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Armed forces lost 28 aircraft, 14 choppers in crashes since 2011
NEW DELHI: The armed forces have lost 28 aircraft and 14 helicopters in crashes, which killed 42 people, since 2011-12. Of the 28 aircraft crashes, 14 were ageing MiG fighter variants that should have been retired long ago.
"The loss to government in terms of value of aircraft and service property in respect of 26 accidents assessed so far is estimated at Rs 1,127.37 crore," defence minister Manohar Parrikar said in a written reply tabled in Lok Sabha on Friday.
As reported by TOI earlier, the two main reasons for the frequent crashes are attributed to "human errors" and "technical defects". In other words, "inadequate" training to pilots, ageing machines and shoddy maintenance practices all combine to constitute a deadly mix for the armed forces.
Parrikar said the defence acquisitions council (DAC) last August had decided that in order to balance the important issues of urgency and strategic interests, the total requirement of new helicopters for Army and IAF would be met by procuring an immediate requirement, with the balance being manufactured domestically.
But the armed forces are still nowhere near getting new helicopters to replace their ageing Cheetah and Chetak fleets, which have a design vintage of the 1960s, due to the failure of successive governments to take decisions in time, defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics' tardy performance and recurring corruption scandals in arms deals.
The long-delayed project to acquire 197 new light helicopters from abroad, for instance, has been scrapped three times over the last decade due to technical deviations and allegations of corruption. HAL, too, is still nowhere near delivering the 187 similar light helicopters it was supposed to make "within 60 months" when its project was sanctioned by the Cabinet Committee on Security in February 2009.
"Phasing out of helicopters/fighters and their replacement with new-generation aircraft depends upon the national security/strategic objectives and operational requirements, and are reviewed by the government from time to time. This is a continuous process," said Parrikar.
Armed forces lost 28 aircraft, 14 choppers in crashes since 2011 - The Times of India
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Old MiG 21 continue to be in headlines for all the wrong reasons and crashes. While overall record for IAF has improved, focus should remain on phasing out older machines and introduction of newer ones. Projects like LCA induction, Rafale Deal, Pilatus induction for basic training, new choppers become even more important in light of this. Hopefully this years budget will allow significant room for new capital purchases.
NEW DELHI: The armed forces have lost 28 aircraft and 14 helicopters in crashes, which killed 42 people, since 2011-12. Of the 28 aircraft crashes, 14 were ageing MiG fighter variants that should have been retired long ago.
"The loss to government in terms of value of aircraft and service property in respect of 26 accidents assessed so far is estimated at Rs 1,127.37 crore," defence minister Manohar Parrikar said in a written reply tabled in Lok Sabha on Friday.
As reported by TOI earlier, the two main reasons for the frequent crashes are attributed to "human errors" and "technical defects". In other words, "inadequate" training to pilots, ageing machines and shoddy maintenance practices all combine to constitute a deadly mix for the armed forces.
Parrikar said the defence acquisitions council (DAC) last August had decided that in order to balance the important issues of urgency and strategic interests, the total requirement of new helicopters for Army and IAF would be met by procuring an immediate requirement, with the balance being manufactured domestically.
But the armed forces are still nowhere near getting new helicopters to replace their ageing Cheetah and Chetak fleets, which have a design vintage of the 1960s, due to the failure of successive governments to take decisions in time, defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics' tardy performance and recurring corruption scandals in arms deals.
The long-delayed project to acquire 197 new light helicopters from abroad, for instance, has been scrapped three times over the last decade due to technical deviations and allegations of corruption. HAL, too, is still nowhere near delivering the 187 similar light helicopters it was supposed to make "within 60 months" when its project was sanctioned by the Cabinet Committee on Security in February 2009.
"Phasing out of helicopters/fighters and their replacement with new-generation aircraft depends upon the national security/strategic objectives and operational requirements, and are reviewed by the government from time to time. This is a continuous process," said Parrikar.
Armed forces lost 28 aircraft, 14 choppers in crashes since 2011 - The Times of India
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Old MiG 21 continue to be in headlines for all the wrong reasons and crashes. While overall record for IAF has improved, focus should remain on phasing out older machines and introduction of newer ones. Projects like LCA induction, Rafale Deal, Pilatus induction for basic training, new choppers become even more important in light of this. Hopefully this years budget will allow significant room for new capital purchases.
