TimeTraveller
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2014
- Messages
- 1,019
- Reaction score
- 1
- Country
- Location
Bharat Karnad’s article, “Impending MMRCA Waste”, published in The New
Indian Express on October 3 is a clear attempt to keep the MMRCA (medium
multi-role combat aircraft) pot boiling—it warrants a response only to
sensitise the environment of the truth, just as the learned professor
tries to undermine it with his needless ranting on the MMRCA. There
seems to be a desperation that merits serious scrutiny—who or what is
the guiding beacon behind his sustained attempt to force policy makers
to take a re-look at an acquisition, the need for which was felt as far
back as 2001? Is he batting for an outsider who is looking for a “window
of opportunity” as the new government settles down, or is he pitching
for an ill-informed brigade that seems to think that a “whatever there
is to offer” approach, which will cause the IAF to dangerously slip into
the “operational red” in a hostile environment is okay just because it
gives a fillip to indigenisation.
The IAF has been trying to plug operational gaps over the past few years
despite assiduous attempts by the likes of Karnad to throw in a spanner
at regular intervals. In November last year, a few months after the new
Basic Trainer Aircraft (BTA) was acquired by the IAF, the Pilatus PC-7
commenced operations at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal after years of
attempting to set the HPT-32 right. Along comes an article from Karnad
questioning the Pilatus deal. Worse still, despite numerous crashes on
the HPT-32 and a gaping hole in our training preparedness, he wanted the
IAF to buy a platform which he called the HJT-44 (actually the HTT-44)
whose prototype had yet to be proven. One year down the line, cadets at
the Air Force Academy are raving about the Pilatus PC-7, instructors no
longer have to worry about extricating themselves from too many
life-threatening emergencies and technical glitches, and more
importantly, its operational impact will soon be seen when pilots
trained in it make the transition to more sophisticated aircraft like
the Hawk, Mirage-2000 and SU-30 with ease. Apart from its operational
impact, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) also wants to see less worry in the
eyes of parents who send their young adult-kids into the tough world of
military aviation—I wonder Mr Karnad if you have ever served as a
pall-bearer and heard the last post sounded after a fatal crash
involving a cadet under training and/or his instructor.
The CAS did some plain talking at his traditional pre-Air Force Day
press conference and clearly highlighted the operational gaps that
existed with the IAF’s current force and capability levels, particularly
in the offensive domain. The main punch of the IAF revolves around the
swing role capability of the SU-30 MKI which is experiencing some
maintenance problems that are under resolution. The Mirage-2000 and
MiG-29 are in the midst of major upgrades which have long implementation
periods to fructify into contemporary capability. Our western adversary
has acquired aerial weapons systems that allow it to punch above its
weight, and the only way that the IAF can retain its decade-old aerial
edge and counter it is by swamping it with a combination of SU-30 and an
equally good or better platform. The Rafale emerged as a clear winner
along with other ingredients (combination of pricing, life-cycle costs,
technology transfer, etc.) that gave it a clear competitive edge over
other contenders for the 126 aircraft MMRCA deal in what was an
impeccably transparent evaluation process.
Prof Karnad’s contention that the procurement of 12 upgraded Qatari
Mirage-2000s in the early part of the last decade was shelved to pave
the way for a global tender for an MMRCA that would last well beyond the
middle of the century; of course it was and why not if the IAF was
getting a significantly superior platform? Karnad would like the public
to believe that the purchase decision of the Qatari Mirages was scuttled
by the then CAS. Technically, the CAS is not part of the procurement
process which has embedded checks and balances at every level. He is not
an “approving authority” in any procurement process and to attribute
such influence to him is amazing, particularly when it comes from
someone like Prof Karnad, who not so very long ago was part of
government advisory bodies like the National Security Advisory Board and
numerous other quasi-official committees. The accusation, unless proven,
could rightfully be tantamount to mud-slinging.
Prof Karnad also attempts to frighten the daylight out of us by
predicting a grounding of fleets and closure of manufacturing lines of
aircraft like the Eurofighter (EF). How does the Eurofighter suddenly
emerge in your target zone, prof? I thought you were targeting the
Rafale! Inclusion of Eurofighter in this debate is a canard by Karnad.
He rambles along disjointedly in his article about Raytheon, a US
company being the manufacturer of the Eurofighter’s data fusion system
and the probability of the US pulling the plug whenever they want and
grounding the fleet. I think we have come a long way in our relationship
with the US.
Air power in modern warfare is not just physical destruction of targets;
it is more about affecting the mind of your adversary with coercive
capability. A combination of the SU-30, MMRCA (Rafale) and upgraded
M-2000 and MiG-29s as your frontline offensive punch is an intimidating
mix by any standards. The flexibility that it will afford to mix and
match between offensive and defensive missions will offer great
security, particularly to the Indian Army as it increasingly looks to
the IAF to clear the skies and cause significant attrition to the
enemy’s combat potential before it comes into contact with own forces in
the Tactical Battle Area (TBA). Smaller and legacy platforms like the
LCA, Jaguar, Hawk and the remaining MiG variants will then contribute
significantly to the joint battle as they put pressure on the enemy and
cause destruction in and around the TBA. That, Mr Karnad, is how a
battlefield is shaped if you have the necessary wherewithal—you cannot
do it if you remain with 34 squadrons or less for much longer, or opt
for platforms that do not meet the requirements of operational
commanders. The IAF has always welcomed constructive criticism, but when
Karnad dishes out such disruptive writing, he needs to be suitably
countered!
The author is a serving Air Vice Marshal in the IAF. Email:
arjun31@gmail.com
Source : MMRCA an Absolute Necessity | idrw.org
