To make matters worse, https://www.eptfemembrane.net the protracted selection process of imported fighter aircraft, the ceaseless charges of corruption in military hardware acquisition since 1980s, the high casualty rate of (fighter) pilots and (flying) machines in the recent past, the nightmarish induction and application of the strategic doctrine of "war on two fronts", behind-the-scenes activities of lobbies acting on behalf of foreign aircraft manufacturers must have had a role in ACM Raha’s decision.For the political establishment too, the future is far from rosy. It is a Catch-22 situation. No one can possibly disagree with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clarion call for "Make in India". The moot point, however, is how to go about it. Internal elements do not yet appear to have reached the confidence-inducing level, and foreign manufacturers and vendors still successfully market their products to be inducted, or if not inducted, be transferred in the form of imports by India for technical cooperation or joint ventures.
Thus, even if Sweden’s Saab JAS 39 Gripen and the American Lockheed F-16 were "rejected" for not passing the "qualitative requirement" of the Indian armed forces, somehow both have made a mysterious comeback with a strong bid to be inducted into the IAF with an offer as a "Make in India" product.The timing of both the US and Swedish action appears more than a mere coincidence. It has been a testing time for the indigenously-researched and built Tejas. In other words, if the Tejas today doesn’t pass the flight tests at the highest level of fighter pilots, it could very well be the end of the indigenisation of India’s fighter aircraft programme. It will open the gates for even the "rejected" fighters from foreign vendors.Another interesting feature of this sudden "triangular" fight between India’s Tejas, the Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen and American Lockheed F-16, for the Indian market, is that all are single-engine flying machines. And technically, both the Swedish and Indian aircraft are reportedly neck and neck in "technical performance parameters".However, a final note of caution is needed.
If "rejected" foreign aircraft try to make a comeback, why not give the Tejas a break with full-throttle support Should one pay a very high price for the supposed benefits of state-of-art technology Is there no merit in simplicity After all, it was the "simple" Gnat that smashed the "sophisticated" F-86 Sabre jet in the India-Pakistan war of 1965.Consider this: it might be infinitely better to go in for the indigenously-produced Tejas than to renegotiate for the "rejected" Saab JAS 39 Gripen or Lockheed F-16. Is that the signal that was being sent out by India’s Chief of Air Staff from the cockpit The writer is an alumnus of the National Defence College of India. The views here are personal.
Thus, even if Sweden’s Saab JAS 39 Gripen and the American Lockheed F-16 were "rejected" for not passing the "qualitative requirement" of the Indian armed forces, somehow both have made a mysterious comeback with a strong bid to be inducted into the IAF with an offer as a "Make in India" product.The timing of both the US and Swedish action appears more than a mere coincidence. It has been a testing time for the indigenously-researched and built Tejas. In other words, if the Tejas today doesn’t pass the flight tests at the highest level of fighter pilots, it could very well be the end of the indigenisation of India’s fighter aircraft programme. It will open the gates for even the "rejected" fighters from foreign vendors.Another interesting feature of this sudden "triangular" fight between India’s Tejas, the Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen and American Lockheed F-16, for the Indian market, is that all are single-engine flying machines. And technically, both the Swedish and Indian aircraft are reportedly neck and neck in "technical performance parameters".However, a final note of caution is needed.
If "rejected" foreign aircraft try to make a comeback, why not give the Tejas a break with full-throttle support Should one pay a very high price for the supposed benefits of state-of-art technology Is there no merit in simplicity After all, it was the "simple" Gnat that smashed the "sophisticated" F-86 Sabre jet in the India-Pakistan war of 1965.Consider this: it might be infinitely better to go in for the indigenously-produced Tejas than to renegotiate for the "rejected" Saab JAS 39 Gripen or Lockheed F-16. Is that the signal that was being sent out by India’s Chief of Air Staff from the cockpit The writer is an alumnus of the National Defence College of India. The views here are personal.
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