Rafale, S-400 will enhance our capabilities — IAF chief
DHANOA SAYS AIR FORCE IN THE PROCESS OF ACQUIRING NEW COMBAT SYSTEMS
Air Force Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa yesterday said the induction of Rafale fighter aircraft, the S-400 missile system and the Apache and Chinook choppers will considerably enhance the IAF’s capabilities.
“We are in the process of acquiring new combat systems... The acquisition of 36 Rafale aircraft, the S-400 missile systems, Apache attack helicopters and Chinook heavy lift helicopters will further enhance our capabilities,” he said in his address to a gathering of IAF officers and personnel on the 86th anniversary of the Air Force at Hindan airbase.
Army chief General Bipin Rawat and Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba, as well as former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, an Honorary Group Captain of the IAF, were present.
While the Congress has been accusing the Modi government of indulging in crony capitalism and benefiting “a few friends” at the cost of the stateowned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) in the Rs590 billion (Dh29.15 billion) Rafale deal, Dhanoa maintained that the deal for 36 Rafale jets was an emergency purchase and that India got a good deal.
India also signed a Rs390 billion deal with Russia for S-400 Triumf missile systems last week despite US threats of sanctions.
Speaking about Exercise Gagan Shakti, the largest ever pan-IAF drill that showcased the IAF’s capabilities and preparedness, Dhanoa said the IAF was “ever prepared to meet any contingency that challenges the defence of our country”.
During the exercise, designed to practise real time deployment of air power in a realistic short and intense battle scenario in case of a two-front war in coordination with the Army and Navy, more than 11,000 sorties were flown including 9,000 sorties of fighter aircraft.
More than 1,400 officers and 14,000 men were pulled out of training and maintenance units and deployed for the exercise.
“The IAF further expanded its participation in bilateral and multinational exercise with air forces of friendly foreign countries such as Australia, Russia, Israel, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.
Mid-air stunts
“These exercises have helped us build relations and kept us abreast of the latest practices and technological developments in the world of military aviation,” the Air Chief Marshal said.
The IAF held a spectacular air show yesterday in which the MiG-21, MiG-29, Su-30 MKI, Tejas and Dhruv helicopters conducted breathtaking manoeuvres.
There was the grandeur of the roaring and splitting of MiG-29 jets and the gravity-defying vertical charlie by single Su-30 apart during the show but it was the manoeuvres, including rolls and loops, of the indigenously-built Tejas light combat aircraft that was the show-stopper.
The Sarang team of the IAF, flying the modified Dhruv choppers, astonished the viewers with their daredevil midair stunts conducted with razor precision.