Frontier India Strategic and Defence - News, Analysis, Opinion

Corruption Case against Thales dropped in Indian Scorpene Deal

15 May, 2007 (FIDSNS)

The public prosecutor’s office in Paris has dropped an investigation into Thales for alleged bribery in connection with the 2.4 billion euro sale of six Scorpene submarines and 36 missiles to India in 2005.

The public prosecutor’s office had taken a number of statements but the allegation was not established.

A preliminary inquiry was launched in 2004 by the public prosecutor’s office. Police had seized documents relating to the Indian Scorpene deal.

Posted in Defence Products Manufacturing Companies | No Comments »

MoD inconsistent on Akash SAM induction announcements

14 May, 2007 (FIDSNS)

The Ministry of Defence tabling inconsistent reports in the parliament pertaining the Akash SAM.

On July 28, 2005 the Defence Minister told parliament “The surface-to-air missile, Akash has been test fired successfully in Orissa recently. Three guided flight trials were undertaken recently from Integrated Test Range, Balasore, Orissa and all the mission objectives were achieved. The developmental flight trials of Akash missile system have been completed and the system is ready for user trials, which will be followed by production and induction.”

On August 02, 2006, the Defence minister said “Development of Akash and Trishul surface to air missiles and anti tank missile Nag, is complete and Users have been requested to place orders.”

On March 01, 2007, the Defence minister made a U turn and said “The Akash missiles have not yet been inducted in the Air Force. The user trials for the Akash missile system have not been completed.”

And on May 11, 2007 the Defence minister said “Representatives of the Indian Air Force had participated in the development trials of the Akash Missile System conducted by DRDO, as observers and provided user’s inputs for improvement in the system performance. Some trials at the development stage had not been fully successful. User’s trial are likely to commence shortly. No decision has been taken so far by the Government for induction of Akash Missile system in the Army.”

The Ministery of Defence should improve its credibility.

Posted in Defence Research and Development, General Indian Armed Forces News | No Comments »

Indian Army implements IGLOO type ammunition storage

14 May, 2007 (FIDSNS)

In 1986 a team of Indian Army officers visited some countries in Europe to carry out a study on modernization of ammunition depots with a view to construct cost effective store houses for ammunition. The team had recommended Igloo pattern of ammunition store houses, on trial basis, at some Ammunition Depots.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was tasked to develop Igloo type store houses. Since conventional reinforced concrete cement (RCC) used for magazines/bunkers is known to have limited ductility and concrete confinement capabilities, these properties are especially required for structures subjected to blast and impact loading environment.

DRDO directed the efforts to prove these properties of RCC. The structural properties of RCC could be improved by modifying the concrete matrix and by suitably detailing the reinforcements. Two new construction techniques, namely Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete (SFRC) and Laced Reinforced Concrete (LRC) were trial evaluated vis-a-vis RCC for their shock mitigation efficiency and for use in the design of blast resistant structures and blast containment structures.

The SFRC technique involves mixing of steel fibres in concrete matrix which increases the energy absorption capability of concrete. It also increases ductility of the structure, arrests the formation and propagation of cracks, and also improves the spall resistance by 30 per cent compared to conventional RCC.

On the other hand, LRC consists of continuous bent shear lacings along with longitudinal reinforcements on both faces of a structural element. The LRC enhances the ductility and provides better concrete confinement. Moreover, LRC technique is cost-effective
compared to RCC for same level of protection: the reinforcement requirements can be lesser by 30 to 40 per cent for LRC.

The conventional storage magazines require large safety distances between the two adjacent storage magazines. Due to paucity of land there was a need to develop compact layout of storage magazines without compromising on safety aspects. When a large quantity of explosive is required to be stored in the limited space, the total quantity of explosive is distributed in a number of storage magazines constructed according to a planned layout in such a manner that if accident occurs in one of the magazines, its destructive effects remained confined to that unit only. In other words, at a time only one unit is at risk. This unit risk principle has been established by DRDO for an IGLOO explosive storage magazine of 5 ton capacity.

Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory ( TBRL) along with Centre for Fire, Explosive & Environment Safety (CFEES), both are units of DRDO was tasked for design, testing & evaluation of LRC based Explosive storage building (IGLOO).

A site at Field Firing Range (FFR), Babina with an area of 4 km X 4 km was earmarked by army. 122mm rocket grad warhead was selected for 15 ton explosive trial to validate the design of IGLOO up to 75 ton NEC. The objectives were:

a) To assess effect of blast loading and structural behavior under blast on full scale IGLOO type explosive buildings with higher capacity of NEC.

b) To study the effect of variation in structural response of IGLOOs to blast stimuli with increase in volume to estimate minimum required separation distance between two IGLOOs.

c) To assess effect of blast in donor IGLOO on ammunition stored in acceptor IGLOO.

On the ammunition side, the detonatibility trials were conducted at TBRL. The trails showed that a Torpey filled shell is equivalent to one TNT and 782 number of 122mm rocket grad warhead (6.4 kg each) were required. The sympathetic detonation has been established and stoking pattern was finalized.

Once the ammunition was created, a simulated accidental explosion was conducted to study the efficacy of the LRC. The safe distance between two IGLOO structures of W kg capacity was established as 0.7 W1/3 m which is just outside the crater radius. This distance for a conventional magazine may vary from 2.4W1/3 to 3.6 W1/3.

It was also found that the soil bearing capacity at these stations was not suitable for construction of store houses on the Igloo pattern and the initial cost of construction of Igloo type store houses was higher than the cost of conventional construction. But the Igloo type store house was considered economical in the long run because of its longer life. Therefore, Indian Army decided to construct a mix of both Igloo and conventional type of store houses, keeping in view the operational requirements, availability and suitability of land and cost justification.

TBRL has now undertaken design and development of IGLOO of enhanced capacity of 136 Ton NEC.

Posted in Defence Research and Development, Indian Army News | No Comments »

MoD owns credit, passes discredits to DRDO

May 12, 2007 (FIDSNS)

It is a common knowledge that leader owns up responsibility. But Indian Ministry of defence thinks otherwise. The Indian Minister of Defence is shameless in taking full credit of DRDO accomplishments, otherwise passes the bucks to DRDO.

It was evident in the press release on Friday, May 11, 2007 in which the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Prof Mahadeorao Shiwankar in Lok Sabha wrote “Representatives of the Indian Air Force had participated in the development trials of the Akash Missile System conducted by DRDO, as observers and provided user’s inputs for improvement in the system performance. Some trials at the development stage had not been fully successful. User’s trial are likely to commence shortly.”

While assigning the Akash incident to DRDO, the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri Pankaj Chowdhary in Lok Sabha wrote on the same day ” The Government has conducted the test flight of pilotless combat aircraft the ‘Lakshya’ recently. Two Lakshya development campaigns were conducted at Integrated Test Range (ITR), Balasore during 3-5 January 2007 and 5-9 March 2007 to fly digital Pilotless Target Aircraft, Lakshya in autonomous mode and evaluate engine performance with one tow and one stow configuration, respectively. Both the campaigns met with the broad mission objectives.”

It is a common knowledge that DRDO has conducted both Akash Missile and Lakshya PTA trials and not the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

If Mr. AK Antony is known for his clean image, imagine the politicians with unclean image!

Posted in Opinions and Articles | No Comments »

PTA Lakshya tests meet broad mission objectives

May 11, 2007 (FIDSNS)

Two Lakshya development campaigns were conducted at Integrated Test Range (ITR), Balasore during 3-5 January 2007 and 5-9 March 2007 to fly digital Pilotless Target Aircraft, Lakshya in autonomous mode and evaluate engine performance with one tow and one stow configuration, respectively. Both the campaigns met with the broad mission objectives.

Posted in Defence Research and Development | No Comments »

India nails Pakistani lies on Siachen environment damage

May 11, 2007 (FIDSNS)

Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests has nailed the Pakistani Environment Minister’s claim that the Siachen Glacier has environmental threat due to Indian troop deployment. Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Shri Namo Narain Meena said in the Rajya Sabha today that the observations made by the Pakistan’s Environment Minister are not based on factual data.

As per the information made available by the Geological Survey of India, the total retreat of Siachen Glacier during the last 95 years (1909-2004) is about 500 meters at an average annual rate of 5.3 meter per year only. Shri Meena further informed that the Geological Survey of India has also undertaken studies on recession of several Himalayan glaciers, including Siachen glacier. These studies revealed that the majority of glaciers of Himalayan region are passing through a phase of recession, as has been the case with the glaciers located in other parts of the world. The rate of recession in Himalayan region in different climatic zones is found to be variable in different years. This variable rate of recession can be attributed to the several climatic factors.

The deployment of the troops in Siachen glacier and their continuous human traffic does not have environmental affect on this region. In proportion to the vastness of the Siachen glacier these activities have negligible effect on its melting.

Though media reports from Pakistan occasionally refer to the environmental benefits of the demilitarisation of the area, no proposal has been received by the Government of India from Government of Pakistan regarding environmental aspects of Siachen Glaciers.

Posted in General Indian Armed Forces News | 1 Comment »

Ex-servicemen help fight naxalites in Bihar

May 11, 2007 (FIDSNS)

Former soldiers have picked up arms again, this time to fight the rising menace of Naxalite violence in Bihar. Raised last year, the Bihar Auxiliary Force recruited 5,000 ex-servicemen in November and December. The “young” force, consisting of veteran soldiers, proved its mettle when they foiled a Maoist raid on a bank under Riga police station in Sitamari district near Nepal border. This was stated by Major General Harwant Krishan, Director-General (Resettlement), DGR, on the sidelines of a training course for retiring soldiers in New Delhi today.

The DGR also disclosed that Rajasthan state government has hired about 1,200 ex-servicemen as forest guards.

Earlier, General Krishan addressed about 50 soldiers, due for retirement shortly, undergoing a two-day Career Transition Course for Personnel Below Officers Rank (PBORs) at the Rajputana Rifles Regimental Centre, Delhi Cantt. Representatives of five private companies were present on the occasion to brief about employment opportunities and possible campus recruitment. The DGR said companies have been asked to maintain a salary bar to avoid exploitation of ex-servicemen.

RE -employment of ex-servicemen is a priority for the government and the DGR has rendered great utility in their rehabilitation. About 60,000 men of the roughly 12 lakh strong defence forces retire every year, making up about five percent of the workforce.

Posted in Counter Terrorism | No Comments »

IAF Canberra’s phased out

May 11, 2007 (FIDSNS)

The Indian Air Force today phased out its Canberra aircraft after fifty years of its glorious service. The phasing out ceremony was held at Air Force Station Agra and was presided over by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal FH Major. The ceremony comprised the fly past by the mighty bombers and concluded with the handing over of ‘form 700’ to the Chief by Wg Cdr Mathur, the CO of Canberra Squadron.

No. 5 squadron IAF was the first to equip with the Canberra Bomber in May 1957, and by 1959 two more squadrons, No 16 and 35, had become operational on type. The eight PR-57s were operated by 106 SR Squadron, while the T-54s were formed into a jet bomber Operational conversion Unit, namely JBCU. The Canberras were mostly based at Agra. Target- towing version was added to the inventory of the IAF in 1975.

Canberra, the only bomber of the Indian Air Force untill late seventies, came to India in 1957. An aircraft of British origin, the twin-engine jet bomber has been a proud possession of the Indian Air Force. The high altitude bomber was a force to reckon with in the then prevailing war scenario in the Indian subcontinent. Cruising at four-fifth the speed of sound at 40,000 feet, Canberra was the right weapon carrier then, to carry the war well beyond the frontiers, deep into enemy’s territory.

Canberra got the first taste of operation on 18th December 1961 when 16 Squadron and 35 squadron were tasked to carry out reconnaissance and bombing of Dabolim airfield. Canberras of No. 35 Squadron were the first jet aircraft of the IAF to bear its arsenal on an enemy. On 18 Dec 1961 the squadron dropped 60,000 lbs bombs over Dabolim airfield against the Portuguese. It is worth mentioning that the highly accurate bombing damaged only the target with no civilian causalities and the ATC and the aircraft on the dispersal were deliberately not targeted. By the 20th Goa had been reclaimed.

The Belgian Congo broke out in political turmoil in 1961 and the UNO was called in for help. When the situation in Katanga (UHHQ) and the capital Leopoldville worsened, India was requested to send strike aircraft on behalf of United Nations. Earmarked for this task was the proud No. 5 squadron. On October 9th 1961, under the command of Wg Cdr A Suares with twelve aircrew and ninety support personnel, six Canberra aircraft took off from Agra for Ndjili airport, Leopoldville over 6000 km away via Jamnagar and Nairobi as the first ever Indian Fighter bomber contingent to take part in UN operations. The Canberras were a major contributor towards the UN aim of establishing peace in Congo.

Through the Canberras stood down in the Chinese conflict and did not fly any combat sorties, recce sorties till went through. The Canberras flew 22 Photo Recce missions between 13 Oct to 11 Nov 1962 totaling more than fifty hours. Areas of Aksai chin and Eastern sector were covered to monitor enemy encroachment. The Canberras performed magnificently in the conflict.

Canberra’s mettle was tested for the first time in 1965 Indo-Pak war. Numerous high level bombing missions were successfully flown during the course of the short war. In recognition of their bravery and valour many Canberra crew, were awarded Maha Vir Chakras, Vir Chakras and other gallantry awards. Battle scenario changed dramatically for Canberra bombers after the 1965 war, Entry of radars and high performance fighters with night combat capability meant curtains for the high level sub-sonic bomber. However, air space close to the ground was still a grey area for the radars and the fighters and this was well exploited by the Canberra. Canberras were soon zooming at high speeds across the Gangetic Plains, the lush green fields of Punjab and Haryana, the sandy deserts of Rajasthan, the marshy lands of Saurashtra and the cool waters of the Arabian Sea, honing the new techniques for low level penetration and pull up attacks. The cohesive teamwork of skillful pilots and meticulous diligent navigators kept Canberra a viable and dependable bomber force when the 1971 war broke out. It goes to the credit of scores of aircrew and hundreds of ground crew that within hours of Pakistani pre-emptive strike in 1971, Canberra spearheaded a strong counter-attack on a number of Pakistani targets. Throughout the war, Canberra gave enemy no respite even at night due to persistent night raids on numerous targets. The highlight of the 1971 operations was bombing attacks carried over the Oil Refinery complex at Karachi. The results of these raids were so devastating that the Karachi Oil complex was ablaze for nearly a week. Canberra Squadrons were richly rewarded with four MVCs, a dozen VCs and many other gallantry awards and distinguished service awards in recognition of their contribution to the 1971 war.

Canberra had justified the faith reposed in them at the time of their acquisition in 1958. Advent of potent air defence system consisting of low looking radars, surface to air missiles and supersonic fighters equipped with air to air missiles in late seventies signaled formal retirement of this great war-horse from combat duties. However, superb aerodynamic design, high system reliability and good maintainability gave Canberra a lease of life to march on for some more time, albeit, in secondary roles viz. electronic warfare, maritime strike and target towing. The Photo Reece Canberra continued to operate stealthily for some more time. It was effectively used in the Kargil conflict and brought the first photographic proof of enemy intrusion in our territory. Despite taking a missile hit, the aircraft managed to land back safely at a nearby base. Such indeed was the reliability of the aircraft and the courage and commitment of its crew. After having served the nation for 50 years, the stubborn fighter was bid adieu today i.e, on 11 May 07.

Posted in Indian Air Force News | No Comments »

MoD not to allow Indirect Offsets

May 11, 2007 (FIDSNS)

Indian Ministry of Defence has clarified that it will not allow indirect offsets as mentioned in Defence Offset Policy.

A section in Indian media has reported about the midterm review of the Defence Offset Policy at a seminar to be held on 14th of this month. The said seminar to be held on May 14,2007, has nothing to do with the review of offset provisions.

On September 13, 2006, in a speech by former Defence Minister Mr.Pranab Mukherjee, at the inauguration of 3rd Indo-US Economic Summit had said “Roadmap for indirect offsets is also under our consideration.”

In 2005, the Indian government came out with a new offset policy which requires that 30 percent of the value of foreign defence contracts over Rs. 300 crores would need to be offset by purchases, investments and transfer of technology to India, to run concurrently with the main contract. That policy has been further amplified in the current set of procedures – a potential vendor now has many more options for fulfilling his offset obligations. He can either carry out direct purchase of goods or execute export orders for defence products, components and services provided by Indian defence industries. Alternatively, offset requirements could also be satisfied through direct foreign investment in Indian defence industries, and even by direct foreign investment in Indian organizations engaged in defence research and development.

A Defence Offset Facilitation Agency has been set up, as a single window agency, to facilitate the implementation of the policy. One of the briefs of this Agency will be to assist potential foreign vendors in interfacing with their counterparts in the Indian defence industry for the purpose of identifying potential offset products and projects.

Posted in Defence Products Manufacturing Companies, General Indian Armed Forces News | No Comments »

Indian Army and Air Force lack research temper

Dr. K. Santhanam of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in a panel discussion for indigenization of equipment in Indian armed forces famously quoted “The first point is I would like to talk about is the process of General Staff Qualitative Requirement (GSQR) itself. It has been characterized in very simple terms for a layman to understand. It is called BBC - Best of Brochure Claims. The answer comes back from Indian R&D is that UDIPI - you demand and I produce immediately.” He was gracious enough not to mention that GSQR is also made after reading the Pakistani propaganda.

A host of retired Air Marshals, colonels and Major Generals from Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Army (IA) have decided to take up writing and commenting for newspapers and magazines. Since they cannot write on the conditions of IA and IAF, for which they themselves are to blame, they have started to write on the state of DRDO. It is safe to write about DRDO, because, DRDO does not strike back. My apologies to the retired armed forces community, which has served the Indian forces, who made the best use of the situation and weapons to defeat the enemies. While we have this unprofessional tribe from the armed forces, we also have retired officers like Major General (Retd) Eustance D’Souza, Air Marshal Philip Rajkumar, who have tirelessly worked on the positive aspects of armed forces.

Recently an 8 edition “self proclaimed investigative” article on DRDO was penned by Indian Express reporters. They quoted one of this retired Indian Army, DRDO bashing tribe member Brigadier D K Babbar, who also happens to be the points man for trials of Arjun tank “The Arjun tank has no future. It still cannot fire straight. The T-90, a far superior tank, can kill the Arjun. We would not cross any border with these tanks.”

But let us look at what IA was cooking up when he was in service. Each time the Arjun Tank was close to production, Indian Army handed out a new GSQR. In 1990’s there was a news report in Pakistani papers that they were testing M1A1 Abrams. Based on that Indian Army gave DRDO a new GSQR. DRDO fulfilled the GSQR with a product that has same capability of M1A1 Abrams with 10 ton less weight. However Pakistan never purchased the tank and instead went ahead and purchased T-80UD from Ukraine after a decade. In a knee jerk reaction and in spite of severe opposition and failing in trials, Indian Army went ahead and purchased T-90S tanks. The government just recovering from a limited war in Kashmir gave in to the demands of the Army. Indian Army did not stop there, it did not want Arjun tank and hence there were calibrated leaks to media on the technical problems of tanks and when they were on the verge of being fixed, India Army went on complaining about the weight of the tank and the cost and foreign content. T-90S is a total foreign tank, having same technical problems which Arjun Tank faced initially. While Indian Army kept returning the 5 production Arjun Tanks to the manufacturer for corrections, the Russian manufacturer of T-90S refuses to take the tanks back for correction. As a result, in June 2006, an Indian Army offices not willing to be named told a newspaper that “In one armoured regiment in Punjab, an alarming 30 of 40 tanks were “off-road.” Even after such serious issues, Indian Army wants to import another 300+ T-90S tanks from Russia. Arjun Tank production is put into back burner. The only saving grace for IA is that the Pakistani T-80UD’s are in no better condition.

Let’s move on to IAF, which along with IA is a usual suspect for bad mouthing DRDO products. The latest of the IAF member of the retired DRDO bashing tribe, Air Marshal Brijesh D. Jayal has penned an article in the Telegraph “Forces on Review -Why is the DRDO stagnating? He goes on and on about bashing DRDO and then blames Ministry of Defence for the failures.

Understandably, he says nothing about how IAF killed DRDO projects. IAF has the worst record than IA when it comes to indigenization. DRDO designed Hindustan Fighter – 24 (HF-24) also called Marut, when India could not design a car. It was a remarkable aircraft, but, the HF-24 fell short due to the lack of a proper engine. By re-designing they fitted two GNAT engines on the aircraft, The aircraft was very good but in the initial stages it was still under powered. With a right engine, the aircraft was designed to fly at Mach 2.6. A number of trainer aircraft of HF-24 went supersonic straight and level. Considering it has no after burner it was a remarkable achievement. IAF dropped the plane from its inventory. The senior IAF officers did not want the plane. Today the IAF has a wish list of aircraft going supersonic without after burner as a future technology.

The HF-24 had a ground attack variant called HF-73. HF-73 featured an up-rated engine by Gas Turbine research Engine (GTRE). HF-24 could fly 640 knots at low level with four drop tanks, a huge task for even modern day deep penetration attack aircrafts. However the up-rated engine produced more drag on HF-24 airframe hence it had to be redesigned. IAF was desperate for buying the Jaguar aircraft from UK. IAF prevailed on the Ministry of Defence and purchased Jaguar. The matter did not end there. Jaguar was supposed to be part of the nuclear bomb delivery vehicles that was of the points IAF used to buy Jaguar. So when the nuclear bomb was actually mated, IAF found that the wings were too low and the bomb touched the ground when the Jaguar tried to take off. The situation did not improve. IAF graduated into knee jerk purchases when Pakistanis inducted F-16’s. IAF reacted by buying MiG-23, MiG-29 and Mirage - 2000 aircrafts. While MiG-29 had engine problems, IAF pilots did not know what o do with the Mirages. Mirages were very sophisticated aircrafts. Finally they mastered it. Light Combat Aircraft was being designed by then. IAF played its role by changing GSQR repeatedly as the F-16 in Pakistan kept getting better capabilities. Finally, Pakistan was embargoed and it had problems getting any new type of aircraft. It was a golden chance to freeze the LCA design and get in limited production which would make a base for better version of LCA, that’s how all great planes were designed. IAF choose to keep upgrading the GSQR till the point the IAF squadron strength kept dropping because of the high attrition rates of MiG-21 due to poor parts quality as USSR had disintegrated and there were no spares supply. IAF hadn’t learnt its lesson. Another of the IAF follies was a 20 year period wait for its Advanced Jet Trainer. The HF-24 had a potential to be excellent Advanced Jet Trainers. IAF kept killing its pilots but would still wait for a foreign trainer.

The Retd. Air Marshal Brijesh D. Jayal asserts that DRDO and MoD are responsible for state of IA and IAF’s equipment woes. India never had equipment advantage over Pakistan. 1965 and 1971 wars were fought with obsolete weapons. First time in history of IAF, it has advantage over Pakistan and can even reach China with Su-30 MKI. It still has a chance to freeze LCA design, incorporate foreign equipment weapon and engine, till Indian option succeed. LCA can come out as Mark I, then Mark II etc than again waiting for perfect LCA to rollout and then get into production. Couple of months back an unnamed IAF source was quoted saying that any aircraft without AESA will be obsolete, in reference to LCA. These are the officers who belt out GSQR? F-18 AESA radar, the first deployed AESA radar is not working properly. It’s not expected to be or as a matter of fact any AESA radar is expected to be fully operational before 2015. Then the IAF goes on and tells DRDO to redesign the LCA wings for some weapon integration. All this as IAF wants to cite delay in LCA to buy outdated and obsolete design MRCA’s. IAF seems to be taking the induction of an obsolete design fighter called JF-17 in neighborhood as a serious development.

Interestingly, something was amiss with the Su-30 acquisition too. Mirage-2000 figures in both requirements of a Long range combat aircraft and medium range combat requirement. Only IAF can explain why? The Su-30 purchase was more of a political decision. IAF with no strategic vision came up with GSQR in shabby manner. That is why the SU-30 MKI deliveries became delayed. I had met the Sukhoi representatives in one of the Dubai Airshows. On being asked on the delivery schedules for SU-30 MKI’s, one of the Sukhoi representatives said mockingly “How do we know? IAF has not been able to give us the qualitative requirement.”

The worse our Retd. Air Marshal Brijesh D. Jayal could come up was “As numerous examples have shown, these organizations have readily accepted the commitments but rarely delivered.” The Retired Air Marshal forgets to tell us who else would have accepted the commitments? Except, LCA, Arjun and Trishul, which other systems have not been delivered? Has the retired Air Marshal ever wondered how the Indian Navy has no such problems? It’s a popular opinion that the LCA naval version will be operational faster than the Air Force version in spite of being started late. It gives us pride to see Indigenous Air Craft Carriers have been designed to accommodate the Naval Light Combat Aircrafts.

There is no second doubt on the professionalism of IA and IAF when it comes war fighting. When it comes to infighting, IA and IAF are the most unprofessional forces.

So, next time you hear a bad report on DRDO, you can safely point your fingers on the usual suspects, the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.

Copyright: Frontier India Defence and Strategic News Service (02 May 2007)