IAF Is Grossly Under-Equipped: Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur (retd)
Analysis By: Balbir Singh Sooch-Sikh Vichar Manch
India’s Deterrence versus Pakistan’ Deterrence Moves of both: Achieved What except Human Miseries for Citizens of India and Pakistan?
No-doubt, hard power, in quality and quantity, is not only the key to building deterrence- ‘the action of discouraging an action or event through instilling doubt or fear of the consequences.
"Nuclear missiles remain the main deterrence against possible aggression", to avert future Pulwamas, but to avoid War- Aggression also.
“Hard power, in quality and quantity, is the key to building deterrence: Can every political party elaborate, in its election manifesto, what it would do to address defence preparedness? That would indeed be welcome.
Hard power, in quality and quantity, is the key to building deterrence to avert future Pulwamas. Can every political party elaborate, in its election manifesto, what it would do to address defence preparedness? That would indeed be welcome.
Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur (retd): Lack of empathy and understanding of an operational requirement due to bureaucratic procedures and attitudes is a cause for concern. In any other country, where the political and bureaucratic climate is cognizant-aware of military urgencies, many heads would have rolled.
Critiquing sub-optimal defence procurement procedures, CAG has commented that the non-conclusion of a usage contract precluded the use of the flight simulator for the C-130 Hercules aircraft till 2016, despite it being ready four years earlier. In the interim, India lost five air warriors and a multi-million-dollar aircraft in 2014, attributed to a training issue. This is the first pointer — lack of empathy and understanding of an operational requirement  due to bureaucratic procedures and attitudes (remember, the simulator was fully ready). In any other country, where the political and bureaucratic climate is cognisant of military urgencies, many heads would have rolled.
The second pointer is of an intangible kind, which, if neglected, shows up with deadly results later. The HAL-built HPT-32 trainer was grounded in 2009 after many accidents, 13 of which were fatal. Many red flags had been raised about the stone-like gliding quality of the HPT after an engine failure (a frequent occurrence).
The IAF had pulled along till the proverbial straw fell on the camel’s back and we lost two flying instructors at the Air Force Academy (AFA). The HPT was grounded, throwing the training profiles of rookie pilots into bedlam, and for the next few years a sub-optimal training pattern on the HJT-16 Kiran was followed. The emergency purchase of the Pilatus aircraft revolutionised training; AFA’s flight line was chock-a-block with the gleaming new trainers till 2017 or so when, due to non-finalisation of maintenance contracts, a severe lack of spares ensued.
This is the situation even now, as per media reports. However, training has to continue to ensure a regular pilot feed for frontline squadrons and one is sure that cannibalisation (shifting) of spares among aircraft is being done and extension given to parts whose life is expiring.
The situation must be similar for some other fleets, too, as many acquisition and upgrade programmes have been inordinately delayed, a fact stated by the Air Chief last month. This unacceptable situation is the second indicator of a serious problem, where lack of funds could be pushing reliability of war- fighting equipment towards an unsafe zone, which may translate into tragic results later.
The third warning is where op-preparedness starts getting affected. Under-equipping of the Indian Army was one of the major causes of the 1962 China debacle. At a recent conference, tears welled up in a retired Lt General’s eyes while narrating the humiliation the armed forces had felt then. “Thank God for the subsequent 1965 Indo-Pak war that brought back some self-respect,” remarked the General. After 1962, the government funded an accelerated re-equipping plan and the victory in the 1971 war bears witness to that effort. However, as per recent media reports, we are on the downslide again with a shortage of fighter squadrons and many critical items; soldiers’ rifles are having to be imported by the fast-track route, ammunition is in short supply, and sniper rifles, Naval helicopters and MiG-29 fighters for the IAF are planned to be imported too. But will these just remain plans, as this year’s defence acquisition budget is insufficient even for previously concluded contracts? Answers to these pointers have a bearing on what happens hereafter.
Of the three attributes that determine deterrence to prevent blackmail — resolve, capability and capacity — the Balakot incident demonstrated the first two; the third, dependent on an indigenous arms base, is in short supply. Politicians of all hues need to put their shoulders to the wheel and address defence preparedness in a bi-partisan manner — indigenous defence R&D and manufacture must be kickstarted.
Hard power, in quality and quantity, is the key to building deterrence to avert future Pulwamas. Can every political party elaborate, in its election manifesto, what it would do to address defence preparedness? That would indeed be welcome”. An extract from IAF is grossly under-equipped:  Last updated: March 20, 2019, 7:07 AM (IST): The Tribune, Chandigarh.
The article ‘IAF is grossly under-equipped: By Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur (retd) is very factual and praiseworthy for seriously consideration by the government of India.
Sharing a Personal Experience in IAF: Link: Thanks
http://www.thekhalsa.org/frame.php?path=356&article=12246
Pilots Views About Old Aircrafts Including ‘Fighter jets’ As ‘Coffins’: Sharing a Personal Experience in IAF
http://www.thekhalsa.org/frame.php?path=356&article=12246
Along with keeping must in mind, ‘IMPORTANCE TO BE PAKISTAN FOR INDIA AS A FRIEND OR YOUNGER BROTHER!’
https://www.facebook.com/balbir.singh.355/posts/2109205135781245
http://www.thekhalsa.org/frame.php?path=342&article=19464
IMPORTANCE TO BE PAKISTAN FOR INDIA AS A FRIEND OR YOUNGER BROTHER!
http://www.thekhalsa.org/frame.php?path=342&article=19464
https://www.facebook.com/balbir.singh.355/posts/2109205135781245
Analysis By: Balbir Singh Sooch-Sikh Vichar Manch
First Posted On: March 20, 2019, 10:51 PM (IST)
http://sikhvicharmanch.com/home.htm
https://www.facebook.com/balbir.singh.355
 IAF is grossly under-equipped: Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur (retd)