Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

[Manish_P]

Should have been done a decade or two ago. But I guess der aaye, durust aaye as the saying goes

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/officialTatya_1/status/16 ... 58145?s=20 ---> Liveries/Paint Schemes of Indian MiG-29s.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/connect_rishav/status/160 ... 68992?s=20 ---> That's a pretty unique tail art on this MiG-29B "Baaz". Not like anyone we've seen so far with the TACDE counterparts. From "The First Supersonics" (by late Pushpindar Singh Sir).

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/sidhant/status/2036026517801635961?s=20 ---> The United Kingdom’s Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth is in India: UK Statement.

https://x.com/KaliputraX/status/2036058 ... 76672?s=20 ---> We should import him as a stop gap.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Manish_P]

https://x.com/sidhant/status/2036026517801635961?s=20 ---> The United Kingdom’s Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth is in India: UK Statement.

https://x.com/KaliputraX/status/2036058 ... 76672?s=20 ---> We should import him as a stop gap.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

ouch... that was really hitting below the belt

BTW the UK navy has more Admirals than ships... maybe they can export a few.

[uddu]

https://x.com/sidhant/status/2036026517801635961?s=20 ---> The United Kingdom’s Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth is in India: UK Statement.

https://x.com/KaliputraX/status/2036058 ... 76672?s=20 ---> We should import him as a stop gap.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

ouch... that was really hitting below the belt

BTW the UK navy has more Admirals than ships... maybe they can export a few.

Emergency procurement with ToT of the brain and Atmanirbhar Skills. Considering U.K's diminishing power, a Tender will be better in which Israel, Russia, U.S and France can participate.

[Rakesh]

That gorgeous camo! I do understand the reason, but Tipnis Grey has taken the fun out of airframe design.

When aircraft are retired or whenever possible, please bring some colour back to aircraft operated by the IAF.

https://x.com/VivekSi85847001/status/20 ... 24660?s=20 ---> Mi-26 Jumbo Helicopter of Indian Air Force (circa-1980s). Four purchased from USSR, 1 crashed in 2010 & 3 left with proposal for Mid life upgrade with Russia help.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/alpha_defense/status/2036 ... 43631?s=20 ---> The UK's Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth is in India to boost military ties.

https://x.com/Tej_Intel/status/2036297942848643393?s=20 --->

People read - UK's CAS
We read - Rolls Royce

Ifykyk (If you know, you know)

[Manish_P]

That gorgeous camo! I do understand the reason, but Tipnis Grey has taken the fun out of airframe design.
....

The colour of the truck/lorry is great camo too. Blends in perfectly with the tarmac

[Rakesh]

In the second picture (at top left), check out the models of the Mirage 2000 and MiG-21. Possibly the crew room of No 1 Tigers Squadron.

https://x.com/IAF_MCC/status/2036622516073136147?s=20 ---> Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth, Chief of the Air Staff, RAF (UK), visited Air Force Station Gwalior on 24 Mar 2026, gaining first-hand insight into IAF fighter base operations and interacting with air warriors. He was received by Air Marshal B Manikantan, AOC-in-C, Central Air Command. The visit reinforced mutual understanding and explored avenues for enhanced convergence and interoperability between the two Air Forces.

[Rakesh]

India’s fourth S-400 system ready in Russia, undergoing final testing before delivery
https://theprint.in/defence/indias-four ... y/2890150/
27 Mar 2026

The system was to delivered in March but will now reach the Indian shores by May, or June. The fifth S-400 will be delivered in the last quarter of this year.

[Rakesh]

India to get 4th S-400 on first Op Sindoor anniversary; final delivery by year-end
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/i ... 2026-03-27
27 Mar 2026

India is set to receive the fourth squadron of the Russian-made S-400 air defence system by May, around the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor. The fifth and final squadron is expected by the end of this year.

[Rakesh]

IAF’s Big Upgrade: MiG-29s to Get Deadly ASRAAM Edge Over China, Pakistan
https://newsable.asianetnews.com/india/ ... g_rewarded
28 March 2026

VIDEO: https://x.com/Defencecore/status/203816 ... 01729?s=20 ---> IAFs MiG-29 avionics & weapons upgrades for true multirole capability till the mid-2030s.

• Uttam/HAWK I - AESA radar with LPI & strong ECCM, enabling superior detection, multi target tracking & BVR fights

• Astra Mk1/Mk2 - Indigenous BVR capability (110-220+ km)

• ASRAAM - high off-boresight, close combat superiority replacing old R-73s.

• Brahmos NG - 300+ km supersonic standoff strike capability.

[Rakesh]

S-400 deliveries accelerated as India enhances air defence capability
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ ... 788576.ece
26 March 2026

India signed a $5.43 billion deal with Russia in 2018 for five squadrons of the S-400 system.

[Rakesh]

India greenlights procurement of 5 more S-400 air defence systems from Russia
https://theprint.in/defence/india-green ... a/2890384/
27 March 2026

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/Kunal_Biswas707/status/20 ... 07166?s=20 ---> The BrahMos-MA (Brahmos NG) is expected in 2026 and will progressively go on the Su-57 and Tejas MK1A squadrons in time. Also, it's 'likely' the MiG-29 squadrons will get the first initial batches of Su-57s. There are reasons to believe, that IAF is very serious about the Su-57 induction. Will see how it goes.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/Kunal_Biswas707/status/20 ... 07166?s=20 ---> The BrahMos-MA (Brahmos NG) is expected in 2026 and will progressively go on the Su-57 and Tejas MK1A squadrons in time. Also, it's 'likely' the MiG-29 squadrons will get the first initial batches of Su-57s. There are reasons to believe, that IAF is very serious about the Su-57 induction. Will see how it goes.

https://x.com/Neetivaan/status/2039381585678803076?s=20 --->

[bala]

MiG-29UPG gets ASRAAM - a short range missile.

MiG-29 Gets Deadly ASRAAM

[VinodTK]

https://x.com/Kunal_Biswas707/status/20 ... 07166?s=20 ---> The BrahMos-MA (Brahmos NG) is expected in 2026 and will progressively go on the Su-57 and Tejas MK1A squadrons in time. Also, it's 'likely' the MiG-29 squadrons will get the first initial batches of Su-57s. There are reasons to believe, that IAF is very serious about the Su-57 induction. Will see how it goes.

If IAF does not get the source code or usable API's for the Rafale;
Govt. of India should go for the SU 57 with a new engine (should be GOI call not IAF)
Su-57 will be more then a match for meeting India's enemies.

• Work with the Israelis on upgrading the radar, EW systems, ultimately the mission computer

• Have full Make in India capability

• Own the source code

• Manufacture in numbers to makeup for squadron shortage

• Will cost less then the fee fee sh*t

[Rakesh]

...

Both will come. The Rafale is a near certainty, while the Su-57 is still a ways off....but likely.

As long as you have fighter jocks manning the upper echelons of Air HQ, the Rafale will arrive. The rest of us are just mere spectators who will complain about the cost of the import.

[uddu]

This guy is a fan of fighter aircrafts. If he is making animations of ships, IN must have got his animations of ships and submarines for their PR.
Video clip in the link
https://x.com/Kuntal__biswas/status/2039726058971582796
@Kuntal__biswas
May Lord Hanuman bless our nation with unwavering strength, fearless courage, and lasting prosperity. Wishing everyone in India a very Happy Hanuman Jayanti 2026!

[Manish_P]

...
As long as you have fighter jocks manning the upper echelons of Air HQ, the Rafale will arrive....

Interesting. The Apache (and Chinook) were officially selected around 2009. Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major, a helicopter pilot, who served as the Chief of the IAF between 1 April 2007 to 31 May 2009.

I would like to humbly suggest that we select Chiefs in rotation from the various streams - fighters, helicopters, refuellers, AWACs, AADs, ...

[Rakesh]

SFC (Strategic Forces Command) might designate fighter aircraft for the nuclear strike role, as part of India's nuclear triad. This will be the Rafale and will further advance the cause for the 114 Rafale purchase, which in my opinion will get higher in number. In the French Air Force (and even their Navy), a number of Rafale airframes are set aside just for this role. The news item from the link below is from 2010, but is still relevant today.

https://x.com/firebase25/status/2039930 ... 33015?s=20 ---> Hopefully SFC have their own assets.

[dinesh_kimar]

^ As stated a few times in OS, SFC have 40 X Su-30 MKI planes which can carry the mini - Brahmos missile weighing 2.5 tons. This is also called Air Launched variant.

The 11 Pak Air bases in OP Sindoor rcvd free deliveries of Brahmos from these aircraft, and no other platform can wield them. Navy might have a plan with P-8I, we have to see whether it works out.

Rafale can't go nuclear unless:
1. France delivers ASMP-A missile with 800 kg wt. per missile.
2. DRDO develops indigenous alternative.
3. We use the 1000 lb/2000 lb dumb iron bombs jury rigged for nuclear role, like that used in Jaguar and Mirage-2000.

Option 3 is having yields of 12 KT-15 KT, good enough for some targets.

Not good enough for ALL targets ( Armoured column with 100 tanks/ hardened military hubs/ deep underground bunkers/ major ports/ railway junctions/ etc.)

France uses a 300-600 kt yield weapon for an effective Option 1.

Option 2 simply not avbl on Rafale as of now.

[Rakesh]

Rafale can't go nuclear unless:

The same was said about the Mirage 2000, when it entered service with the IAF in the mid 1980s.

Till the arrival of the Rafale, the Mirage 2000 (and prior to the M2K, it was the Jaguar I believe) soldiered on in that role. Air strike was India's sole means of delivery till the Agni-series of missiles started entering service. And now SSBNs have also joined in to complete the triad.

Now SFC will obviously be tight lipped about the specific means of delivery from the aircraft, it is left up to speculation. But you have provided three options in which the second is the most plausible one considering India's advancements in missile technology.

[Rakesh]

Tech upgrade: IAF seeks partners for hydrogen-powered airship
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/defen ... d-airship/
03 April 2026

The plane is needed for surveillance and launch of drones mid-air.

[Cybaru]

https://x.com/Kunal_Biswas707/status/20 ... 07166?s=20 ---> The BrahMos-MA (Brahmos NG) is expected in 2026 and will progressively go on the Su-57 and Tejas MK1A squadrons in time. Also, it's 'likely' the MiG-29 squadrons will get the first initial batches of Su-57s. There are reasons to believe, that IAF is very serious about the Su-57 induction. Will see how it goes.

If IAF does not get the source code or usable API's for the Rafale;
Govt. of India should go for the SU 57 with a new engine (should be GOI call not IAF)
Su-57 will be more then a match for meeting India's enemies.

• Work with the Israelis on upgrading the radar, EW systems, ultimately the mission computer

• Have full Make in India capability

• Own the source code

• Manufacture in numbers to makeup for squadron shortage

• Will cost less then the fee fee sh*t

UGH - it takes 10 years to integrate our stuff into russian stuff. 10 years is enough to run two parallel projects and make an Indian version of Kaveri. A safran/RR core (15%) with top royalty is far more acceptable than a full engine owned by external company.

[Manish_P]

...
Till the arrival of the Rafale, the Mirage 2000 (and prior to the M2K, it was the Jaguar I believe) soldiered on in that role. Air strike was India's sole means of delivery till the Agni-series of missiles started entering service. And now SSBNs have also joined in to complete the triad.
...

To an extent it is also a case of inter-services rivalry - each arm wants to have nuclear delivery platforms

In our case the AF got the capability first followed by the ground forces and finally the Navy.

I would give the edge to the navy and the army on the basis of survivability.

[Manish_Sharma]

https://x.com/Firezstarter1/status/1972 ... 60152?s=20

Fact of life is irrespective of how much folks try to defend the indefensible, the PAF realised early on the value of a platform lay in sensors and munitions and were willing to accept a so so platform. IAF would settle for nothing less than perfection and kept asking for more.

At this point trying to divert the IAFs culpability wrt it's own problems won't fly given it has a $6.7Bn in capex yearly and yet dropped the ball in multiple areas such as force multipliers, EW, networks. It's like "Mera baccha sabse accha". Emotions versus facts.

Time & again, the IAFs indecision towards it's domestic programs has caused it to make expensive gaffes. It's AWACS program floundered as it relied on hard to manage Ilulyushins for it's Phalcons, couldn't afford more, wouldn't support Netra either.

It wouldn't take Akash initially, and had brought it down to 2 squadrons. Reluctantly, raised it to 8 and now has 15 squadrons. Finally it has a SAM system which it can replenish locally, but that too with twists & turns.

Ends up going with Eltas HPR via L&T despite an indigenous option being available. No real thought towards long term sustainment, upgrades or interoperability with future sensors.

Has waffled on Tejas Mk2. First decided it would be a basic upgrade, then wanted a J10 class platform, years added to the program with indecision and waffling while chasing an imported MRFA at extortionate costs.

No real interest in AMCA. Opposed it on cost, and then finally PMO cleared it after ADA literally told them the clock was ticking and every country had a 5Gen program bar India. PMO ofc realised that otherwise soon enough IAF would ask for a 5Gen license deal too.

Waffled on Tejas Mk1. Didn't want it. Did everything it could to drop the program. RM Parrikar stepped in and had them commit to Mk1A. Note an iterative upgrade they could have proposed, but why should they, MRFA beckoned.

Dropped the 5Gen FGFA for Rafale. Too primitive, not mature enough, this, that. Today, back in the reckoning as an IAF confronts China whose progress they could not predict despite presence of world class local R&D.

Su-30 upgrade, dropped for over a decade and a half, till finally Chinese advances forced them to work on it. Still limited, still far away. Now, scrambling, using Tejas tech to hopefully salvage the airframe.

Now stuck on Rafale, asking for license production, even as source codes & integration issues predominate and it is yet to add a fraction of the munitions we need. Bar Scalp it has no real long range A2G vectors at all.

And can we upgrade it on our own. Add our own EW pods, jammers, sensors. Of course not. We've as of yet not even added Astra to the Mirage 2000, an upgrade which is hobbled in air to air without Astra.

IAF has long got used to importing systems from abroad and making do. That was OK in an era of guns and primitive avionics. Now with need for sensor deconfliction, need for advanced networking, weap9ns upgrades, buying gold plated units that are hard to upgrade is a waste.

And that's where we are, with this constant dislike for anything local & worse, missing the ball on stealth, advanced sensors & networking in many crucial areas. Thankfully, Sindoor woke us up in some areas. Qn to ask is what else does PRC have that we don't even know about yet.

All these attempts to divert from a flawed procurement and upgrade strategy dunking on others, while chasing a flawed MRFA strategy (first Mirage, now Rafale) won't get us anywhere. We've to look at system of systems, sensors, EW, and move beyond just gold plated platforms.

Complaining about squadron numbers would be a thing if enough had been done to maximise existing airframes and leverage even Tejas earlier when engine supply was from an active line. Nope, ignored entirely.

The PAF build up numbers with a good enough JF17, PLAAF with a good enough J10C, J16 fleet & we wanted nothing but the best Rafales to fight these chaps. Today, their iterative development has given them airframes and quality and we are stuck chasing yet more imports.

And what's truly ironic and devastating from any logical POV is if the defence budget isn't increased substantially, this new MRFA procurement will rob any funding for IAF to add IACCS upgrades, EW, force multipliers, IFR, SAMs, networks. Rafales will operate blind.

How are these then supposed to take on J20s, J35s, J36s, J50s with lower signature is then a question for the ages. Absolute champagne taste, penny wallet strategy.

What makes things even worse for us is that everything we are taking has been inducted by adversaries (S-400 with PRC) or those that support them (Qatar with Rafales for example). Obviously broad parameters will be well known to both PRC, Pak.

To get past this, IAF has to finally give up on treating it's own domestic industry, R&D as merely an option for a picky customer but come up with unique India specific systems and concepts. No import can give us that access.

Coming back to the opening tweet, IAF made a hue and cry about "concessions" for Tejas given marginal shortfalls in aero performance (thanks to its short profile to fit in MiG21 HAS). Did those even matter in an era of HOBS 5Gen AAMs, BVR, datalinks.

One MiG21 TP who was part of the Tejas team noted it could match the 21 across the board in most aspects and others noted it was equal to the 2000 upgrade in sensors, systems. But it took late Shri Parrikar to literally cajole the IAF into Mk1A.

And that program never received orders as IAF was literally broke capex wise due to 36 "game changers" and S400 purchase. And that cash crunch pushed Su30 upgrades, AWACS, EW even further away. Repeat, just adding "golden" numbers won't do anymore.

You've to think "big picture" and that means the IAF & it's supporters need to shed their beliefs about imports giving some magic edge as versus domestic systems that can be tailored to our needs and operate alongside what the IAF already fields in number.

Otherwise in week 4 of a conflict you'll be running short of everything from AAMs to A2G munitions on your "game changers" and whats worse theyll be ineffective against an adversary whose iterative R&D has constantly iterated to turn ugly ducklings into swans.

Pakistanis will put PL17s on their JFs one of these days & they will be capable of taking out Rafales from extreme ranges. Then what. Run to France for 5G FCAS, Meteor on steroids. Won't end unless IAF looks local, focuses on system of systems, cross platform interoperability.

[Tanaji]

Very well articulated above

[Manish_P]

https://x.com/Firezstarter1/status/1972 ... 60152?s=20

...
Coming back to the opening tweet, IAF made a hue and cry about "concessions" for Tejas given marginal shortfalls in aero performance (thanks to its short profile to fit in MiG21 HAS)
...

This one always make me think - "Really? Did we think that it was easier to build a compact fighter plane having all the bells and whistles fitted in it's small size than simply getting military and civilian engineering to build larger HASs.. Also didn't we have several of our big boy Su-30 MKIs parked out in the open?'

[VinodTK]

The Indian Air Force (IAF) from 1947 till now has always depended on and preferred foreign aircraft, be it fighters, transport aircraft, bombers, helicopters. Whereas the army and navy started with foreign equipment and have slowly moved on to home grown weapons.

IAF’s addiction to external weapons and giving step motherly treatment to home grown products (coupled with incompetent HAL) and their nominal participation in development of new system has become a hinderance to the national defense, on top of this their opposition to theaterization and wanting jointness (God knows as to what it means) is another issue.

Three services are off shoots of English armed forces, IA and IN have moved on slowly from their parent organizations systems / ships whereas the IAF is like a drug addict always wants French, British, Soviet/Russian aircraft and at the same time making sure as to not participate in the development process or fully support homegrown aerospace industry. To support my point please look at the following list, reads like movie credits:

Fighters / Fighter-Bombers / Transport / Helicopters
• Supermarine Spitfire (English)
• Hawker Tempest II (English)
• de Havilland Vampire (English)
• Dassault Ouragan (Toofani) (France)
• Hawker Hunter (English)
• Dassault Mystère IV (France)
• Folland Gnat ((English)+ (including HAL production)
• HAL HF-24 Marut (India)
• HAL Ajeet (India) upgraded Gnat derivative
• Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (USSR/Russia)
• Sukhoi Su-7 (USSR)
• Mikoyan MiG-23 (USSR)
• Mikoyan MiG-27 (USSR)
• Mikoyan MiG-29 (Russia, including UPG)
• Dassault Mirage 2000 (France, H/TH variants)
• SEPECAT Jaguar (UK/France, including Indian upgrades)
• Sukhoi Su-30MKI (Russia/India)
• Dassault Rafale (France, EH/DH variants)
• HAL Tejas (India, Mk1 and Mk1A variants)

• Consolidated B-24 Liberator (USA)
• English Electric Canberra (UK)

• Douglas C-47 Dakota (USA)
• de Havilland Devon (UK)
• Antonov An-12 (USSR)
• Ilyushin Il-76 (Russia)
• Antonov An-32 (Russia)
• Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules (USA)
• Boeing C-17 Globemaster III (USA)
• Airbus C295 (Spain/India)
• Others: HS 748, Dornier 228 (light transports)

• HAL Chetak/Cheetah (license-built Alouette)
• Mil Mi-8/Mi-17 (Russia)
• Mil Mi-24/25/35 (Russia)
• HAL Dhruv/Rudra (India)
• HAL Prachand (LCH) (India)
• Boeing AH-64E Apache (USA)
• Boeing CH-47 Chinook (USA)
• Sikorsky MH-60R (USA)

Yes, I have not listed Tejas Mk1 / Mk1A / Mk2 / AMCA / 6th Gen fighters, will wait to see if they are going to be stillborn or live births (meaning built in numbers).

Finally, there is the unresolved issue of “jointness” as preferred by the IAF. It is worth examining which major military in the world is currently structured entirely around such a concept. No I do not have anything against IAF, I just want them to change their thinking.

[bala]

Based on the above we need to rename Indian Air Force (IAF) to FAI - foreign aircraft for India airforce.

[Cain Marko]

I understand that a lot of folks feel angry and terrible about Indias inability to get the tejas/kaveri up and running. I think we all share the heartburn and no stakeholder is exempt from bad decision making (whether deliberate or otherwise).

But let's step back for a moment. What country has been able to achieve what India has within 80 years of Independence from an utterly cruel British raj when even dal roti and paani was not available to many of us?

Technological Independence incl ssbns and rockets... Yes (only turbofans left)
Industrial innovation and capacity (yes)
Food self sufficiency (yes)
Social diversity and cultural independence (yes)
Foreign policy independence (yes)
Elimination of extreme poverty (yes)
Thriving democracy and independent media, this last piece is insanely important (yes)

I dunno about you guys but to my mind nobody even comes close. And that's not because of any desh bhakti, it's just objective data points.

The lack of a twin engine tejas based on the kaveri or a fleet of single engined tejas based on al31 is something I have screamed for since 2010. But the above points give me confidence. Bharat will get there and take her rightful place.

[m_saini]

^ I think a lot of heartburn comes from the fact that we're so inconsistent and we make stupid decisions.

e.g we have indigenous SSBNs but don't have a domestic rifle/don't give orders to domestic rifles. We've been to the dark side of moon but are struggling with an engine and continue to shell out billions on foreign planes.

Personally, I wouldn't be so irritated if we didn't have all these great achievements and were taking forever to develop an engine or a rifle. BUT we do have those achievements so the talent/capability is there. Doing complex things with no issues and then running around stupid with easy things is hard to see & digest.

Take 3x the time it took China to get a working engine, fine no issues. But atleast have all the test facilities and a proper intent behind it.

[sanjaykumar]

The Indians never flew the English Electric. Apparently the British would not part with them

[Manish_P]

^ I think a lot of heartburn comes from the fact that we're so inconsistent and we make stupid decisions.
...

Like proudly saying that we will never buy American Fighters and then building your own fighter with an american engine

Speaking for myself the angst (and at times anger) is of the blatant bias and double standards, sometimes even to the point of sabotage.

Indian designed products have to be flawless in all sorts of terrains and weather conditions right from the get go but we are fine importing foreign products without equivalent capability or even their own full capability available at induction.

[S_Madhukar]

The problem is because IAF wasn’t tested until now in modern warfare. Israel and US are expeditionary and constantly testing and learning from their mistakes. Without Balakot we would still be struggling without SDR. I am proud of my forces but they need to be tested regularly, until that doctrine does not change, procurement won’t either.

Long time ago I met a Royal Navy officer who had been sent to do a MBA to understand supply chain and improve procurement. I am sure he will admit that it is still a mess except now very US dependent.

[bala]

so inconsistent and we make stupid decisions

This is the legacy of the Nehru-Gandhi combo as the initial leaders of India who were completely subservient to the Brits. Getting the Brit systems removed from India should have been the basis of development within India. In the initial phase, India should have replaced the brit oriented judiciary and the brit oriented babu IAS system along with low level officialdom. One step further should have been changing the lane for driving (right hand side of road) and adopted say the US way of driving. This would have signaled to the world that India makes its own decisions and removes the Brit raj system for good. The armed forces are a direct descendent of the Brit system, initially the chiefs were borrowed from britain. We did not replace them with our own kind up front after independence. Timidity in decision making at the high political and offical level hampered many things within India.

Despite these shackles India has advanced mainly due to the basis of education being revered and the cohesive family unit within India. Bright people forged ahead with a can do attitude and transformed things based on their abilities. The inconsistent/stupid decisions are a legacy of judiciary and babu system that hangs as an albatross over the entire polity and there is huge relunctance to change any of these system. I am hoping one day a smart AI system will replace judicial judgements and speed up routine cases in lightning quick fashion. More than 1/2 the work that babus do can be automated with advanced IT systems. IAS/IFS/IPS exams have to be axed immediately, these are not relevant one bit. Instead we need domain experts in each area to lead. Ethics must be upfront and center it as a main selection criteria for high postings.

[VinodTK]

I understand that a lot of folks feel angry and terrible about Indias inability to get the tejas/kaveri up and running. I think we all share the heartburn and no stakeholder is exempt from bad decision making (whether deliberate or otherwise).

Cain Marko Jee, it is not the issue of Tejas or Kaveri at all they are extremely challenging efforts and no one should question them on that, plus India's accomplishments are not being questioned,
however cannot accept:

• Putting out dates and not meeting them

• Wait for the delivery dates to pass and then coming out with list of things to be completed

• Let us not forget the constant complaining of the order book is low (meaning new orders needed). The order books are overflowing where are the deliveries?

• Pointing finger at GE (valid); yet HAL has its own unfinished tasks

• Lack of clarity and truthfulness ... etc.

As for the jointness squad

• The French will not give the source code, at the most might give some low level API's which will not be of much use

• What will the IAF do?

• I bet they will declare India is in grave danger and force GOI to buy the French planes

• However constant requirement changes are given to the domestic manufactures, which impacts delevery dates

• As soon as the ink dries on contract with the French, the smart folks in IAF will point out that 5th generation planes are needed ASAP and start the circus all over again F35 or SU-57

As for MOD mum is the game plan, unless I missed it. Why are they not shepherding the issues
If the opposition needs an issue ask GOI how will they buy/spend ~$20B and
not have access to the source code
The opposition can rake the ruling party over the coals on the source code issue, instead of raising non factual issues about the aircraft purchased.