News for 'Squadron'

The real scandal about the Rafale

The real scandal about the Rafale

Rediff.com7 Aug 2018

'The air force continues to be short of planes.' 'So, more than a decade after the last selection round got under way, the same process is about to start again for the same kind of aircraft, naturally with the same likely bidders,' points out T N Ninan.

'Never were officers or airmen disrespectful'

'Never were officers or airmen disrespectful'

Rediff.com19 Aug 2020

'Those 10 years in the IAF has made me what I am today.'

India's Sukhoi-30 fighters are back in action

India's Sukhoi-30 fighters are back in action

Rediff.com14 Nov 2014

India's frontline combat aircraft Sukhoi-30 fleet was on Friday cleared for flying after being grounded for nearly a month following a crash near Pune.

Are we ready to fight the wars of the future?

Are we ready to fight the wars of the future?

Rediff.com16 Mar 2018

'We must look at the entire question of military preparedness anew, taking into account the new realities,' says Vice Admiral Premvir Das (retd).

Prince William's role as search and rescue pilot to end

Prince William's role as search and rescue pilot to end

Rediff.com27 Mar 2013

Prince William's role as a RAF Sea King pilot may end as Britain's search-and-rescue helicopter service which he is part of will be taken over by a US firm after privatisation.

China-Pak air exercise; Cause for worry?

China-Pak air exercise; Cause for worry?

Rediff.com23 Dec 2020

'There is much to glean from such exercises. And make it known that we are ready to take them on together!', says Air Commodore Nition Sathe (retd).

How IAF choppers helped General Sagat liberate Bangladesh

How IAF choppers helped General Sagat liberate Bangladesh

Rediff.com24 Dec 2020

The retreating Pakistani troops were heading towards Dacca and they had to be stopped at all costs. The Eastern Army Commander, in his orders to General Sagat Singh, had reiterated that he did not want the troops of 4 Corps to cross the Meghna river. But General Sagat had other plans to threaten Dacca and ensure that the pressure would make the Pakistani commanders capitulate. This is where the IAF helicopters came in.

Uncertainty over future of IAF's Jaguars

Uncertainty over future of IAF's Jaguars

Rediff.com30 Jan 2019

Will the IAF pay $2.4 billion to refit 80 Jaguars with powerful Honeywell engines?

Survivors gather at Pearl Harbour, 75 years later

Survivors gather at Pearl Harbour, 75 years later

Rediff.com8 Dec 2016

Thousands observed a moment of silence and watched jets streak across the clear blue sky at a ceremony at Pearl Harbor marking the 75th anniversary of the attack that plunged the United States into World War II and left more than 2,400 service people dead.

IAF planning to get more Embraer jets for ferrying VIPs

IAF planning to get more Embraer jets for ferrying VIPs

Rediff.com4 Mar 2013

The Indian Air Force is planning to procure more Embraer business jets for its Delhi-based communication Squadron for ferrying VIPs.

Another IAF officer commits suicide in Jodhpur

Another IAF officer commits suicide in Jodhpur

Rediff.com9 Dec 2012

Less than a fortnight after the alleged suicide by a woman Squadron Leader of the Indian Air Force in Jodhpur, another IAF officer was found hanging in his room on Sunday.

Jodhpur: Woman IAF officer commits suicide

Jodhpur: Woman IAF officer commits suicide

Rediff.com28 Nov 2012

29-year-old squadron leader Anandita Das, hailing from Kolkata, was posted at the Jodhpur Air Force Station and living in the officers' quarters with her husband, who is also an IAF officer.

How can we be a regional power with this defence budget!

How can we be a regional power with this defence budget!

Rediff.com6 Feb 2018

'At 1.58% of GDP, the defence budget is one of the lowest since the Chinese aggression of 1962.' 'The government of the day has lost sight of the fact that defence of the country is as important as its growth,' says Brigadier S K Chatterji (retd).

Is the Rafale deal BJP's Bofors moment?

Is the Rafale deal BJP's Bofors moment?

Rediff.com1 Oct 2018

'So far there is no clear money trail nor an indisputable smoking gun.' 'But that doesn't mean there aren't disturbing questions and a strange resistance by the government to reveal the price, which only adds suspicion to concern,' observes Karan Thapar.

Tejas to officially replace MiG-21 FL

Tejas to officially replace MiG-21 FL

Rediff.com12 Dec 2013

The indigenously developed light combat aircraft 'Tejas' would officially replace the MiG-21 FL fighter jet, Chief of Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne said on Thursday.

Indian Air Force is 'in a crisis', says US think tank

Indian Air Force is 'in a crisis', says US think tank

Rediff.com28 Mar 2016

The report authored by Ashley Tellis, the top American expert on India and South Asia, states that the IAF's fighter force is weaker than numbers suggest.

The Rafale Deal: The Real Loss to India

The Rafale Deal: The Real Loss to India

Rediff.com22 Nov 2018

'The greatest loss from replacing the 126 Rafale proposal with the 2016 contract for 36 Rafales might not be the extra money paid, but the opportunity that India's aerospace industry lost of obtaining access to critical aviation technologies and manufacturing skills.'

96-year-old Marshal's moving farewell to President Kalam

96-year-old Marshal's moving farewell to President Kalam

Rediff.com28 Jul 2015

It was indeed a poignant moment to see an uniformed Arjan Singh rising out of his wheelchair and using a walking stick to march up to President APJ Abdul Kalam's coffin

Solution soon on Army, IAF spat over choppers: Antony

Solution soon on Army, IAF spat over choppers: Antony

Rediff.com9 Oct 2012

The issue between the Army and the Indian Air Force for controlling attack helicopters was a "family problem" and the government was in the final stages of finding a solution for it, Defence Minister A K Antony said in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Why BrahMos is crucial in a war with China

Why BrahMos is crucial in a war with China

Rediff.com1 Oct 2020

In any conflict with China, the unmanned BrahMos could be advantageously used in the opening stages for pinpoint strikes on heavily defended targets -- such as air bases, headquarters, key roads and railways or logistics dumps -- which are too dangerous for manned fighter aircraft to attack.

Why the West is worried about India's Tejas

Why the West is worried about India's Tejas

Rediff.com23 Apr 2016

The Sri Lanka Air Force and Egypt has also shown some interest in procuring the Tejas.

Black box of IAF's crashed Sukhoi-30 jet recovered

Black box of IAF's crashed Sukhoi-30 jet recovered

Rediff.com28 May 2017

The identity of the missing pilots has not been disclosed and the worst is feared.

Body parts of crashed MiG-29 pilot recovered

Body parts of crashed MiG-29 pilot recovered

Rediff.com1 Aug 2012

More than nine months after a MiG-29 crashed in the mountainous Lahaul-Spiti area of Himachal Pradesh, the Indian Air Force has found some body parts, believed to be of its pilot, in glaciers.

India's wheelchair cricketers look towards BCCI president Ganguly

India's wheelchair cricketers look towards BCCI president Ganguly

Rediff.com5 Aug 2020

If BCCI helps them then the blind, deaf and wheelchair cricketers will all get benefited.

Govt turns down IAF's request to joint Malabar exercise

Govt turns down IAF's request to joint Malabar exercise

Rediff.com29 Apr 2012

The government has recently turned down Indian Air Force's request to take part in the India-United States bilateral naval exercise Malabar.

India sends C-130J's damaged blackbox to US

India sends C-130J's damaged blackbox to US

Rediff.com30 Mar 2014

The black box of the C-130J transport aircraft that crashed near Gwalior on Friday has suffered damage and the Indian Air Force has sent it to the United States to seek the assistance of its manufacturer Lockheed Martin in decoding the data, officials said on Sunday.

How can we take on the Chinese with our defence budget?

How can we take on the Chinese with our defence budget?

Rediff.com28 Jul 2020

Among the handful of countries with large defence budgets and armed forces, India is matched only by Saudi Arabia in the level of its import dependence. For revenge to be served cold, go beyond import bans and correct these long-term failures -- if we're up to it, notes T N Ninan.

Under-production Sukhoi aircraft crashes near Nashik

Under-production Sukhoi aircraft crashes near Nashik

Rediff.com27 Jun 2018

There were no casualties, police said, adding both the pilots ejected safely before the plane hit ground.

Bollywood gives you 9 lessons in History

Bollywood gives you 9 lessons in History

Rediff.com17 Sep 2019

There will be as many as 9 historicals coming up in the next 15 months!

Blackbox of crashed Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft recovered

Blackbox of crashed Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft recovered

Rediff.com16 Dec 2011

The flight data recorder (FDR), commonly known as blackbox, of the Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft which crashed in Pune earlier this week, has been retrieved.

Can strike nuke targets in Pak; ready for two-front war: IAF chief

Can strike nuke targets in Pak; ready for two-front war: IAF chief

Rediff.com6 Oct 2017

Air Chief Marshal said his force is ready for a full spectrum operation but added that any decision on surgical strike involving the IAF has to be taken by the government.

Is this how India is funding the stand-off with China?

Is this how India is funding the stand-off with China?

Rediff.com10 Feb 2021

Has the army confronted China, equipping itself with emergency purchases that have been largely paid for by pensioners, asks Ajai Shukla.

Desi among 12 NASA astronauts chosen from 18,300

Desi among 12 NASA astronauts chosen from 18,300

Rediff.com8 Jun 2017

Lt Col Raja "Grinder" Chari, 39 is in the batch of 2017.

Is India on the right flight path with Rafale?

Is India on the right flight path with Rafale?

Rediff.com1 Feb 2012

Ending months of speculation, India has finally selected Rafale as the best aircraft tailor-made to meet its requirements for at least the next decade and replace its ageing fleet of MiGs. But is it what India needs now to safeguard its skies?

49 years after its greatest triumph, navy starved of funds

49 years after its greatest triumph, navy starved of funds

Rediff.com5 Dec 2020

The navy finds itself fighting for relevance, with navy planners lamenting that its share of the budget has dropped dramatically.

Lockheed Martin's F-16 or Saab's Gripen E: Which will be India's next fighter?

Lockheed Martin's F-16 or Saab's Gripen E: Which will be India's next fighter?

Rediff.com30 Aug 2017

With both aircraft likely to meet the IAF's performance requirements, the winning bid could be the one that offers the lowest cost and the best industrial proposal.

PHOTOS: Defence Minister Sitharaman flies Sukhoi jet

PHOTOS: Defence Minister Sitharaman flies Sukhoi jet

Rediff.com17 Jan 2018

The country's first woman defence minister sat in the rear seat behind the pilot and was wearing the pilot's G-suit.

IAF chief flies SU-30 MKI to restore pilots' confidence

IAF chief flies SU-30 MKI to restore pilots' confidence

Rediff.com21 Dec 2011

The Air Chief Marshal took off from Lohegaon air base and was accompanied by Wing Commander Anurag Sharma, Commanding Officer of the SU-30 MKI squadron, based in Pune.

IAF not equipped to fight twofold war: Vice Chief

IAF not equipped to fight twofold war: Vice Chief

Rediff.com10 Mar 2016

In a candid admission, the Indian Air Force on Thursday said that given its depleting strength, it does not have the adequate numbers to "fully execute" an air campaign in case of a two-front war involving Pakistan and China simultaneously.

IAF's new C-130 J crashes near Gwalior; 5 dead

IAF's new C-130 J crashes near Gwalior; 5 dead

Rediff.com28 Mar 2014

A US-made C-130J military transport plane, one of the most modern aircraft acquired recently by the Indian Air Force, crashed on Friday near Gwalior, killing all the five crew members, including four officers.