No immediate phasing out of MiG-21s

[melb4aust]

"No immediate phasing out of MiG-21s"

KOLKATA: Indian Air Force Chief-designate Air Marshal F.H. Major on Sunday ruled out immediate phasing out of the MiG-21s.

Talking to presspersons here on the occasion of the IAF's platinum jubilee celebrations, he said there was a need for mid-life up-gradation of aircraft as induction of new combat jets, which was prohibitively expensive, might take eight to nine years.

"It is not that we have only old planes. We also have third and fourth generation aircraft like Sukhois and Mirages" Air Marshal Major said. The IAF was buying 80 medium life helicopters, a dozen VVIP helicopters even as the process of inducting at least 126 new fighters was on.

The IAF would induct the first of three Phalcon airborne warning and control aircraft [AWACS] by the end of the year or early 2008, while the first batch of indigenously built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) was expected to be part of the force by 2009.

The IAF had come a long way from being a "tactical" air force to becoming a "strategic" one. It was now the world's fourth largest air force, Air Marshal Major, who takes over as the IAF Chief on March 31, said.

A few accidents did not mean that the MiG-21s had become obsolete. The phasing out of the aircraft would be staggered even as next generation fighters and helicopters are inducted.

All air forces have three or four levels of technology. "Ideally all planes of an air force should be of the highest technology. But that is not possible [because of prohibitive costs]. Even the United States Air Force has different levels of technology."

On the issue of IAF pilots joining civil airlines he said, "we do not train them to leave and go to civil airlines." A request for early retirement could be considered for a pilot of around 50 years of age "as he has already given quite a lot to the force. But for the younger ones, except on extreme compassionate grounds, it is not possible to allow them to leave."

Though there were no plans to hold air exercises with the air forces of Pakistan or China, he said such an exercise with the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force was scheduled to be held in Britain in June. A joint IAF- French Air Force exercise was conducted at the IAF's Kalaikunda airbase recently.

Air Marshal Major flagged off an eight-member IAF motorcycle expedition to Shillong, led by Wing Cdr. R.K. Das.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/26/stories/2007022604161400.htm

 

[Adux]

Stupid Fucks, espically since they lost one more MIG-21 today. How I hate these politicans, it makes it worse when you are whole family are polticians themselves.

 

[melb4aust]

Stupid Fucks, espically since they lost one more MIG-21 today. How I hate these politicans, it makes it worse when you are whole family are polticians themselves.

Yeah they really suck dont they, i ahve the same kinda feelings for politiceans all over the world, has'nt done any good to mankind.

 

[Bull]

Yeah they really suck dont they, i ahve the same kinda feelings for politiceans all over the world, has'nt done any good to mankind.

Its so easy to blame them for the ills.

If you look at all the careers one can take i would feel the most risky one is politics and so the reward also has to be matching.If the system doesnt pay it then as what free mkt theory says "it would find its equilbrium price sooner or later".

Havnt all of us benefited from corrpution one way or the other, it might be for getting a license or to get rid of a traffic offence or to gain admission or to get a certificate from the panchayat or municipality on time.