IAF to launch satellite mid-2010: Air Chief

The Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major announced on Thursday at Aero India 2009, the expected launch of the an Indian Air Force (IAF) Satellite by mid 2010.

He said this while briefing the press on the second day of Aero India 2009, when he also indicated the economic downturn would have little or no effect on the defense industry. “Defense related industry, especially aerospace will continue to blossom,” he said, also saying the IAF expects to increase the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with increasing requirement and payload potential.

The air chief also indicated that materiel procurement by the IAF was on track. “There is nothing on fast track. Because I don’t need to. We have our force deployment in a manner which caters for all our likely adversaries and situations of Low Intensity Conflict,” he said.

When asked about his experience in flying the Chinese JF-17 fighter last year in China, he said, “It’s just like any other fighter. Nothing to write home about.”