Indian Military Aviation

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 26 Jun 2011 09:38

shiv wrote:I like what the F125 seems to offer. In retrospect - I recall going to the Honeywell stall at Aero India which had the F125 displayed prominently. I asked for news and the man literally rubbed his hands (as if in glee) and said with a smile "We don't know yet but we are very hopeful"

On paper the F-125 capability sounds really nice but RR has made its point , the only way to find out is to fit 2 prototypes with RR/Honeywell engines and test fly it for 6 months and see how much of paper claims by both gets translated into real gains.

The good thing about RR engine is its commonness with Hawk Engine according to 90 percent , so there is logistics commonness in maintaining both aircraft with similar engines , the OEM certifies the engine for Jags and there is less chance of any US export law affecting it.

As i was asking the same question in missile thread how much of logistics streamlining is a concern area for Defense Service over getting last bit of performance enhancement from new systems.

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 26 Jun 2011 17:25

For what it is worth:

Jaguar, Client: Honeywell, Tucson

This is a third party report:

dated 2011 wrote: The Jaguar Honeywell project is a Honeywell propulsion/afterburner F125 engine project involving the software modification of the legacy 1042 ECU/BEC Taiwan fighter propulsion system into the Indian JAguar airframe for a flight demo and competitive fly off. The Jaguar re-engine flight demo program is intended to demonstrate a Honeywell F125 engine on an Indian Air Force Jaguar aircraft. The plan is to displace the existing Rolls-Royce engine resulting in a $1B+ opportunity for Honeywell. The first step is to perform a demo flight, software for the engine controllers (ECU/BEC) requires modification to accommodate the jaguar installation and certain demo flight requirements. The Jaguar software effort started in July 2009 and is currently 80% complete with code and test changes. Successful engine runs were completed at the SanTan engine test facility. Additional software changes are planned for the flight test configuration.

Then ............................

Jaguar Awaits Re-engine RFP As Bidders Spar

dated 2010 wrote: A fatigue analysis done by the Indian air force estimates the fleet could last another 25 years.

Honeywell says certification will be required for the engine and once the Indian air force puts its program into place, the engine might need modifications “to resolve any issue” uncovered by flight testing. If there are no changes, Bhavnani anticipates 3-4 years from the order to the start of deliveries.

So, issues persist.

JE Menon · Post by **JE Menon** » 26 Jun 2011 18:42

Slightly OT, but nevertheless bears pointing out. In the interview, ACM Naik says:

"Anything that affects the growth of our country or that impedes the growth of our country is a threat."

Even ten years ago, it is highly unlikely any defence chief would have articulated the threat outlook in that way. An important statement of the way things are being thought of. Be sure it will be noted in relevant quarters outside India

vic · Post by **vic** » 26 Jun 2011 22:29

NDTV: What about the air defence systems?

PV Naik: As far as missiles are concerned, we are into MRSAMs - medium range SAMs (surface to air missiles) which is about 100-110 kms range, we are into SR-SAMs that is the short range, we are into Spyders missiles which are even shorter range. So there are different stages of missiles coming - a multi-layered defence which is what is desirable in air defence. Plus we have the AWACS and from the AWACS to the IACCS. Complete pictures available to everybody for better command and control

Note

Shrinivasan · Post by **Shrinivasan** » 26 Jun 2011 22:58

ACM Naik said...

PV Naik: Yes, we are. In the North East, it is long overdue. We have a major drive on to modernise all the ALGs (Adavance Landing Grounds). We have eight ALGs which are being modernised. Pasighat, Along, Menchuka and all these places and modernisation of the airfield which are already existing from Chabua, Mohanbari, Jorhat, Guwahati, Bagdogra, Hashimara, Tezpur.

I was checking the fighter complement in these bases (not ALGs).. some of them don't seem to have any active fighter squadron stationed there... Ex: Baghgogra, it just has a helo flight and no active fighter SQ after the 8th was disbanded and moved to Pune/Bareilly to create a SU30MKI squadron.
This seems to be the case in other NE bases too? any clarifications appreciated (ONLY PUBLIC DOMAIN INFO PLEASE)

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 26 Jun 2011 23:54

AFAIK Hashimara, Tejpur and Chabua are fighter bases. Mohanbari is home to two MI-XX units....it is also the civil airfield in the region. Situated some kms before Chabua. Guwahati and Jorhat are Tpt hub with Jorhat having a AN-32 Squadron.

Craig Alpert · Post by **Craig Alpert** » 27 Jun 2011 02:59

NRao wrote:
NDTV: Let me start by asking you what are the changes that are being done in the Air Force for the past 3-4 years and what do you think is going to happen in the next 3-4 years?

PV Naik: The process of change started seven or eight years back but it is materialising now, which is a very very exciting thing. Over the next 3-4 years, I expect the IAF to become one of the most modern air forces in the world. There are lots of things in the offing - we have aircrafts, equipment, missiles, radars actually we have a very long list.

If you permit me I will just read out from this just to tell you what all inductions we have planned.

First list is of acquisitions: 126 MMRCA's is well-known. 214 fifth generation fighter aircrafts that will be coming around 2017; 42 SU 30's additionally, we require the RFP has been issued to HAL; 75 trainers - that process is well on its way, two more AWACS of IL-76 base which we are waiting for; 10 C-17s - another famous deal cleared by CCS; 80 + 59 medium-lift helicopters; 22 attack helicopters; 12 VVIP helicopters. There are upgrades also going on for weapon systems: 63 MiG-29's, that upgrade is well on its way in Russia. Mirage 2000 upgrade will be going to the CCS next week and Jaguar re-engineering, that is another major project for which a new RFP has been issued now. Missiles, 18 firing units of MRSAM (Medium Range Surface to Air Missiles), 4 Spyders, 49 SR-SAM that is short range, 8 Aakash missiles.

Interesting the initial number declared earlier with an intent to purchase was around 250 and now it is stated at 214. Wonder if it will be ramped up later or more faith in LCA/AMCA.. Certainly interesting times ahead indeed.

Shrinivasan · Post by **Shrinivasan** » 27 Jun 2011 03:32

rohitvats wrote:AFAIK Hashimara, Tejpur and Chabua are fighter bases. Mohanbari is home to two MI-XX units....it is also the civil airfield in the region. Situated some kms before Chabua. Guwahati and Jorhat are Tpt hub with Jorhat having a AN-32 Squadron.

Rohit, i dug around, the reason there is less Fighter presence in most of these bases is 2 fold...
1) Many of them are in the midst of serious expansion / renovation
2) Falling Squadron numbers (these all had heavy Mig presence)

Completion of the current round of IL76 and AN-32 upgrades, arrival of C-17s, coupled with arrival of more C130Js, would bolster the transportation infrastructure in the NE. IAF should look to buyout a dozen airframes from AI/IA/international Airlines and convert them into LR tranporters to transport men and equipment, these can be based in central India and used to move stuff when needed. Large bases with adequate ground infra would be a plus.

We should also explore additional Runways (parallel and Criss-Crossing), atlease in bases where there is space (Ex Hashimara)

Rohit, couple of years back I read an article that IAF is planning to revive the disused runway in Hashimara, any news of that?

Surya · Post by **Surya** » 27 Jun 2011 06:25

what do you mean by disused runway??

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 27 Jun 2011 09:11

there were disused WW2 era airstrips in Assam atleast during my childhood (1980s). not sure if GOI had held on to these lands or released to farmers.
in one case the Guwahati-dibrugarh NH for a few kms ran arrow straight...my uncle remarked the road alignment had used one such disused runway!

if any still exist intact in land holding terms these could be built up as satellite airstrips to disperse assets and retain some operational uptime incase the big bases get damaged.

a half dozen such satellite airbases strung out along the bagdogra-chabua axis could permit pushing in additional transport/fighter assets and running more supply sorties without affecting the major bases.

vic · Post by **vic** » 27 Jun 2011 09:23

Craig Alpert wrote:Interesting the initial number declared earlier with an intent to purchase was around 250 and now it is stated at 214. Wonder if it will be ramped up later or more faith in LCA/AMCA.. Certainly interesting times ahead indeed.

It is typical of Indian Babus not to let proper infrastructure & manufactering be set up for adequate number of aircraft and then buy in bits and pieces by imports. I think that looking at Su-30MKIs numbers, we should set up infrasture for manufactering around 350-400 PAKFA for IAF, IN and for dedicated CAS. These numbers can be modified depending on how AMCA shapes up. Setting up additional infrasturture or manufactering line at this stage will be relatively cheaper and cost effective compared to emergency purchases

nits · Post by **nits** » 27 Jun 2011 18:05

Craig Alpert wrote:
NRao wrote:
NDTV: Let me start by asking you what are the changes that are being done in the Air Force for the past 3-4 years and what do you think is going to happen in the next 3-4 years?

Quite a long list - Hope we get all this and more... its really Exciting and changing times for IAF

1. 126 MMRCA's
2. 214 fifth generation fighter aircrafts that will be coming around 2017
3. 42 SU 30's additionally, We require the RFP has been issued to HAL
4. 75 trainers - that process is well on its way
5. 2 more AWACS of IL-76 base which we are waiting for
6. 10 C-17s - another famous deal cleared by CCS;
7. 80 + 59 medium-lift helicopters;
8. 22 attack helicopters;
9. 12 VVIP helicopters
10. 63 MiG-29's, that upgrade is well on its way in Russia.
11. Mirage 2000 upgrade will be going to the CCS next week and Jaguar re-engineering
12. 18 firing units of MRSAM (Medium Range Surface to Air Missiles)
13. 4 Spyders
14. 49 SR-SAM that is short range
15. 8 Aakash missiles.
16. Rohinis, aerostats, medium-power radars, low-level tactical radars, low-level light weight radars, we have the AFNET, which is already active.
17. We have the Modernisation of Airport Infrastructure, which is going on

Dmurphy · Post by **Dmurphy** » 27 Jun 2011 20:07

^^^ sigh

missed out on Tejas, LCH, WSI Dhruv only

Kartik · Post by **Kartik** » 27 Jun 2011 21:23

Dmurphy wrote:^^^ sigh missed out on Tejas, LCH, WSI Dhruv only

not just those- missed out on the LOH and more importantly, the indigenous AEWACS as well.

nikhil_p · Post by **nikhil_p** » 27 Jun 2011 22:05

nits wrote: NDTV: 13. 4 Spyders
14. 49 SR-SAM that is short range
15. 8 Aakash missiles.

[/quote]

Wonly 49 SR SAMs? and 8 Aakash and 4 spiders??
Is this abdullah reading it wrong, or my madrasa training does not prepare me to read between the lines?

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 27 Jun 2011 22:20

India purchased 18 spyder SAM systems. each system consists of multiple launch vehicles one assumes - enough to cover one airbase area.
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/de ... d=blogDest

the Akash squadron order is also huge.

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 27 Jun 2011 23:52

India to up defences in Andamans, Lakshadweep.

Keeping in mind China's forays into the Indian Ocean region, India has approved plans to beef up its military infrastructure and force levels in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep chains on the eastern and western seaboards.

The plans, approved at a meeting of the country's security top brass last month, involves the ramping of army, navy, air force and coast guard infrastructure, including a radar network, and force levels of both men and machines, a top defence ministry official said.

"The plans, approved at a meeting of the armed forces with the national security adviser's office last month, involves significant enhancement of military infrastructure and force accretion in both the Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep chains," the official said on condition of anonymity.

There is growing realisation in India that the island territories hold the key to dominating the vital maritime zones and securing the economic and strategic interests, apart from boosting engagements with friendly countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and the Maldives by offering support in capacity building, military assets transfer, and joint patrolling of the common maritime borders.

The Andaman and Nicobar chain already hosts a tri-services command, with elements of the army, navy and air force as part of its force structure, while the Lakshadweep chain has a coast guard district headquarters and stations.

Among the approvals obtained are upgrading the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as an amphibious warfare training hub, as also increasing the army's force levels to more than a brigade, the official said.

The naval air bases at Port Blair and the air force base in Car Nicobar too will be upgraded to facilitate fighter jet, helicopter and heavy transport plane operations.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has already tried out its potent frontline Sukhoi SU-30 fighter jets from air bases in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The Shibpur airstrip in north Andamans will be extended from 3,200 feet to 12,000 feet to support all types of aircraft and night-flying operations.

The navy and air force bases in both the island chains will also deploy unmanned aerial vehicles, to augment surveillance alongside the radar chains.

The IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, when asked about the force accretion plans, said: "Of course, we are (going to do it). But it will happen in a planned manner. It is not immediate, but over the next two or three (five-year) plans."

The navy, on its part, will scale up the jetties at Diglipur in north Andamans, Kamorta in south Andamans and Campbell Bay in Car Nicobar into "operational turn-around bases" with better refuelling and communication facilities, and more personnel.

It will also place more warships, including landing pontoon docks that aid amphibious warfare with capacity to carry combat troops and battle tanks, in the Andaman and Nicobar chain.

In Lakshadweep, the coast guard has already opened a district headquarters and operates a couple of stations. Now the navy plans to have a detachment in the island chain, which would be upgraded into a full-fledged base in the future with fast attack craft and interceptor boats.

The armed forces in the Lakshadweep will also act as deterrents to the Somali pirates operating around the island chain, particularly in the Nine Degree Channel and the Arabian Sea.

shukla · Post by **shukla** » 28 Jun 2011 01:57

Indo-US jet trainer - the Indus moment
Ajai Shukla - Business Standard

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 28 Jun 2011 02:07

don't we need a raised platform or tsunami blockers for andamans and lakshwadeep?

Kartik · Post by **Kartik** » 28 Jun 2011 05:58

shukla wrote: Indo-US jet trainer - the Indus moment
Ajai Shukla - Business Standard

I don't know what has happened to Ajai Shukla and how he could write such an article as if a golden opportunity has presented itself.

When a Bae Hawk 128 variant is itself one of the contenders for the T-38 replacement then what the hell will the IAF do with a newly developed T-38 replacement Advanced Jet/Lead In Fighter Trainer? The IAF has committed to a fleet of 106 Hawk 132s that will serve it for at least 30-35 years (till 2040 at least) and HAL can build Hawks anytime they want for attrition replacement batches, since they have a licence that allows them to build them whenever required (similar to the Jaguar).

And the IAF is quite happy with the Hawk, and doesn't require a supersonic trainer like the T-50, since if required, the Tejas can be sufficiently dumbed down to that level to become a LIFT.

So, as far as I can see, there is zero possibility of any requirement overlap for the USAF and IAF when it comes to a completely new trainer as a T-38 replacement- the figure of 200 trainers that Shukla mentioned is absurd, to be very polite. The only area where some interest may converge is IF the Hawk 128 variant is chosen, and HAL has to supply SKDs or CKDs for some of the initial batches (since Bae and HAL have signed a MoU in that regard to export Hawks) till a US company, say Boeing takes over from a Goshawk line to a Hawk XXX line.

Santosh · Post by **Santosh** » 28 Jun 2011 06:06

Kartik wrote:
Dmurphy wrote:^^^ sigh missed out on Tejas, LCH, WSI Dhruv only
not just those- missed out on the LOH and more importantly, the indigenous AEWACS as well.

That basically shows the mindset of our forces. FGFA is in prototype stage but makes it in our ACM's list. LCA is near-FOC and will be in squadron service by the time FGFA even starts operational clearance. But the LCA is only Mig 21++ according to ACM Naik while the FGFA is right up on his list. I sometimes wonder if there is some thing that we on BRF just don't get. The fanatical following on BRF on anything related to LCA, LCH, Arjun and the equally cold shoulder from the forces... don't know. Akash seems to be bucking the trend though.

Gurneesh · Post by **Gurneesh** » 28 Jun 2011 06:51

Mig 21 is gen 3 aircraft. Mig 21++ is gen 3++ or gen 4 aircraft. LCA in its present form is gen 4 aircraft. LCA at foc will be gen 4.5 aircraft (as per ACM himself). I think he is just trying to say that IAF will replace Mig21 with an aircraft that is atleast a generation ahead. All this is assuming he was referring to plane vanilla Mig 21 and not bison.

There are some nice comments over at the keypubs IAF forum regarding this matter.

Plus, it is faulty to base your opinions over a sentence, when the sentences before and after that have been conveniently ignored.

ACM also said that there will be 6-7 squadrons of LCA if not more, so no dearth of support IMHO.

Though, I also felt that omission of LCA and AWACS from the first answer was disturbing (I was kind of hoping that now he will say LCA, but he never did).

I feel that LCA will become IAF's darling after they get their hands on LSP7 and 8 and start getting op experience.

Gurneesh · Post by **Gurneesh** » 28 Jun 2011 06:56

Will IAF induct Dhruv Mk3 or is only army interested in it.

UBanerjee · Post by **UBanerjee** » 28 Jun 2011 06:58

Gurneesh wrote:Mig 21 is gen 3 aircraft.

How are we calculating these gens? From the limited amount I know about the MiG-21, it seems to be a fairly low-tech, simple aircraft that was valued because it was easy to mass produce and was good at what it was designed to do- intercept high-flying US bombers. What makes it "gen 3"?

Tejas on the other hand seems a far more complex and high-tech aircraft.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 28 Jun 2011 07:02

Tejas would be Gen 2, from the perspective of Marut being Gen 1. Now, all these gens can be country and force specific.

Our Gen 3 may be more advanced or equal to Raptor Gen 5. JMT, Gen-erally, there is no point talking gens but features would make more sense.

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 28 Jun 2011 07:09

UB, not sure why you think mig-21 is not gen3. the early versions were considered gen2 and the last version 'bis' as gen3.
the bison with PGM and BVR capability is considered gen3+
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Image ... 9.jpg.html

p.s. the mig-21 was hardly a low tech aircraft in its times, as a mach 2 fighter it was the rough equivalent of the mig-29.

nachiket · Post by **nachiket** » 28 Jun 2011 07:33

Rahul M wrote:
p.s. the mig-21 was hardly a low tech aircraft in its times, as a mach 2 fighter it was the rough equivalent of the mig-29.

That's a bit of a stretch breaper saar. It had neither the BVR capability nor the amazing low speed maneuverability of the 29. The 21s before the Bison didn't even have an HUD.
In fact the LCA currently is actually a Mig-29++ without the Mach 2+ capability which has limited use anyways.

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 28 Jun 2011 07:39

I think one of our friend Prof Prodyut Das's criticisms can be levelled against the LCA. Like the Gnat - the LCA is a tightly packed aircraft with very little extra space inside to do innovative things. Little wonder that Mark 2 is getting a fuselage plug.

But let me mention a related story here - the latest Vayu has an article by Air Marshal Rajkumar about the intense and detailed flight testing done with BAe help on the Jaguar for the Darin upgrade where the truncated cone with laser designator was replaced by a black radar cone. BAe anticipated some changes in flight characteristics but AM Rajkumar did the flight testing and that testing was exhaustive - incredible detailed. No wonder our testing takes time. In the end it turned out that the new nose hardly made any difference. But the Indian authorities were even bigger sticklers for decaraing that Jag fit for flying (read the article!)

So an LCA with a fuselage plug will undergo exhaustive flying trials. Any deficiency will kill it, so it will take time and the IAF is sick of delays - even when those delays are self imposed. But when we import we "trust" the supplier to have done all the testing (even if he has not). If an accident occurs we blame him and he blames us - exactly as we saw when the first Hawk crashed.

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 28 Jun 2011 07:40

erm nachiket sahab, I didn't mean mig-21bison == mig-29, should have been clearer I guess.

mig-29 : 1980's :: mig-21 : 1960's

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 28 Jun 2011 08:34

>> The Shibpur airstrip in north Andamans will be extended from 3,200 feet to 12,000 feet to support all
>> types of aircraft and night-flying operations.

can anyone point us to where this is. I am unable to see it in google earth.

nachiket · Post by **nachiket** » 28 Jun 2011 09:56

Rahul M wrote:erm nachiket sahab, I didn't mean mig-21bison == mig-29, should have been clearer I guess.

mig-29 : 1980's :: mig-21 : 1960's

Sooree

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 28 Jun 2011 10:06

http://docs.google.com/File?id=dmxx6xb_608fqbhchc8_b

apparently a pic of the shibpur airstrip. at present only helicopters can operate from it.

the runway looks capable upto C130 size. maybe the navigation, ATC, tarmac and lights need fixing for aircraft ops.

UBanerjee · Post by **UBanerjee** » 28 Jun 2011 10:56

Rahul M wrote:UB, not sure why you think mig-21 is not gen3. the early versions were considered gen2 and the last version 'bis' as gen3.
the bison with PGM and BVR capability is considered gen3+
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Image ... 9.jpg.html

p.s. the mig-21 was hardly a low tech aircraft in its times, as a mach 2 fighter it was the rough equivalent of the mig-29.

Sorry, I am only going by wiki knowledge! That makes sense if major upgrades were done like with the F-16 to bump it up a "gen".

Low-tech comment was misplaced- however I was struck by the info on "safety record in India" and also the following:

Like many aircraft designed as interceptors, the MiG-21 had a short range. This was not helped by a design defect where the center of gravity shifted rearwards once two-thirds of the fuel had been used. This had the effect of making the plane uncontrollable, resulting in an endurance of only 45 minutes in clean condition. The issue of the short endurance and low fuel capacity of the MiG-21F, PF, PFM, S/SM and M/MF variants—though each had a somewhat greater fuel capacity than its predecessor—led to the development of the MT and SMT variants. These had a range increase of 250 km (155 mi) compared to the MiG-21SM, but at the cost of worsening all other performance figures (such as a lower service ceiling and slower time to altitude).

Could some guru go into the overall +s and -s of the Mig-21. It seems tons of upgrades were done and that the MiG-21 still bested the F-104 in 1971!

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 28 Jun 2011 11:25

I am not a mig21 guru, but the overall design of the plane seems optimized for a high-alt slash and run attack vs low or medium alt sustained turning fights the F-solah was designed for. so imo it cannot get into a turning fight with F-solah types but rely on high speed and slashing attacks to strike and then escape...or stick to bvr sniping only in its bison format. its weak endurance effectively means its a on-call point defence interceptor and cannot loiter around, do long range T-shaped intercepts to block off strike a/c not heading for its immediate vicinity and no real ability for long range strike. its a dinosaur, maybe a loveable and quirky beast for its fans, but its a dinosaur and ought to be put to grass. has claimed its share of young blood.

maybe , with its design in late 1950s it was designed to intercept US bombers (incl supersonic ones) which were the main threat ?

the F-104 seems to be belong to the same school of design. ie very limited in scope.

the Hunter was probably a more balanced design and the Gnat more effective in what little it could do.

kind of like the raptor and ef that look cool and does little, while grizzled old F-15e and tornado gr4 put bombs on target and return home day after day.

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 28 Jun 2011 11:38

As per Rand classification 2nd gen includes

F-104 Starfighter, F-105 Thunderchief, F-106 Delta Dart, Dassault Mirage III, Saab Draken, MiG-19 & the MiG-21.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 28 Jun 2011 11:50

sher khan was doing stuff like AAR over vietnam way back then ...
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... refuel.jpg

of the 2nd gen lot, the MirageIII appears to be the most versatile?

UBanerjee · Post by **UBanerjee** » 28 Jun 2011 11:51

Singha wrote: maybe , with its design in late 1950s it was designed to intercept US bombers (incl supersonic ones) which were the main threat ?

well that is definitely what it was designed for according to all info I look at.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 28 Jun 2011 14:12

This gentleman has been seen more often than required on TV

He is a prima donna.

Many of his views are unpalatable and not supportive of the team spirit and camaraderie that should per force exist in the higher echelons of Military management in India.

In 3-4 years, IAF will be the best in the world

Viv S · Post by **Viv S** » 28 Jun 2011 14:23

chetak wrote:This gentleman has been seen more often than required on TV

He is a prima donna.

Many of his views are unpalatable and not supportive of the team spirit and camaraderie that should per force exist in the higher echelons of Military management in India.

In 3-4 years, IAF will be the best in the world

That headline is certainly a misquote. His exact statement was - 'Over the next 3-4 years, I expect the IAF to become one of the most modern air forces in the world.'

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 28 Jun 2011 14:35

Viv S wrote:
chetak wrote:This gentleman has been seen more often than required on TV

He is a prima donna.

Many of his views are unpalatable and not supportive of the team spirit and camaraderie that should per force exist in the higher echelons of Military management in India.

In 3-4 years, IAF will be the best in the world
That headline is certainly a misquote. His exact statement was - 'Over the next 3-4 years, I expect the IAF to become one of the most modern air forces in the world.'

Whatever, saar.

His gorilla style chest thumping on TV is in extreme bad taste.