IAF inducts 'Super Hercules' transport aircraft
TNN, Feb 6, 2011, 02.58am IST
NEW DELHI: Even as India on Saturday formally inducted the first of the six C-130J "Super Hercules'' tactical airlift aircraft ordered from US in a $1.2 billion contract, New Delhi and Washington are now on the verge of inking their biggest-ever defence deal till now.
Defence minister A K Antony on Saturday said the deal for 10 C-17 Globemaster-III giant strategic airlift aircraft -- estimated to be around $4.1 billion -- was in the "final stages'' now.
"We plan to substantially increase IAF's transport and airlift fleet, with all kinds of planes. The C-130Js will help IAF to maintain its qualitative edge and enhance its war fighting capabilities,'' said Antony, after formally inducting the first aircraft at the Hindon airbase on the outskirts of New Delhi.
As reported by TOI earlier,
India may well order another six C-17s after the first 10. Similarly, there is a plan to order another six C-130Js after the first six are received by IAF's newly-raised 77 `Veiled Vipers' Squadron at Hindon before this year ends. "We are not satisfied with just six,'' said Antony.
The rugged C-130Js and C-17s can even land at small forward airbases on semi-prepared runways,
which will be crucial for India to counter China's massive build-up of military infrastructure all along the 4,057-km Line of Actual Control, which includes new airfields in Tibet.
The latest version of Hercules with four powerful engines and greater payload-carrying capacity, the C-130Js have been customised for "special and covert operations''.
"These fantastic new machines will boost our capabilities to undertake combat missions...There are the most potent and versatile aircraft in their category,'' said IAF chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik.
At present, IAF has just a dozen Russian-origin IL-76 `Gajraj' aircraft, with its medium-lift fleet comprising around 75 ageing Russian AN-32 aircraft. The induction of C-130Js and the much-bigger C-17s will bolster India's capability to swiftly transport combat-ready soldiers and supplies to forward areas on the western and eastern fronts.
The C-17s, for instance, are capable of carrying a payload of 164,900 pounds after taking off from a mere 7,000-feet airstrip. These four-engine aircraft can transport tanks and combat ready troops over 2,400 nautical miles.
"With a motto of `Kill with Stealth', the C-130Js will be able to undertake quick deployment of special forces in all-weather conditions, including airdrops and landings on unprepared or semi-prepared surfaces even in complete darkness,'' said an officer.
US ambassador Timothy J Roemer, in turn, said, "The sale of the C-130Js to IAF on-time and on-budget is exactly the type of win-win situation President Obama talked about during his historic visit to India last November...
A strong defence relationship is a key component of the US-India strategic partnership.''
Source:
Times of India