62-year-old Air Marshal Harish Masand was visibly thrilled at having flown the aircraft, calling it far more comfortable than the earlier MiG-29.
Year: 2009
Tail break in flight grounds Russian MiG-29s
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A Russian business daily reported last week the grounding of the Russian Air Force’s MiG-29 fleet, when recently, a tail broke away during a training exercise. The Vice President of Russian Aircraft Corporation (RAC) confirmed on Wednesday, the grounding of the aircraft, saying an inquiry was underway.
Gripen’s case to be the MMRCA
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Gripen’s Eddy de la Motte points out the unique defensive and offensive capabilities of the fighter plane in being able to land on public roads, be serviced and take off again to continue operations, while explaining why he thinks the Gripen is the best aircraft for India’s anticipated 126 MMRCA purchase.
From the Mig 21 to the Gripen
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StratPost spoke exclusively to a man who has extensively flown the mainstay of the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Mig 21, as well as Saab’s Gripen fighter, one of the contenders for the MMRCA deal. Colonel Petr Mikulenka of the Czech Air Force, spoke to StratPost about his experiences with both aircraft.
Reported Sino-Indian naval stand-off ‘untenable’: Naval Expert
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“It is simply not possible to force a submarine to surface without using ordinance of some kind or the other – whether depth charges or whatever,” said Commodore Uday Bhaskar.
IAF thinks about strikes on non state actors
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Air Commodore Arjun Subramanium took the example of the Sri Lankan Air Force destroying the LTTE air wing after it became so bold as to strike at government targets, saying that while air strikes against non state actors may lead to short-term escalation, in the long term they would also lead to de-escalation.
Iran not to allow NATO supplies to Afghanistan
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NATO Commander General John Craddock had earlier indicated Iran to have been an option for NATO members to supply their troops and Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer had also called for engagement with Iran in the context of NATO’s deployment in Afghanistan.
Blog: Vendors employing Direct Sales Agents for MMRCA deal?
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The USD 12 billion order is so important for arms vendors that at a recent defense seminar in New Delhi, one of the speakers, a representative of a foreign air force was told, first politely, and then rather sharply, to wrap up his speech because it seemed to be more of a sales-pitch for one of the aircraft in contention for the MMRCA deal, than an academic talk on his experiences with aircraft from different generations.
‘Cut down red tape’: Antony
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The Defense Minister’s repeated statements on cutting down unnecessary delays in arms procurement seems to be a reflection of a new purpose towards arms procurement by India. Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major has echoed that sense of purpose, expecting the Indian Air Force to be able to spend all monies budgeted for procurement this year.
Aero India 2009: Bigger than ever
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The 25 participating countries include UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Italy, Ireland, Israel, Malaysia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands and Ukraine. China will be participating at this year’s Air Show for the first time.
Macedonia sets up mission in India
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The Macedonian Foreign Minister, Antonio Milososki talks about his country’s interests in the region, mutual interest with India in containing terrorism and enhancing trade with India, on the occasion of the inauguration of his country’s embassy in New Delhi.
Noose around Poonch terrorists comes undone
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“It is difficult to explain precisely how the terrorists could have evaded the cordons,” says one Special Forces officer.
Indo-Russian naval drills this month
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The exercise INDRA-2009 includes the largest non-carrier warship, the Kirov class nuclear battle cruiser Peter the Great. The warship recently participated in Russo-Venezuelan joint naval exercises in the Caribbean. It also has a controversial technical maintenance history with the Russian navy chief in 2004 having said the warship could ‘explode any moment’.
Deconstructing the Pakistani Response to the Mumbai Attack
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Islamabad’s response to the Mumbai attack highlights its unwillingness to accept the involvement of Pakistani entities. Such an attitude diminishes further the credibility of Pakistan’s commitment to counter-terrorism and has longer-term implications for South Asian security.
