The Indian Air Force (IAF) will after all be conducting tests on its MiG 29 fighter aircraft to satisfy safety concerns according to PTI. The agency quoted Air Marshal Gautam Nayyar, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Maintenance command as saying, “The IAF will conduct ultra sound examination of certain components of the MiG 29 at 11 Base Repair Depot (BRD) of the force.”
Army charges three over Sopore deaths
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The General Officer Commanding, Kilo Force will be convening disciplinary proceedings against the three personnel, which could later result in them being cashiered from the army and even imprisoned.
Air Marshal P V Naik to be next IAF chief
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In his almost four-decade-long service he has served in a variety of Command Staff and Instructional appointments. He has 3085 flying hours to his credit. The Air Marshal Naik also served in the 1971 war. Before taking over as VCAS, he was Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Allahabad-based Central Air Command.
Russian MiG-29s grounding leaves India concerned
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Both, the IAF as well as the Indian Navy, are concerned that the withdrawal from service of 90 Russian Air Force MiG-29s for repairs may lead to delays in delivery as well as quality issues in the upgrading and production of new aircraft for the two forces.
Navy worried about maritime security losing priority
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The Indian Navy is worried the issue of maritime security may be losing the priority and urgency given it after the 26/11 attacks as it would like the structure for managing maritime security and intelligence to be sorted out out as soon as possible, especially if it is expected to take over as the lead agency from the Coast Guard, as announced by the Defense Minister last week.
IAF ready to target non-state actors
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While the IAF has the abilities to deal with non-state actors, it has a long way to go in developing optimal capabilities. Reducing the sensor-shooter gap to zero where the sensor will have to be the shooter is critical. This will provide the fastest possible decision cycle.
Rafael promo riles Indian armed forces
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An Indian Air Force (IAF) officer said, “While it can be seen as funny – perhaps a humorous parody, it’s likely to hurt the sensitivities of many people. Maybe Rafael should have thought of this before producing something like this.”
StratPost in the News for Rafael video story
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The promotional video was produced by the Israeli arms company Rafael and aired at Aero India 2009 held in Bangalore last month. The video has been derided by some commentators as badly produced and virtually all consider it invariably funny. The StratPost story has made news with the New York Times, with Ronald Mackey writing about it in the blog The Lede, not to mention in other commentaries and observations on the internet.
Bangladeshi Islamists blame India for BDR mutiny
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Matiur Rahman Nizami, the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, said while addressing a meeting of his party, “The killing mission was executed from Indian intelligence headquarters through close monitoring.” He also added that India pulled a masterstroke by destroying the border guards and trying to weaken Bangladesh’s army and national security.
Graft alleged in South African Gripen deal
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The fighter aircraft company has been accused of corruption in pushing forward sales to South Africa with Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu coming out strongly against the South African arms contract, which also raises common allegations against South African president-in-waiting Jacob Zuma. Other deals with Hungary and the Czech Republic have also been under the scanner for alleged kickbacks being paid for the proposed purchase of the Gripen fighter.
French Naval Rafales grounded by virus
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French newspaper Liberation reported the virus to have infected the French Navy’s databases leaving the Rafales ‘nailed to the ground’ on January 15 and 16 this year. The Dassault aircraft Rafale is one of the six contenders for the 126 MMRCA tender issued by IAF.
Rafael’s innovative video marketing for India
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Israeli arms firm Rafael displayed a Bollywood-style dance number featuring Israeli artists in full Bollywood costume singing in English about the potential for the Indo-Israeli defense trade relationship on large screen televisions at their stall at Aero India 2009 recently.
Should Swat valley surrender worry India?
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The recent capitulation by the Pakistan government in the face of Islamist elements in the Swat valley has had led to worried talk of a hardline Islamist eastward creep towards India’s western borders. StratPost finds out if India really has something to worry about.
Squeaky-clean Antony disappoints MMRCA contenders
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The Defense Minister AK Antony disappointed the contenders for the 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft contract during Aero India 2009, by declining to fly in any of the planes brought by four of the contenders. The representatives of the companies had hoped to have an interaction with the minister and try and get some hint as to where things where headed with the tender.
Gripen touted as independent of politics
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Gripen points out that all other fighters are manufactured by the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council.
