NEW DELHI: There is no immediate proposal for joint training between Indo-US air forces. Unlike the steering committees formed for interaction between the two nations’ armed and naval services, a panel for the air forces has not yet been considered, according to Air Chief Marshal N.C. Suri.

In an informal chat with reporters, the air chief described his recent visit to Washington as a “goodwill mission,” where no equipment purchases were discussed, He discounted press reports about the likely purchase of US C-130 transport planes by the Air Force,

He also quashed speculation about acquiring US F-16 aircraft because during his recent trip he had the opportunity to fly it. Describing it as a wonderful experience, the air chief recalled that he had flown the F-15 fighter aircraft during his earlier tip to Washington in 1989.

A wide canvass of professional conceptual issues, however were reviewed with senior US Air Force officials. These included “philosophies and concepts of the two air forces, maintenance and logistics issues to mark the service more cost-effective and cost beneficial and a review of the young intake into the service.”

The air chief-spoke of the enthusiasm among women to join the non-technical branches in the Air Force For nine vacancies available to women pilots in the transport and helicopter wings, nearly 24,600 applications have been received, the chief disclosed.

He said there was no cause for alarm over the existing problem of spares and overall assemblies for equipment of Soviet origin. Conceding that over 70% of the Air Force equipment was from the erstwhile Soviet Union, the chief explained that as part of prospective planning, the Air Force had already worked out various options to overcome the problem, and “all earlier Indo-Soviet arrangements still exist.”

Considering the economic research crunch and the fact that the Air Force is tactical, which means reactive and not pro-active in nature, the chief accorded priority to the up gradation of the existing MiG-21 air craft fleet than purchase of new fighter aircraft. “I’ll not buy weapon systems based on imaginary threats,” he asserted. This statement came in reply to a query that as China is understood to be acquiring fight-refueling aircraft, would India be concerned about it.

Two areas, however, are high on the Air Force list. These are the advanced jet trainer and ensuring the service become leaner, more efficient and cost-effective, While the decision for the advanced jet trainer now rests with the Government, as the Air Force has already expressed its option for either the French Alpha jet or the

British Hawk, it is in the latter area that the service has now given full attention, An exercise on in the Air headquarters to see how best manpower reductions in the Air Force can be balanced with its operational preparedness, the chief observed.

Operational preparedness has to take the sub-continental realities into account, Therefore, while useful lessons have been learned from the recent Gulf war, not many need be implemented. Underscoring this point, the air chief opined that by far the most important lesson, which needs to be seriously considered, is the supremacy of air power, electronic warfare and the advancement made by the US and western powers in aviation systems and sophisticated munitions. Yet, “we cannot give any value Judgement on the war, as details are not available to us,” Air Chief Marshal Suri said.

Commenting on the light combat aircraft, the air chief said if the LCA, which is now a national project, becomes a reality, it would serve as the best option for the Air Force.

Article extracted from this publication >> September 25, 1992