Assessment of MMRCA trials will be fair, says IAF Chief
NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force on Tuesday emphasised that its assessment of the
ongoing trials for 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) will be fair and not influenced by the decision of the U.S. to supply F16 fighter aircraft to Pakistan.
“It will be a fair and square assessment. The trials for the MMRCA will conclude by April end and we will take a decision only later. As of now, I do not feel there is any connection [Lockheed Martin selling F16 to Pakistan],” Air Chief Pradeep Vasant Naik said here, in an interaction with correspondents after taking over as the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC).
At a brief ceremony in the South Block, the Chief of Army Staff General Deepak Kapoor, who retires from service on Wednesday, handed over the baton signalling the change of guard. Lieutenant General V.K. Singh is to take office as Army Chief on Wednesday.
Besides American Lockheed Martin and Boeing (F-18/A Super Hornet), four other companies, European Consortium EADS (Typhoon) Swedish SAAB (Grippen), French Dassault (Rafale) and Russian (MiG35), are competing for the $10.2 billion contract.
The Air Chief said a decision on flying the MiG27 attack aircraft, grounded since a February 16 crash, will be taken after completing checks on its engine. However, the trainer version equipped with a different engine is flying, he said. The IAF has some 100 MiG27 deployed in the Western and Eastern sectors.
The tri-services, he said, are perusing the Delhi High Court's decision that women be granted permanent commission. He said it had both legal and financial implications and any move to challenge it would be taken in consultation with the government.
Having assumed charge as Chairman, COSC, the Air Chief said the Indian armed forces are moulding existing and emerging concepts together, to develop capabilities and solutions that will directly benefit the Armed Forces and the joint war fighter of tomorrow.
Air Chief Marshal Naik said that as a concept he favoured the creation of Chief of Defence Staff, a decision pending for a decade. However, he said the country would have to study different models and choose the one most suitable for its requirement.
In his farewell address, General Kapoor said a cohesive approach to harness the strength of each individual service and synergy of its capabilities was the need of the hour.
http://www.thehindu.com/2010/03/31/stories/2010033164441400.htm