VayuSena Rafale: News and Discussions - 17 Oct 2016

Sumeet · Post by **Sumeet** » 27 Jul 2020 14:32

Aditya_V wrote:First batch of 5 Rafale jets takes off from France for India

Good news !!!

Rakesh admiral Sahib, any chance of lungi dance and/or mithai when they land

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 27 Jul 2020 15:25

Fat chance the Adm. will give you anything. The stingiest bugger of all. Has still welshed on his promise of mithai for the Akula sub! About a decade's past since his feku offer. Not even a crumb!

Dereliction of duty Adm, if you don't cough up the mithai you may be court-martialled!

ks_sachin · Post by **ks_sachin** » 27 Jul 2020 15:56

Philip wrote:Fat chance the Adm. will give you anything.The stingiest bugger of all.Has still welshed on his promise of mithai for the Akula sub! About a decade's past since his feku offer. Not even a crumb!

Marshall of the Fleet Filipov no sweets for imported maal. The mithai will always have a bitter aftertaste.
Swadisht Besam Barfi or tinned rosogullas from Haldiram should only be on offer for domestic products that run the gauntlet of Indian procurement processes and are inducted...

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 27 Jul 2020 18:29

Sumeet wrote:
Aditya_V wrote:First batch of 5 Rafale jets takes off from France for India
Good news !!!

Rakesh admiral Sahib, any chance of lungi dance and/or mithai when they land

Philip wrote:Fat chance the Adm. will give you anything. The stingiest bugger of all. Has still welshed on his promise of mithai for the Akula sub! About a decade's past since his feku offer. Not even a crumb!

Dereliction of duty Adm, if you don't cough up the mithai you may be court-martialled!

No Mithai, because no Akula-II to date

I did not promise any mithai for Rafale

But lungi dance for sure....

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 27 Jul 2020 18:31

https://twitter.com/Indian_Embassy/stat ... 30784?s=20 ---> Bon Voyage: Indian Ambassador to France interacts with the Indian pilots of the Rafale. Congratulates and wishes them a safe flight to India with a single hop.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 27 Jul 2020 18:32

The CO of No 17 Golden Arrows Squadron is standing at extreme left ---> Group Captain Harkirat Singh. This picture shows some of the pilots who will be landing in India on July 29th.

Future Air Marshals and Air Chief Marshals are in this picture.

A little known story about Group Captain Harkirat Singh, who will command first Rafale squadron
https://theprint.in/defence/story-about ... plications.
09 Oct 2019

https://twitter.com/IAF_MCC/status/1287 ... 73472?s=20 ---> The first 5 IAF Rafales have taken off from Dassault Aviation Facility, Merignac, France today morning. These five include 3 single-seater and 2 twin-seater aircraft. The ferry is planned in two stages & is being undertaken by IAF pilots.

https://twitter.com/IAF_MCC/status/1287 ... 73472?s=20 ---> Air to Air Refueling planned during the first leg of the ferry will be undertaken by dedicated Tanker support from French Air Force. The aircraft are likely to reach AF Station Ambala on 29 July 20. No 17 Squadron, 'The Golden Arrows', is being raised at Ambala with Rafale aircraft.

https://twitter.com/umanggarg87/status/ ... 19392?s=20 ---> All are the best in his class, I know that. Watch Sukhoi Squadron Leaders' old video, you can find many of them.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 27 Jul 2020 18:37

https://twitter.com/ShivAroor/status/12 ... 78464?s=20 ---> That’s one very happy IAF Rafale pilot before his 7,000+ km flight home!

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 27 Jul 2020 18:39

https://twitter.com/livefist/status/128 ... 42016?s=20 ---> Here’s the route the 5 IAF Rafale jets are taking from Mérignac to Ambala. Here’s wishing the new ‘Golden Arrows’ a great flight home!

https://twitter.com/Am7Mehta/status/128 ... 18305?s=20 ---> Imagine this alternative route! (RED)

Manish_P · Post by **Manish_P** » 27 Jul 2020 18:45

Khush kyu na ho, Rakesh Babu.

He gets to spend some lone quality time with a french beauty.. wonder what his better-half would think about the firang souten

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 27 Jul 2020 18:53

^^^

That's a good one Manish Saar!

Is this image photo-shopped? (i.e. Rafale picture on the TV)?

https://twitter.com/atulamist7/status/1 ... 57952?s=20 ---> Rafale in India!! Proud moment for each and every Indian. And Thank you Narendra Modi-ji and Rajnath Singh-ji. We are getting stronger everyday. Jai Hind!

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 27 Jul 2020 18:59

https://twitter.com/lahri_chandra/statu ... 71873?s=20 ---> Vande Mataram!

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 27 Jul 2020 19:03

Some folks on twitter are undergoing takleef over this particular image

See the peeling paint on the tail? Un-necessary takleef.

https://twitter.com/sneheshphilip/statu ... 25728?s=20 ---> This picture is a proof of how much this trainer aircraft would have flown.

https://twitter.com/sneheshphilip/statu ... 34338?s=20 ---> For those wondering, these are all brand new aircraft. The paint peeling off is due to to the extensive flying that is done on these aircraft. The tweet was meant as a testimony to the amount of flying that our pilots have done. Twitter is a strange world

Rony · Post by **Rony** » 27 Jul 2020 19:50

Sorry for being the party pooper...

https://twitter.com/nitingokhale/status ... 60961?s=20 ---> Am I the only one to feel that the Rafale story is being overhyped ? Let’s be realistic: Only when the entire 36 aircraft get inducted and integrated into the IAF one can say they will make a difference.

https://twitter.com/NarangVipin/status/ ... 93506?s=20 ---> I would go a bit further: the big game changer will be if/when India can build its own combat equipment and doesn’t need to overpay the French and the Russians for it. No state in history has become a major power without being able to build its own conventional boom.

https://twitter.com/somnath1978/status/ ... 88705?s=20 ---> The *really big* game-changer will be if/when Indian military internalises this tautology.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 27 Jul 2020 20:01

Rony wrote:Sorry for being the party pooper...

https://twitter.com/nitingokhale/status ... 60961?s=20 ---> Am I the only one to feel that the Rafale story is being overhyped ? Let’s be realistic: Only when the entire 36 aircraft get inducted and integrated into the IAF one can say they will make a difference.

https://twitter.com/NarangVipin/status/ ... 93506?s=20 ---> I would go a bit further: the big game changer will be if/when India can build its own combat equipment and doesn’t need to overpay the French and the Russians for it. No state in history has become a major power without being able to build its own conventional boom.

https://twitter.com/somnath1978/status/ ... 88705?s=20 ---> The *really big* game-changer will be if/when Indian military internalises this tautology.

NarangVipin has ideological diarrhea whenever India comes up and he tweets anti India several times every day

and why not, after all he is married to mani shankar aiyer's daughter and is safely ensconced in faraway US in some academia and probably needs brownie points to get lucky occasionally.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 27 Jul 2020 20:43

Rony wrote:Sorry for being the party pooper...

https://twitter.com/nitingokhale/status ... 60961?s=20 ---> Am I the only one to feel that the Rafale story is being overhyped ? Let’s be realistic: Only when the entire 36 aircraft get inducted and integrated into the IAF one can say they will make a difference.

https://twitter.com/NarangVipin/status/ ... 93506?s=20 ---> I would go a bit further: the big game changer will be if/when India can build its own combat equipment and doesn’t need to overpay the French and the Russians for it. No state in history has become a major power without being able to build its own conventional boom.

https://twitter.com/somnath1978/status/ ... 88705?s=20 ---> The *really big* game-changer will be if/when Indian military internalises this tautology.

Nitin Gokhale is spot on. I fully agree with him. Although I personally believe with the investments made at Hasimara and Ambala, 36 is too little. I hope MMRCA meets its end and the IAF gets two more Rafale squadrons and calls it a day. And it is being over-hyped by the media, because of the so-called Rafale Scam that was cleared *TWICE* by the Supreme Court of India. The monumental hurdles this deal had to go through. Sad reality of Indian defence procurement. Who asked for the case to go to the Supreme Court? The Congress! Who alleged that the Supreme Court was biased, when the decisions did not go in their favour? The Congress!

Vipin Narang is best ignored. This burnol is coming because of a non-American combat aircraft being inducted into the IAF. Amazing after nearly a decade of the technical down-select (27 April 2011), it still hurts. Some apparently have a hard time getting over this. This hurt would not occur, if it was an American bird that was being inducted in the IAF today.

Combat Aircraft from France, Russia (or someone else) = Starving Indians, with begging bowl, who belong on UNICEF poster

Combat Aircraft from America = Prosperous Indians because of the rolling economy from F-16 screwdrivergiri

That is all what this is about. Do you ever see tweets from Vipin Narang when the C-17, C-130, AH-64, CH-47, P-8I, MH-60R, etc were acquired? You will hear only the sound of crickets. Six more P-8I, with COMCASA equipment, have been approved for acquisition. I guess the P-8I is not a game changer equipment

Ignore and Move On.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 27 Jul 2020 21:01

For anyone who has any doubts about the role of the Rafale in the IAF.

This is as official as it gets....

IAF to get Rafales by July-end
https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-i ... 2020-06-30
30 June 2020

“The Rafale numbers might seem small for now, but their presence is itself a deterrent,” says Air Marshal Nirdosh Tyagi, former Deputy Chief of Air Staff. “These are special mission aircraft—they are not the type that will be used for close air support or point defence.”

“This is the induction of an aircraft with near fifth generation performance and marks a paradigm shift in the combat potential of the IAF,” says Air Marshal P.S. Ahluwalia, former C-in-C Western Air Command. “It is important that the pilots and technicians absorb the technology and more importantly, apply it.”

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 27 Jul 2020 21:10

Our pilots have safely reached the UAE. Next stop ---> Ambala! Jai Hind!

https://twitter.com/sneheshphilip/statu ... 44032?s=20 ---> All five Rafales have landed safely in Al Dhafra airbase in UAE after a sortie in excess of seven hours. Will now halt and then take off on Wednesday for Ambala where it will reach by around noon.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 27 Jul 2020 21:39

For want of a nail, a Hammer
https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/ ... -a-hammer/
27 July 2020

The IAF seriously considered the Hammer as part of the Rafale weapons package, but eventually elected to go with the cheaper Israeli SPICE system to serve as the Rafale’s principal tactical standoff weapon, a decision driven entirely by cost.

Embarrassingly, these emergency acquisitions are being passed off as a virtue, spun as a way to get the armed forces what they need without red tape. They are not. Unshackling defence preparedness from a moribund process should be the norm, not celebrated as an exceptional achievement every time a military crisis exposes yawning gaps in readiness and capability.

From small arms, to tanks, artillery and fighter jets – if India can become a manufacturing and export hub for just a handful of munitions types, that will solve a lot of problems for the services’ access to cheap and effective ordnance.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 27 Jul 2020 21:52

I love tweets like this.

*EXACTLY* 41 years after the induction of the Jaguar at Ambala AFS, the same air base will induct the Rafale.

https://twitter.com/zone5aviation/statu ... 35553?s=20 ---> Big day for many of these gents. Arriving in Ambala on Wednesday, the first time the base will receive an all-new type since the Jaguar -- coincidentally, those arrived on a similar date, 27 July 1979!

Mort Walker · Post by **Mort Walker** » 27 Jul 2020 22:37

Since this is a critical period, the order for 44 more Rafales should be placed along with an Order of 200 LCA Tejas (any version). I don't want to be reading about discussions of the MRCA in 2030.

KL Dubey · Post by **KL Dubey** » 27 Jul 2020 22:59

Rakesh wrote:The CO of No 17 Golden Arrows Squadron is standing at extreme left ---> Group Captain Harkirat Singh. This picture shows some of the pilots who will be landing in India on July 29th.

Future Air Marshals and Air Chief Marshals are in this picture.

The other group captain in the pics appears to be my cousin-in-law who I think is the CO of Skylords.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 27 Jul 2020 23:02

Skylords is a C-17 squadron.

Pilot from transport stream gets transferred to fighter stream? And ends up on Rafale?

There are many instances of it being the other way around.

Or am I reading your post incorrectly?

V_Raman · Post by **V_Raman** » 27 Jul 2020 23:15

This whole collecttive O..... over phirang h/w is nauseating. This has gone on way too long. I mean where is the pride

KL Dubey · Post by **KL Dubey** » 27 Jul 2020 23:28

Rakesh wrote:Skylords is a C-17 squadron.

Pilot from transport stream gets transferred to fighter stream? And ends up on Rafale?

There are many instances of it being the other way around.

Or am I reading your post incorrectly?

Not sure if he is getting transferred, maybe he is accompanying the others.

I know he was closely involved in bringing the first C-17s in from the US.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 27 Jul 2020 23:29

V_Raman wrote:This whole collecttive O..... over phirang h/w is nauseating. This has gone on way too long. I mean where is the pride

There is sheer joy in retiring an aging MiG-21 unit and inducting a platform (desi or phoren) that is far newer.

There is pride that with all new aircraft (desi or phoren), our pilots will do their job far more efficiently than their older and aging counterparts.

There is pride that our pilots will be safer in these newer platforms (desi or phoren).

I am happy and I also have pride. Man before Machine.

Vivek K · Post by **Vivek K** » 27 Jul 2020 23:37

V_Raman wrote:This whole collecttive O..... over phirang h/w is nauseating. This has gone on way too long. I mean where is the pride

Not just nauseating - downright disgusting and shameful. That 41 years later, an underpowered Jaguar that replaced the Maruts and has to date not earned any glory, the same airbase is welcoming a 4.5+ gen imported fighter that is more expensive than current 5th gen fighters with such ovation.

There is no pride in Indian projects or products amongst Indians. It is pukeworthy to see people rejoice at induction of 5 aircraft (with trainers in them). Are these equipped with warpdrives? This is too little too late. The LCA has been asked to conquer new milestones for 6 years or more - radomes, IFR and so on. 60-100 LCAs could have been in service if timely approvals (like for the Rafale by the French - serial development over complete aircraft from the gitgo). had been granted. Could have had 4-5 additional squadrons in service in place of a quarter squadron barely limping in.

Rejoice sending your jobs overseas friends and take pride in that. For that is a unique emotion observed only amongst Indians.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 27 Jul 2020 23:39

Yes Vivek Saar, retire all remaining IAF fighter aircraft and induct onlee Tejas.

Retire everything - Su-30MKI, Mirage 2000, Jaguar, MiG-29, MiG-21 and now even Rafale.

Induct onlee Tejas. That will solve everything.

A production run of 650+ Tejas will solve all the IAF's woes.

V_Raman · Post by **V_Raman** » 27 Jul 2020 23:41

We are at a level where we cannot take pride in being able to new get planes and fight with them and deprecate old planes. We can do that. That is the description of growing one level up from entry level job. But the reviews will be yes you are performing as expected. You did not exceed the expectations. How/When will armed forces grow up to senior engineer/principal engineer and beyond?

V_Raman · Post by **V_Raman** » 27 Jul 2020 23:44

I am not arguing about lack of LCA induction or anything like that. But don’t show so much happiness for a phirang h/w. Celebrate the LCA induction like this or Akash or Pinaka like this. What you celebrate matters in changing attitude/perceptions

V_Raman · Post by **V_Raman** » 27 Jul 2020 23:45

The PM looking at it as though he delivered a baby - I mean cmon get a grip!!!! IAF should be called as International Air Force IMO.

Vivek K · Post by **Vivek K** » 27 Jul 2020 23:48

Rakesh wrote:Yes Vivek Saar, retire all remaining IAF fighter aircraft and induct onlee Tejas.

Retire everything - Su-30MKI, Mirage 2000, Jaguar, MiG-29, MiG-21 and now even Rafale.

Induct onlee Tejas. That will solve everything.

A production run of 650+ Tejas will solve all the IAF's woes.

I daresay that would be an excellent solution. However, with 300 Sukhois, similarly introduced by IAF and BRFItes as air dominance fighters, why is the Rafale so urgently required? Or do you think that the solution lies in a patchwork force with
300 Sukhois,
50 Mirages
130 Jags
85 Mig-29s
36 Rafales

The IAF has wasted considerable time in exploring upgrade options for the Jag (DARIN I - III). This for an aircraft it did not even trust to send in over SL when the opposition could have probably thrown stones in response.

IAF will be hardpressed even with 72 Rafales to take on the Chinese - unless diversions from the US and IN in the SCS can be started. What India needs to take on China is large numbers to match their strengths (along with the Pukiturds).

But admiral saar - you're the authority and so Rafales it is!! Onlee spend all monee on Rafales and close down LCA and LCH - put them in museums next to Trishul, Nag, Arjun ....

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 27 Jul 2020 23:50

V_Raman wrote:I am not arguing about lack of LCA induction or anything like that. But don’t show so much happiness for a phirang h/w. Celebrate the LCA induction like this or Akash or Pinaka like this. What you celebrate matters in changing attitude/perceptions

You think there is happiness only about the plane? Honestly?

Did it ever occur to you that the pilots who are flying these newer machines are more safer than flying an aging MiG-21?

If he dies flying a MiG-21, so be it. Not my relative in the cockpit. So why should I care?

I will wait till HAL produces enough Tejas aircraft and then onlee I will celebrate.

What does the IAF do to address squadron shortage till then? Restore Maruts and Gnats back into service?

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 27 Jul 2020 23:56

Vivek K wrote:I daresay that would be an excellent solution. However, with 300 Sukhois, similarly introduced by IAF and BRFItes as air dominance fighters, why is the Rafale so urgently required? Or do you think that the solution lies in a patchwork force with
300 Sukhois,
50 Mirages
130 Jags
85 Mig-29s
36 Rafales

The IAF has wasted considerable time in exploring upgrade options for the Jag (DARIN I - III). This for an aircraft it did not even trust to send in over SL when the opposition could have probably thrown stones in response.

IAF will be hardpressed even with 72 Rafales to take on the Chinese - unless diversions from the US and IN in the SCS can be started. What India needs to take on China is large numbers to match their strengths (along with the Pukiturds).

BRF Members are onlee jingos. None of us are the authority. Air HQ does not log into BRF every morning to get advice from us on their future air combat structure.

Retire all the current combat aircraft in service now and induct only Tejas. Let's see how far that suggestion will fly at Air HQ.

Why waste money on AMCA also. Induct only Tejas. You can eliminate the patchwork right away.

Vivek K wrote:But admiral saar - you're the authority and so Rafales it is!! Onlee spend all monee on Rafales and close down LCA and LCH - put them in museums next to Trishul, Nag, Arjun ....

I have never said that

Vivek K · Post by **Vivek K** » 28 Jul 2020 00:03

That's nice - don't accept aircraft and move spec posts then say you don't have enough during a crunch and spend billions on "fast track" imports. Nice way to build an airforce. If a fraction of the sums being spent today was invested in production facilities 5 years ago - the situation would have been different.

Next please complain about lack of production of Arjuns and order more T-90s.

nachiket · Post by **nachiket** » 28 Jul 2020 00:09

Twitter has become nauseating. Almost minute by minute updates about where the 5 Rafales are. Feels like ball by ball commentary of a cricket match. As if the Rafales are the saviors we have been waiting for to deliver us from Chinese clutches in Ladakh, when the reality is that these 5 birds will have little to no effect on that situation. Have to stay away from Twitter for a few days.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 28 Jul 2020 00:10

Vivek K wrote:That's nice - don't accept aircraft and move spec posts then say you don't have enough during a crunch and spend billions on "fast track" imports. Nice way to build an airforce. If a fraction of the sums being spent today was invested in production facilities 5 years ago - the situation would have been different.

Squadron shortage has been going on for the past 20+ years

The import of Rafale that you are referring to as fast track, was down selected on 27 April 2011 and L1 selected on 31 Jan 2012. Contract signed in Sept 2016. And formal induction in Aug 2020. To call it a fast track import is like me saying....I went out on a date with Katrina Kaif but in reality I only dated Uma Devi Khatri aka TunTun. Night and Day Saar, Night and Day!

*IF* is a very subjective word Saar. Whining about the past, each time an import comes in does not change the present or the future. It's no Use Crying Over Spilt Milk.

KL Dubey · Post by **KL Dubey** » 28 Jul 2020 00:26

V_Raman wrote:We are at a level where we cannot take pride in being able to new get planes and fight with them and deprecate old planes. We can do that. That is the description of growing one level up from entry level job. But the reviews will be yes you are performing as expected. You did not exceed the expectations. How/When will armed forces grow up to senior engineer/principal engineer and beyond?

Every bit matters. And especially in a urgent situation like this one, cheering the forces for inducting what is available immediately is appropriate.

This is the Rafale thread, so where else should BRF people celebrate this new induction that was delayed by more than a decade of drama ? There are other dedicated threads for indigenous platforms (LCA, IAC, Arihant, etc etc) where every new progress and success is heartily cheered.

m_saini · Post by **m_saini** » 28 Jul 2020 01:18

Just wish the political capital they spent on bringing Rafales, they would've used that to disband/fix HAL and DPSUs. Also agree with other posters that the amount of cheer 5 (and eventually 36) are getting is ridiculous.

Anyway, happy that they're here but if I was anyone in Airforce or GoI, I'd look at those 36 as a symbol of our failure and ineptitude. A country our size and aspirations shouldn't be behaving this way.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 28 Jul 2020 01:38

This reminds me of the time when the Mirage 2000 upgrade was being finalized during Air Chief Marshal PV Naik's tenure. Many in the media were complaining about the high cost of the upgrade. $50 million per bird for just an electronic upgrade and no engine upgrade either. Yet these same ones were celebrating when upgraded (and un-upgraded) Mirage 2000s successfully took part in the Balakot raid in February 2019.

The IAF picked a plane that it knew could do the job with elan. Retired Mirage 2000 pilots in the IAF all state one thing --- when the Mirage 2000 is in the air, the PAF retreats. This is not hyperbole and the IAF is not in the business of hyperbole, it is just a fact. Heck, even the PAF has said that the Mirage 2000 is worrisome. Rafale will only further improve and build upon that. Tomorrow, *IF* Rafale does something similar at Balakot (or elsewhere)....please do not celebrate...OK?

You cannot have it both ways - whine about cost, whine about the plane and then celebrate when the IAF does something spectacular with the plane...as the Mirage 2000 did in Balakot. You get what you pay for. Just a fact of life. It is not about five Rafales or where they are at this particular moment in time that is the cause for celebration. To bring that up is pointless. It is about the capability that no other aircraft *PRESENTLY* in the IAF offers. If you believe some other aircraft does, bring it to the table. Let's discuss.

Easy to talk about cost and talk about Atmanirbhar Bharat, when you are not in the cockpit with a PL-12 or AIM-120C5 bearing down upon you at Mach 3. Live the life of an IAF pilot - for one day - who has to fly into heavily defended enemy territory and complete his mission. Forget one day, just do it for *ONE MISSION* and I will guarantee that you will sing another tune.

Can anyone in here do what Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman did in his MiG-21 Bison? Took on a twin seater F-16 and shot it down, all the while knowing fully well...that he too could be shot down and die? Talk is cheap.

m_saini · Post by **m_saini** » 28 Jul 2020 02:11

Rakesh wrote:Easy to talk about cost and talk about Atmanirbhar Bharat, when you are not in the cockpit with a PL-12 or AIM-120C5 bearing down upon you at Mach 3. Live the life of an IAF pilot - for one day - who has to fly into heavily defended enemy territory and complete his mission. Forget one day, just do it for *ONE MISSION* and I will guarantee that you will sing another tune.

Sir, this wasn't the intention. A little tid bit about me, I actually used to live in Ambala Cantt and have an uncle who works at the base. I passed that mig-21 they have on display at the front gate almost every other week. So I get where you're coming from. The people who fight for us deserve the best tools to do the job.

I guess what a lot of people were bitter about is the fact that we're cheering for imported fighters when we're short in several other areas and domestic products are waiting for orders. It's just sad one cheers for ras malai when the stomach grumbles for dal chawal at home. Anyway, like you said Rafale adds capabilities that we presently don't have and it certainly is cause for celebration.