India Air Force asked to stand on high alert

[garibnawaz]

MOD EDIT: Flame

IAF not on high alert: Officials

December 10, 2008 19:23 IST

India on Wednesday dismissed reports that it had put its Air Force on a state of "high alert" and said nothing unusual or extraordinary has been done.

"It is normal for the armed forces to remain on alert even in normal times," Defence Ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said in Delhi [Images], after reports started circulating that the Indian Air Force was put on an alert in the wake of the November 26 Mumbai terror attacks [Images].

Army, Navy and IAF officers too independently denied reports that their respective headquarters had instructed their units and troops to be on a state of alert or had cancelled leave of personnel to ensure its force levels were high.

"It is a general norm that there cannot be more than 25 per cent personnel on leave, temporary duty or studying a course. At all times, the units have a minimum of 75 per cent of its personnel at their place of posting," the officers said.

And in matters of national security and protecting the country from external threats, the armed forces have to remain alert all 365 days of the year, they said.

However, on the basis of intelligence inputs that there could be a 9/11-type of aerial terror threats pointed out by Defence Minister A K Antony last week, the IAF was prepared to counter any such attacks, they said.

To that effect, the IAF had decided to spruce up its surveillance cover of the national capital region by deploying an Aerostat radar in and around Delhi, apart from strengthening the air defence units all over the country, they added.

IAF not on high alert: Officials

 

[MOINOV]

India says that it has alerted it's airforce for defence purpose....do they expect us to believe it?.....obviously the PAF will now be alerted and soon the navy and the ground forces will be alerted similarly.....that will further complicate the situation......

 

[blain2]

X_man it is for defensive purpose against terrorist threat

For defensive purpose? What do you want to do? Drop a bomb on a Terrorist flying a Cessna (along the lines of LTTE in SL)?

All IAF aircraft have been armed with bombs and missiles and are ready to take off within minutes.

PAD or even AAD in the IAF parlance would equate with aircraft armed with only Air to Air ordnance and not Air to Surface ordnance as it has been stated in the above quote. Or maybe the quote is from an amateur journalist who cannot distinguish as to how the aircraft are loaded out during ADA duties.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Ok Gharib N and IK, drop that particular issue.

 

[blain2]

Guys lets take this back on track. No more chest thumping and one-upping please.

 

[XYON]

Uh! I am confused!

If the IAF has alerted its AAD command for a likely aerial attack? What possibly could be the targets? How many NY Trade Center Tower type high rises are there in India? If the potential terrorists plan to hijack an airplane than the Indians should heighten security on airports (which they have). India is not an aviator country where every other bloke could have access to a propeller based aircraft or a light jet! And besides what would be the use of flying in a light aircraft on top of a slum in Delhi or any other city dwelling? Damage would be relatively minimal.

Terrorists generally seek sensationalism from their protracted and planned attacks (like Mumbai, NY, Spain, UK etc etc) and I do not simply see the sensationalism in a terrorist aerial strike in India (unless they are entrenched enough to get hold of Indian Prithvi's or Agni's)

Hence, high marks for political HYPE to this decision while very low marks for actual REALITY of it happening and that too in such a short span of the Mumbai Mow Down!

 

[Patriot]

I have to say Indians are ******* dumb.here's offline messages of my friend (He sent messages via yahoo to all his contacts..)
ajay_dev (12/10/2008 11:44:15 PM): india might start flying jets accross border any time
ajay_dev (12/10/2008 09:20:15 PM): Indians jets are being armed with top missles to destroy Terrorist Republic of Pakistan's cities.
-
Man these Indians are crazy............

 

[Robin234]

I feel this more of a media created hype ,who is unnecessarily creating tension and sensation.

 

[nitesh]

For defensive purpose? What do you want to do? Drop a bomb on a Terrorist flying a Cessna (along the lines of LTTE in SL)?



PAD or even AAD in the IAF parlance would equate with aircraft armed with only Air to Air ordnance and not Air to Surface ordnance as it has been stated in the above quote. Or maybe the quote is from an amateur journalist who cannot distinguish as to how the aircraft are loaded out during ADA duties.

blain please read this

The alert has been sounded in view of intelligence reports of air strikes at Indian installations from across the border or an aerial attack by terrorists groups based in Pakistan.

However, the alert is still defensive in nature and intended to protect Indian targets.

It is for defensive purpose only and that bomb and all I think the journalist has added it on it's own

 

[MOINOV]

And the indians will now say that terrorists are crossing the border into india through land and sea,and will put thier land and naval forces on red alert,that is the nature of the indian government,you be friendly,they think that you are weak.......

 

[MOINOV]

The indian media is partly responsible for this.On the first day of the attacks they tried to link it to pakistan even when they did'nt had any evidence,and the indians decided to move thier attention toward pakistan rather than on the DECCAN MUJAHIDEEN.....

 

[Beskar]

Indian Air Force on high alert? For what?

The pakistani military doesn't have time for your petty threats. It's time you indians got used to that. All this hoopla about "High Alerts" is a political move to put more pressure on the pakistani government to respond with more ***-kissing. Hate to be the bearer of the news but the Pakistan Army and ISI won't fall for your cheap thrills. And neither will they give two bits of **** regarding India as a threat. if you folks had some sort of courage and honour, you would've had the guts to take out the pakistani nuclear facilities with the help of Israeli's in the covert preemptive strikes in the past.

Now, get on with your lives and work harder on your "Intelligence" and "Special forces" region so that in the future, you wouldn't take three days to tackle a threat posed by a few militants.