew we had a Boss who meant Business. And we did our very best to never
let him down. He nurtured our Air Force for the next 12 years, till he
retired as the Chief of the Air Staff in the rank of Air Chief Marshal in
Aug 1969. Later, after he was awarded the lifetime serving rank of Marshal
of the Indian Air Force (MIAF) on 26 Jan 2002, he continued to keep a benign
watch on us.

And even now, he is, and always will remain with us, “One-Zero, Overhead”.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 30 Sep 2017 22:35

^^^ Beautiful. Thank You Chetak.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 30 Sep 2017 22:39

Services need to avoid duplicating of assets: Air Vice-Chief
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/s ... 777620.ece

“Ours is a growing country and our budget is limited. We cannot afford duplicating capabilities…We cannot have an Air Force with the Army, an Air Force with the Navy and another Air Force,” said Air Marshal Deo, addressing the 14th Subroto Mukherjee seminar organised by the Centre for Air Power Studies and the Indian Air Force (IAF).

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 01 Oct 2017 11:15

Rakesh wrote:^^^ Beautiful. Thank You Chetak.

Just a postman like forward, saar.

Glad you liked it though.

Vidur · Post by **Vidur** » 01 Oct 2017 15:04

chetak wrote:whatsapp forward

Thank you for posting this. This is real professionalism.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 01 Oct 2017 19:37

Rakesh wrote:Services need to avoid duplicating of assets: Air Vice-Chief
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/s ... 777620.ece

https://twitter.com/sjha1618/status/914337711921668098 --> Budgetary strains due to a lack of indigenization are beginning to manifest in the jarring statements emanating from India's three services.

https://twitter.com/sjha1618/status/914339139712978944 --> Jarring statements= 'We can't have airforces growing in the other services'. 'We must be the lead service'. Etc etc.

https://twitter.com/sjha1618/status/914481561369583616 --> Your Army & Air Force don't 'talk' to each other as well as they should. Forget about that, even Army tanks & helos have trouble conversing.

VinodTK · Post by **VinodTK** » 03 Oct 2017 02:40

IAF enhances night flying by combat jets to boost strike power

NEW DELHI: Considering the evolving threat perception, the Indian Air Force + has decided to raise night flying by its combat jets from the current around 30 per cent in all its frontline bases to have a major tactical advantage over its adversaries.
IAF officials said the decision to enhance night flying is part of a move to boost overall strike capability and keep the fighter squadrons fully ready for operating in an entire 24-hour cycle.
"The move to increase night flying from 30 per cent was based on a variety of factors including the evolving security scenario in our neighbourhood," a senior IAF told PTI.
He said the ratio of night flying is being increased as IAF has now much more powerful and better electronic sensors, radars and air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles and there is no impediment for night operation by the jets.
"The warfare scenario is changing fast. We now are preparing ourselves to operate in an electronic warfare environment and that is why we are making the changes," said the official.
He said almost all IAF bases along the western and northern borders have started increasing the ratio of night flying.
:
:
:
:

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 03 Oct 2017 21:23

IAF aggressively upgrading infra in eastern theatre
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/ ... 66144.html

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is aggressively upgrading infrastructure on its eastern theatre to boost strategic deployment of advanced assets close to the Chinese border. "The infrastructure development is taking place at a very, very rapid pace in the eastern front. We are inducting a number of new platforms in term of weapons, radar systems, networking systems," Air Marshal Anil Khosla, who heads the Shillong-based Eastern Air Command, told IANS. "We are getting Rafale aircraft, Chinook heavy-lift helicopters and Apache attack helicopters. Recently, we have inaugurated a new C-130 J squadron complex in the Eastern Air Command," he said on the sidelines of the Air Fest at the Shillong Advanced Landing Ground here.

Noting that Eastern Air Command is growing from strength to strength, Khosla said, "We are getting ready to absorb the new technology and in another few years, may be two-three years or five years, it will be a very, very potent force (Eastern Air Command)." "As I said, the delivery has already started. The radars are already coming in. We already have C-130 and we have operationalised a lot of helicopters units such as Mi-17 and Mi-17 V5, ALH, and in future we will get Chinooks, Apache, Rafale. So for all this, infrastructure is required," he said.

He said that six advance landing grounds have been made operational in Arunachal Pradesh, and added that the advance landing ground at Tawang is being upgraded as well as another at Vijaynagar. "A lot of infrastructure is coming in our airfields to house the new (radar and networking) systems. We are trying to improve the operating surfaces further so that all these fighters and heavy transport aircraft can land and take off," the Air Marshal said. "We are trying to make bases for housing our new radars which will be coming in. In addition, we are trying to upgrade our ranges to 'air to ground' ranges which are very important for the training of people," he said.

However, Khosla said the Indian Air Force capability building was not aimed with any particular country in mind." It is a capability building of our own as over the years we have improved in the country economically. It is all-round capability building and development in the civil field as well as in the military field. So it is not aimed at any particular country. We are building up our capability and Air Force is becoming a potent and formidable force, and it is towards that," he added.

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 05 Oct 2017 14:23

I have asked this question before, why can't we develop Kangra airport in Himachal pradesh as a Back up IAF base to Pathankot.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 05 Oct 2017 14:37

Aditya_V wrote:I have asked this question before, why can't we develop Kangra airport in Himachal pradesh as a Back up IAF base to Pathankot.

Why does Pathankot specifically need a backup?

Also, there are bases in Adampur, Halwara, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Ambala and Sirsa nearby. Why do we want another one at Kangra? Specifically what advantages will this new base offer?

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 05 Oct 2017 14:47

simply..I have a spare phone. Like that.

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 05 Oct 2017 15:25

Well given our past experiences 1965 and 1971, Pathankot 25km from the border comes with very little reaction time to defend and always has been subject to special attention by PAF, Kangra Airport 55KM from Pathankot can be used as offensive operations in the same theatre, especially to cover Islamabad Peshawer, Chamb Jourian sector etc.

Chandigarh, Ambala et al are good 200KM away from Pathankot.

Kakarat · Post by **Kakarat** » 05 Oct 2017 15:35

Kangra Airport has a 1400m runway only and it wont allow fighter operations, and also availability of space around the airport is low which means expansion of airport is not possible

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 05 Oct 2017 15:38

Thanks Just looking how IAF can increase number of fighters over Kashmir, LOC and Northern Paki Punjab. AT present we have Pathankot, Avantipura and Jammu airport out of which it Pathonkot and Jammu airport being really close to the border look vulnerable.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 05 Oct 2017 16:09

... and Srinagar, Udhampur. Though Jammu does not operate fighters. Present bases are adequate to take on aerial assets and bases in Pakistan to cover Kashmir. In case threat scenario changes, number of Sqns can increase in Pathankot, Srinagar and Awantipur.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 07 Oct 2017 13:12

sorry, couldn't resist

twitter

Be careful inviting your heroes to school.

chola · Post by **chola** » 07 Oct 2017 15:26

Rakesh wrote:
Rakesh wrote:Services need to avoid duplicating of assets: Air Vice-Chief
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/s ... 777620.ece
https://twitter.com/sjha1618/status/914337711921668098 --> Budgetary strains due to a lack of indigenization are beginning to manifest in the jarring statements emanating from India's three services.

https://twitter.com/sjha1618/status/914339139712978944 --> Jarring statements= 'We can't have airforces growing in the other services'. 'We must be the lead service'. Etc etc.

https://twitter.com/sjha1618/status/914481561369583616 --> Your Army & Air Force don't 'talk' to each other as well as they should. Forget about that, even Army tanks & helos have trouble conversing.

The USAF had the same divisive argument between them and the Army. Even bigger debate over the Dept. of the Navy’s twin air forces in both the USN and USMC. All this with a practically unlimited budget by Indian standards.

In the end, the US Army was given control over rotary aircraft but banned from fixed wings save for a few exceptions like FAC. This works out pretty well.

If the USAF (which itself was originally part of the US Army) had its way in the 1945-1950, the USN would have been stripped of its carriers and the US Marines of their aircraft. They were saved by the Korean War where the Navy and Marines had a leading role in fighting a war that amounted to a sea-borne invasion from US bases in Japan after NoKo had pushed to the southern coast of the peninsula.

Practical experience showed that the naval services need air assets of their own. The concession made for their operating independent is that naval/marine fixed wings must give primalcy to the USAF when operating on land.

This was hashed out over 50 years in the US from experience. So it might make sense for India to consider following suit. Give control of the helos like Apache to the IA and stop worrying about the IN’s planes which will be mainly carrier bound. (We do not have the added complexity of the US Marine Corps Air which is partially land based with potent fighters on par with the Air Force’s.)

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 07 Oct 2017 15:59

The reason for the CoAS to make this remark is to scupper the IN's request for more naval fighters! Sadly,the IAF hs always begrudged the IN for possessing carriers and LRMP aircraft.The possibility that the GOI may approve of the IN's req. for more naval carrier fighters to be acquired even before a future carrier is built,or perhaps even get Backfires,worries the IAF that their reqs. for expensive toys like Rafales may get dumped. Each service should eat what's on its plate and not look at what its fellow service is eating. "Diets" are different! The chief was also taking a sideswipe at the IA for its insistence that all attack helos should be under its control and acquisition. Worldwide attack helos are the assets of the army and the IAF's insistence that they will never hand over their attack helos,Apaches or even MI-35s betrays a "dog-in-the-manger" attitude.In actual fact once the IA gets dozens of LCHs and will be able to use them in combat without IAF attack helo support,,it will be the IAF who will be duplicating attack helo assets in the near future! We could've saved a lot of money by the IAF handing over its Apaches and MI-35s to the IA and in return getting extra funds for more critical reqs. like fighters,tankers and AEW aircraft The IAF is only displaying the fact that it can't see beyond its nose.It is also the singular service that has scuppered the post of a CDS.

The IA must also be strengthened with an increase Army Air Corps,adding to its assets light attack turboprops,etc..for COIN as wel.These are very cost-effective silutions to low-intensity warfare as is being found globally.For reg. warfare and GA/CS,aircratf like the SU-25,A-10 are repeatedly proving themselves,why we should not develop ana rmoured Jag or hawk for the same purpose.

With China placing the priority in defence modernisation and expansion clearly on its navy,pushing max. funds for the naval budget,if we do not drastically increase the naval share of a larger defence budget,then we will be in "deep" trouble,pun intended in the next decade.

The MOD/GOI should take a strong stance on this ridiculous duplication of assets by pig-headed services. When worldwide,including China theatre commands are being set up with services meshed into a single fighting force,the game of individual one-upmanship is being played out in India.

g.sarkar · Post by **g.sarkar** » 08 Oct 2017 04:04

chetak wrote:sorry, couldn't resist
twitter

Sir Douglas flew in RAF after both of his legs were amputated.
Gautamk

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 08 Oct 2017 07:05

g.sarkar wrote:
chetak wrote:sorry, couldn't resist
twitter
Sir Douglas flew in RAF after both of his legs were amputated.
Gautamk

I am aware of it, saar.

he was taken a POW as well.

suryag · Post by **suryag** » 08 Oct 2017 08:18

IAF day today, Tejas to be shown off too

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 08 Oct 2017 08:38

Boss if you are going, please take pictures...

Kakkaji · Post by **Kakkaji** » 08 Oct 2017 09:18

I was also a supporter of all rotary wing and CAS aircraft going to the Army, CPMF getting their own air wing etc, until this report made me sit up:

BSF pilot raises red flags: Trainees flying VIPs, planes unkept

Maybe the IAF is right. Skills and experience in maintaining and operating aircraft and airfields, and their associated infrastructure, take a lot of time and money to develop. In the Indian context, the IAF has developed this infrastructure and expertise over a long period of time. Do we have the time and money for other services to develop it again?

Maybe the Army can own the helicopters, and the pilots can be from the Army, but they can be based at the IAF airbases with training and maintenance being done by the IAF?

Would love to hear the views of deejay and hnair Sahibs on the subject.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 08 Oct 2017 09:43

Happy IAF Day to all the men & women that serve/served in this glorious institution. TEJAS TEJASWI NAMAHAM!!

arshyam · Post by **arshyam** » 08 Oct 2017 10:09

Watching the flight display right now, and am fully expecting DD to screw it up as usual (anti-jinx).

arshyam · Post by **arshyam** » 08 Oct 2017 10:16

And... as expected, they didn't let me down. Well done, DD. "Correcta kotta vittutanga" (dropped the ball as expected)

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 08 Oct 2017 10:46

Kakkaji wrote:I was also a supporter of all rotary wing and CAS aircraft going to the Army, CPMF getting their own air wing etc, until this report made me sit up:

BSF pilot raises red flags: Trainees flying VIPs, planes unkept

Maybe the IAF is right. Skills and experience in maintaining and operating aircraft and airfields, and their associated infrastructure, take a lot of time and money to develop. In the Indian context, the IAF has developed this infrastructure and expertise over a long period of time. Do we have the time and money for other services to develop it again?

Maybe the Army can own the helicopters, and the pilots can be from the Army, but they can be based at the IAF airbases with training and maintenance being done by the IAF?

Would love to hear the views of deejay and hnair Sahibs on the subject.

Kakka ji, as an Indian it really does not matter to me what do you call the air arm and who controls it as long as the capabilities created are exploited fully and safely. So, if the need is felt one can put resources anywhere. I am just as passionately pro Army or pro Navy as I am pro Air Force

and I think the world about all three Services. IAF holds the knowledge repository but it does share its training with IN and IA and other facilities too. There are cross deputations of pilots. The IAF is built around flying - its rules, norms and routine. The Army is built around its soldiering and regiments while the Navy around sailing and boats. Hence, yes as of today, IAF is the best place to be a PILOT and IMO, IN (since it operates all three types) is next followed by IA. Now, this in no way means that all air assets have to be with IAF.

With BSF, I know the issues. The pilot who has complained is an IAF pilot on deputation to BSF and as of now it is a mix of backgrounds, rules and decision making authority.

BSF will have to decide on one set of norms - Civil or Military and put in place an oversight body for its growing fleet. I expect these to happen soon as their flying effort and fleet variety is increasing.

For pilots - BSF is like a start up and IAF an established MNC. (Pls no offence but just as an explanation).

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 08 Oct 2017 10:56

Kakkaji wrote:I was also a supporter of all rotary wing and CAS aircraft going to the Army, CPMF getting their own air wing etc, until this report made me sit up:

BSF pilot raises red flags: Trainees flying VIPs, planes unkept

Maybe the IAF is right. Skills and experience in maintaining and operating aircraft and airfields, and their associated infrastructure, take a lot of time and money to develop. In the Indian context, the IAF has developed this infrastructure and expertise over a long period of time. Do we have the time and money for other services to develop it again?

Maybe the Army can own the helicopters, and the pilots can be from the Army, but they can be based at the IAF airbases with training and maintenance being done by the IAF?

Would love to hear the views of deejay and hnair Sahibs on the subject.

best not to make broad sweeping statements without having even the basic facts in hand.

Have the aircraft of the other services landed and resided on the footpath, all these decades long??

sustained ship borne operations and landing on handkerchief sized decks or even single engined helos operating alone at sea, their maintenance and logistics, all call for a high order of competence that has been developed without any help from others and have been tailored to very specific circumstances and encompasses specialized skillsets acquired with a high order of dedication and specifically adaptation that would be overkill elsewhere.

best for everyone to operate their own training schools, train their own flight cadres and specialize in their own specific environments and mission profiles and keep improving as well as evolving on their own service dictated templates.

Air bases, aircraft and maintenance organisations including MROs operated by any other service is no less than any other being operated by other sister services. Any ersatz claims of professional pre-eminence in this domain is BS.

Additionally, it's also a horses for courses thing and extra requirements vary depending on the situation and position of the base/asset in relation to the threat perception.

if need be, the IA always moves in with their specialised AD and missile batteries, including perimeter defence for protection whereas, a forward positioned airbase, much closer to the FEBA, may have an integrated AD as well as a specialised perimeter defence system with highly trained personnel incorporated within itself, readily available at all times.

suryag · Post by **suryag** » 08 Oct 2017 21:39

Tejas display during dress rehearsal Air Force Day 2017

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 08 Oct 2017 21:39

As news channels go I am beginning to like WION more and more. They devoted some time to reporting the IAF's 85 birthday at Hindon. What was funny is that the Suryakirans apparently did formations simulating Rafale, Su-30, Tejas and, of all things Gripen - sparking off speculation that the IAF has selected the Gripen. ACM Dhanoa was asked and he grinned and denied it..

suryag · Post by **suryag** » 08 Oct 2017 21:47

yes sir WION is more sedate and in the conventional mould of news channels which restrict themselves to news and analysis with little sensationalism

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 08 Oct 2017 21:54

shiv wrote:As news channels go I am beginning to like WION more and more. They devoted some time to reporting the IAF's 85 birthday at Hindon. What was funny is that the Suryakirans apparently did formations simulating Rafale, Su-30, Tejas and, of all things Gripen - sparking off speculation that the IAF has selected the Gripen. ACM Dhanoa was asked and he grinned and denied it..

Hakeem: I posted the image of the Gripen formation in the SE thread...

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 09 Oct 2017 07:35

A little muse from me..

In the WION report ACM Dhanoa commented about the 3 women fighter pilots about to be inducted into fighter flying - saying that they would most likely start off with flying the Bison - an aircraft in which they can come to grips with the best of "manual" flying, low on automation and also in honing their abilities to fly a fighter without a second pilot to take part of the workload. I have heard from others that the MiG 21 excels as a fighter aircraft in the hands of those who are able to cope best with "manual flying".

Let me digress here. In the Sqn 25 interview about the Tejas a remark was made that even a person with "average psychomotor skills" can fly the Tejas. Put differently this statement means :

The Tejas is fully FBW and the computer simply will not allow a pilot to exceed flight limits and enter unsafe flying regimes
That is why it is easy to fly
That is why "exceptional psychomotor skills" are not required to fly the Tejas

It also means that "exceptional psychomotor skills" are required to fly some fighters - and that includes the MiG 21. So what does this jargon mean? Judging from comments about Tejas being a "pilot's aircraft" and "easy to fly", and "flyable after a few simulator sorties" it can only mean that totally manual aircraft such as the Bison involve a heavy pilot workload. The man may be holding his breath executing a hi-G manoeuvre while keeping an eye on his airspeed and turn rate and throttle to make sure that he does not exceed G limits or get into an unsafe regime while at the same time punching switches to launch IR flares and trying to visually track an adversary. High workload, requiring "exceptional psychomotor skills" leaving an exhausted pilot at the end of a 45 minute sortie.

On the one hand I think it is a good thing that the IAF lays emphasis of good psychomotor skills - skills that are important in fields as diverse as surgery and cricket. On the other hand the world is moving away from heavy manual workload and "seat of pants" flying to fully automated computer regulated flight. This has already happened in civil flying. Of course it was criticized in an article analysing a mystery Airbus crash in the ocean that was eventually solved. A sensor failed (iced-up) giving wrong inputs and a pilot-commentator said that the stall and crash may have been avoidable has the pilots been experienced in "seat of pants" flying where they would understand conflicting inputs rather than relying on the computer warnings.

But I see the future more automated and less seat of pants. That said - the sad Mi 17 accident shows that no computer may be able to prevent some incidents and developing pilot skills to react to dire emergencies is important. Let me once again remark that unlike forum myths where it is assumed that "war is stressful for pilots" and flying is otherwise an easy joyride - that is simply not true. Flying itself induces a lot of physical and mental stresses and a war situation increases the workload.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 09 Oct 2017 08:33

shiv wrote:In the WION report ACM Dhanoa commented about the 3 women fighter pilots about to be inducted into fighter flying - saying that they would most likely start off with flying the Bison - an aircraft in which they can come to grips with the best of "manual" flying, low on automation and also in honing their abilities to fly a fighter without a second pilot to take part of the workload. I have heard from others that the MiG 21 excels as a fighter aircraft in the hands of those who are able to cope best with "manual flying".

Wasn't it Air Chief Marshal Raha (or was it Air Chief Marshal Browne?) who said that only senior pilots will be flying MiG-21s going forward? Did that policy change? Or were they referring to only the MiG-21M, which is also in service.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 09 Oct 2017 12:33

Agree about WION. A sober channel with a wider perspective.The Republic TV fish market is so completely dominated by fish-monger-in-chief ArnabG,.Like Unhygenix of the Gauls ,he shouts everyone down,switches guest speakers when he disagrees with them and like Robespierre of infamy,is judge,jury and would-be executioner! The Toilet channel which he left or was thrown out from,sadly continues to copy his style.Iam appalled that even former chiefs and sr. officers re willing to get their 15 seconds of fame like fish sold in these fishmarkets.They should be more discerning .Latitude was a v.good programme on def/security .What happened to it?

I've always said that the services should be more pro-active in the media.It would be great if their was an informed debate about the SE fighter ,How the IAF could achieve asap at least cost and time a 45 sad. fleet,etc.Strat. analysts like BK,PS,etc. could interact with rest.AMs,etc.

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 09 Oct 2017 22:59

Philip wrote:"Agree about WION. A sober channel with a wider perspective.The Republic TV fish market is so completely dominated by fish-monger-in-chief ArnabG,.Like Unhygenix of the Gauls ,he shouts everyone down,switches guest speakers when he disagrees with them and like Robespierre of infamy,is judge,jury and would-be executioner! "

Respectfully sir, a higher degree of EQ ( emotional quotient) would be very welcome for lots of Indians who make negative comments about Republic TV and also now the Newshour. Isn't it a sign of India's richness that it can have so many discussion programmes with different styles and approaches, and also topics? Arnab Goswami has his unique, distinctive style, which is highly combative, raucous, probing and unquestionably patriotic and acknowledging of India's essential righteousness on a range of issues. Particularly Kashmir, Naxal terrorism, the nuclear and missile programmes, and the threat to India from Islamism. There is no doubt on this matter. He really takes to task the Kashmiri separatists and Islamists and their apologists. One of my favourite AG shows was when he exposed the breathtaking fallacy of the Kashmiri militant apologists( the old chestnut 'they are militant because they are alienated etc). Arnab pointed to a Kashmiri Hindu on the show, and said 'have any Kashmir pandits gone back to the valley to take revenge on the people who drove them out". The argument couldn't be refuted. Would NDTV, TV 18 or even Wion bring up that issue? Notwithstanding the strengths of those respective channels.

It would be boring to have uniformity of style on Indian TV discussion shows. Let different styles exist and flourish!