Page 19 - Indian Air Force

IAF's C-130 J aircraft carries out maiden night landing at Kargil airstrip

The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Sunday announced a significant milestone as an IAF C-130 J aircraft executed a night landing at the Kargil airstrip.

India in 2023 focused on acquiring new military platforms, weaponry

India firmed up defence procurement worth over Rs 3.50 lakh crore in 2023 as the lingering border standoff with China in eastern Ladakh as well as the crises and conflicts around the world kept the military focused on ways to enhance the country's overall combat prowess to firmly deal with any security challenges. India also went on an overdrive in expanding its military engagement with like-minded countries in its neighbourhood and beyond in the face of China's relentless attempts to become a regional hegemon and establish its primacy in South Asia. The Indian troops guarding the nearly 3,500 km Line of Actual Control (LAC) maintained an assertive approach as the eastern Ladakh border spilled into the fourth year even as both sides held several rounds of high-level military and diplomatic talks to resolve it. The face-off between the two of the planet's biggest military forces mainly continued in Demchok and Depsang regions though both sides completed disengagement in several other

Celebrities fought legal battles in HC; Court upheld 'Agnipath' in 2023

High-profile legal battles involving political luminaries, Bollywood celebrities and corporate bosses unfolded in the Delhi High Court in 2023 and kept it abuzz with activity. Amid the unrelenting cut and thrust of these battles, the Delhi High Court also gave the thumbs up for the Modi government's Agnipath scheme, launched in June 2022 for recruiting soldiers, sailors and airmen for a four-year period. The scheme, which envisaged an overhaul of India's fighting machine, making it sturdier with the induction of young people aged 17.5 and 21 years, was reviled by its detractors, got resounding endorsement from supporters, and upheld by the court. The high court also saw skirmishes involving media entities over alleged violation of Indian laws. From the Gandhis of the Congress to a host of beleaguered Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders like former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Raghav Chadha and Satyendar Jain knocked on its door for relief in matters that ranged from allege

Ex-IAF squadron leader convicted for amassing illicit assets in land deal

A Special Court has convicted a former Indian Air Force Squadron Leader for allegedly moving funds for a former Congress MP for a land deal and amassing disproportionate assets worth Rs 40.36 lakh, officials said Monday. Squadron Leader Polu Sreedhar, facing several health issues, was not given any respite by the court, which convicted him for amassing assets that could not satisfactorily be accounted for, they said. The special court will start hearing arguments on the quantum of the sentence from January 2 next year, they said. In its FIR, the CBI had alleged that from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2010, deposits worth Rs 11.9 crore were made in his three accounts in Axis Bank. The money allegedly belonged to former Congress MP Balashowry Vallabbhaneni and was supposed to go towards a land deal worth Rs 12.5 crore. The CBI registered the case on September 27, 2016, against Sreedhar, Balashowry, and bank manager Manish Saxena. The agency filed a charge sheet six years later, o

Air power would continue to play a pivotal role, says Chief of Air Staff

The world is at a pivotal juncture and winds of change are blowing strongly in India's favour, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari said on Friday. The Air Chief Marshal also said that India's rise in the Global South marks a "pivotal point" in international affairs. He was speaking at a seminar on "India and Global South: Challenges and Opportunities". "Rooted in a rich historical tapestry, the country's emergence from colonial shadows to a prominent global player brings forth a myriad of challenges and opportunities," the chief of Indian Air Force said. "Understanding the complex dynamics at play is crucial in navigating a future shaped by interconnectedness," he said. The 20th Subroto Mukherjee seminar was organised by Centre for Air Power Studies. "As we navigate these uncharted skies, air power being a key component of national power, would undoubtedly play a pivotal role and also serve as a symbol of national strength, a tool for peace and collaboration," he .

Traditions, innovations should be balanced in armed forces: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday stressed the need for maintaining traditions of the armed forces while adopting innovation and said there has to be a balance between both of them. Addressing the Combined Graduation Parade at Air Force Academy at Dundigul near here, Singh opined that following traditions would only make the system like stagnant water in a lake, and if it is coupled with innovation, it will become a river always providing fresh water. Traditions are important in the armed forces, because they are time tested. They served useful purposes for a long time. That's why giving proper importance to the traditions is also necessary. There is one important thing. If we follow traditions without any thinking, there will be stagnation in our system naturally, the union minister said. He emphasised on the importance of innovation in the ever-changing circumstances in the world. Singh also exhorted the newly commissioned flying officers to always keep up their new thinki

Aatmanirbhar campaign gaining ground, says IAF Chief VR Chaudhari

The focal point of his strategic vision integrates cutting-edge technologies to bolster IAF's operational capabilities

First Indian astronaut on moon by 2040, says Isro Chairman Somanath

Four test pilots from the Indian Air Force have been selected as astronaut designates for the mission and they are undergoing mission-specific training at the ATF in Bengaluru

Cyclone Michaung: IAF air-drops 2,300 kg relief aid in flood-affected areas

The IAF was working in liaison with the Tamil Nadu government while the relief materials were being provided by various agencies in the state

CDS General Anil Chauhan to open HAL's avionics exposition in Delhi

State-owned aerospace and defence equipment maker to showcase capabilities in avionics

Air Force officer Manisha Padhi appointed India's first woman Aide de Camp

Squadron Leader Padhi formally joined her post and reported to the Governor on November 29. She was introduced to the officers and staff of the Raj Bhavan at Aizawl

IAF trainer aircraft crashes during sortie in Telangana, 2 pilots dead

: A trainer aircraft of the Indian Air Force with two officers on board crashed in Medak district of Telangana on Monday morning, according to the police. The incident occurred in Toopran mandal of the district, they said adding a trainer and a trainee pilot were inside the aircraft while it crashed. Their condition was still not known, police added. The aircraft took off from Air Force Academy (AFA) at Dundigal near here, a senior police official told PTI. The AFA authorities reached the spot, the officer said.

Govt committed to increasing strength of women in armed forces: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the government is committed to increasing the strength of women in the armed forces. He was speaking at the Navy Day event held in coastal Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra. We are emphasising increasing the number of women in the armed forces, he said. Today, India is setting bigger targets for itself and is utilising its full potential to achieve those targets," he said. Modi said India is giving unprecedented support to port-led development. "Merchant shipping is also being encouraged. India is moving towards utilising the potential of its oceans," he said. He said ranks in the Indian Navy would be renamed according to the Indian culture. Shortly before the Navy Day event, Modi unveiled a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot fort in the district. Modi later witnessed the operational demonstrations by Indian Navy ships, submarines, aircraft and Special Forces from the Tarkarli beach.

Development of Thanjavur airport put on fast track; AAI to invest Rs 200 cr

Thanjavur airport is an Air Force Station owned and operated by IAF

Uttarkashi tunnel rescue: IAF flies in 'critical DRDO equipment' to site

Earlier, on Sunday, a plasma-cutting machine was flown to the tunnel site from Hyderabad to cut through the Auger drilling machine and its stuck blades from inside the tunnel

India set to begin ambitious defence projects worth Rs 1.4 trillion

These three projects for the Indian Airforce include aircraft carrier, Tejas fighters, and Prachand helicopters

U'khand tunnel rescue: IAF airlifts another 36 tonne of critical equipment

Employing a C-17 and two C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft, the IAF airlifted 36 tonne of critical equipment on Monday, continuing to lend assistance to efforts being made to rescue workers trapped in a partially collapsed tunnel in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district, officials said. Rescuers on Monday pushed through a six-inch-wide pipeline through the rubble of the collapsed tunnel, a breakthrough that will help them supply larger quantities of food and possibly allow live visuals of the 41 workers trapped inside for eight days. So far, a four-inch existing tube was being used to supply oxygen and items like dry fruit and medicines into the section of the tunnel beyond the rubble of the collapsed portion of the under-construction Silkyara tunnel on the Char Dham route in Uttarakhand. The IAF has been ferrying heavy machineries to aid rescue operations at the tunnel site. "#IAF assistance for the rescue operations at Uttarkashi continues unabated. Employing a C-17 and two C-

Air Force sends Rafales after 'UFO' sighting near Imphal airport on Sunday

The Eastern Command of the Indian Air Force said that it had activated its air defence response mechanism

Chaudhari emphasises role of private sector in boosting IAF's capability

Private industries will play a very important role not only in enhancing Indian Air Force capabilities but also in increasing the productivity and production ability of defence public sector units, Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari said on Sunday. Responding to a question during a session at the Synergia Conclave 2023, he said the private industry also needs to ensure that they match up with the production capability to ensure that the rollout of fighters that the Air Force orders takes place on time. He said there is definitely a huge role for the private industry to enhance IAF's capability by helping the lead integrators roll out aircraft. Without doubt, the private industry will play a very important role, not only in enhancing our capability but also in enhancing the productivity or the production capability of the defence PSUs, the IAF chief said. What we have to understand is that though we place the order on the defence PSU for any equipment, they (the private sector) w

IAF to develop indigenous jammer pod for LCA Mark 1A fighter aircraft

"IAF's Base Repair Depots have been tasked to indigenise many of the equipment required on its fighter and transport aircraft and other weapon systems and cut down imports," officials added