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KANPUR: Chief of Air Staff Arup Raha on Tuesday said that Indian Air Force's safety record has improved as aging fleets have been phased out.
Talking to reporters at Air Force Station in Kanpur, he said that the accident rate last year was only 0.2%. "This year too it has remained the same which is equivalent to any other developed or developing country in the world," he added.
"The Air Force never flies unsafe aircraft. The aging fleets have been phased out. Both Air Force and Navy are high-tech. Nation spends a lot on increasing capabilities of the forces. We have long term plans for the armed forces especially the IAF which is upgrading its fleets but execution take time. We are upgrading the aircrafts that have outlived half of their lives," said Arup Raha while answering to a question on the aging fleets.
He further added that replacement of the old fleets would be done through acquisitions. "We will soon acquire MMRC aircrafts, 18 of which will come first and rest will be assembled here," said Chief of Air Staff.
He added that light combat vehicle Tejas has received Initial Operation Clearance ( IOC). This aircraft has not been flown by the best pilots, he said further.
Replying to a question as to why the women air force officers were not given a chance to fly the combat aircrafts, Chief of Air Staff said that capabilities of women IAF officers was never in doubt but due to certain biological and natural constraints have prevented women from flying combat aircrafts.
"During pregnancy period, women cannot fly the combat aircrafts. They will therefore be away for a long time which will affect the operational flying. Otherwise women are taken lead in every branch of IAF," said the Air Force Chief while answering question that even Pakistan and China had women fighter pilots.
He ruled out manpower crunch in the Indian Air Force and added that whatever shortage that still existed would be filled up by year end.
On the role of DRDO, Chief of Air Staff said that DRDO was responsible for development and research and not about the safety of the aircrafts.
He further said that DRDO does not take away the major chunk of the defence budget. Even the budget of Rs 2000 crore for development and research work is not much in comparison to the other countries.
Our record in averting accidents has improved, says IAF chief - The Times of India
Talking to reporters at Air Force Station in Kanpur, he said that the accident rate last year was only 0.2%. "This year too it has remained the same which is equivalent to any other developed or developing country in the world," he added.
"The Air Force never flies unsafe aircraft. The aging fleets have been phased out. Both Air Force and Navy are high-tech. Nation spends a lot on increasing capabilities of the forces. We have long term plans for the armed forces especially the IAF which is upgrading its fleets but execution take time. We are upgrading the aircrafts that have outlived half of their lives," said Arup Raha while answering to a question on the aging fleets.
He further added that replacement of the old fleets would be done through acquisitions. "We will soon acquire MMRC aircrafts, 18 of which will come first and rest will be assembled here," said Chief of Air Staff.
He added that light combat vehicle Tejas has received Initial Operation Clearance ( IOC). This aircraft has not been flown by the best pilots, he said further.
Replying to a question as to why the women air force officers were not given a chance to fly the combat aircrafts, Chief of Air Staff said that capabilities of women IAF officers was never in doubt but due to certain biological and natural constraints have prevented women from flying combat aircrafts.
"During pregnancy period, women cannot fly the combat aircrafts. They will therefore be away for a long time which will affect the operational flying. Otherwise women are taken lead in every branch of IAF," said the Air Force Chief while answering question that even Pakistan and China had women fighter pilots.
He ruled out manpower crunch in the Indian Air Force and added that whatever shortage that still existed would be filled up by year end.
On the role of DRDO, Chief of Air Staff said that DRDO was responsible for development and research and not about the safety of the aircrafts.
He further said that DRDO does not take away the major chunk of the defence budget. Even the budget of Rs 2000 crore for development and research work is not much in comparison to the other countries.
Our record in averting accidents has improved, says IAF chief - The Times of India
