Banking On Continuity
And what is that we shall tell our succeeding generations when they ask as to how was it that the Indian Air Force which, in the mid80s, was reputedly one of the world’s largest and most powerful air arms, was allowed to degenerate in quality and quantity a mere ten years later? That those who donned the mantle of its leadership at Vayu Bhawan could not convince the pundits at South Block of their urgent necessities? That those bureaucrats who assumed the right to damn or delay vital requirements of the nation’s air force could not get those wheeling and dealing politicians to spare the time or interest in making such moves as would have saved the country great cost, both in direct and in so many intangible ways?
Pakistan has informed India of its major air and military exercise Highmark-95 which also involves all combat squadrons of the Pakistan Air Force. While there has been no official Pakistani word on the scale and strategic scope of Highmark-95 this exercise seems in reaction to India’s earlier exercise Brasstacks, the importance of which Pakistan seems to have taken very seriously. As for the finer details of Highmark-95, the PAF official has been quoted as saying, “There will be considerable air activity near Karachi, as the port and its infrastructure could be prime targets for the enemy.”
India’s Finance Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh finds a lot of attractive features in the Tata-SIA joint venture now awaiting approval by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board ( FIPB). “I welcome foreign investment in such sectors and feel that competition is good for the Indian Industry”, he added. Although the Finance Minister heads the empowered committee on foreign investment which would have to bestow the final seal of approval on the project if it gets off the ground, he was somewhat hesitant about commenting definitely on the project, obviously because Civil Aviation Minister Ghulam Nabhi Azad had expressed contrary views, placing the joint venture in jeopardy.
Airbus Industrie is considering inviting India, along with China and South Korea for participation in its mega 600-800 seater airliner. President of Airbus Industrie, Mr. Jean Pierson, stated that both India and China have been recognised as the fastest growing markets in aviation today and the Toulouse-based company would “not mind” asking these countries to enter into joint ventures to enlarge the manufacturing base for this high capacity aircraft slated for induction after 2005.
A high- level six- member UAE defence delegation headed by Brig Hayyl Juma Al Hamlli, Director Operations of the UAE Defence Forces, was in India in August, 1995 and there are reports that the IAF may be requested to train pilots belonging to the United Arab Emirates on the Russianmade Il-76 strategic lift transport aircraft. These aircraft, which also from part of the IAF’s inventory, are currently being flown by Russian pilots in the UAE. Another major possibility of bilateral cooperation is the servicing and overhauling of UAE’s Mirage 2000 multi-role fighter aircraft of French origin (the IAF currently has two Mirage 2000 squadrons). These aircraft are now being completely overhauled in India. While the IAF overhauls the engines, HAL overhauls the airframe at Bangalore.