tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post2892042671527270514..comments2024-03-28T05:22:10.255-07:00Comments on Broadsword by Ajai Shukla - Strategy. Economics. Defence.: Admissions, obfuscations in Indian Air Force explanation on Business Standard reportsBroadswordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076780076240598482noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-32263052323216648342013-08-04T03:12:13.951-07:002013-08-04T03:12:13.951-07:00I wouldn't go so far as to address the allegat...I wouldn't go so far as to address the allegations and counter allegations or clarifications for sheer want of authentic information. However given HAL's track record so far and the total lack of accountability of the DPSUs whether in time, cost or quality and with the backing of MoD(DP), one of whose Jt Secy is dedicated to pursuig HAL's case, the IAF is certainly trading on some influential toes - I would give the benfit of doubt to the IAF anyday - combat capability and readiness cannot be compromised by the service. Dilution of QRs has been done time and again at the behest of DRDO and DPSUs for various equipment because they couldn't come up to speed so I wonder what the brouhaha is all about. subdrivernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-89859453228910876982013-08-03T06:34:06.550-07:002013-08-03T06:34:06.550-07:00Nothing surprising about the Air Chief making up s...Nothing surprising about the Air Chief making up stories - he has to justify his actions !! What is saddening is that an Air Chief can lower the requirement of his Force to benefit a company and the ultimate benefactors. Maybe he also wants some retirement benefits similar to that of his predecessor !! A shame for the uniform and the rank.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-90797139964884143612013-08-02T08:39:13.889-07:002013-08-02T08:39:13.889-07:00Col. Shukla, one more important thing has come to ...Col. Shukla, one more important thing has come to light:<br /><br />Why is the IAF sooo keen on the Russian PAK-FA, despite knowing that apart from dollars, India has nothing else to contribute in it ?<br /><br />The much touted twin-seat was hailed as HAL's contribution in the PAK-FA. But when India quietly agreed to purchase the Russian PAK-FA on an "as is" basis, there were no eye-brows raised over the quantum of HAL's so-called "workshare" (which was very low anyway). <br /><br />Besides, our <i>Times of India</i>, <i>Indian Express</i> etc. did not bother to even question this serious downgrade !!!<br /><br />Arey baba, when HAL did not even get the part of the twin-seat modification, its so-called "work-share" goes out of the window ! It is merely license-producing the PAK-FA -- something that its already been doing for the MiGs and Sukhois.<br /><br />I request you to write a similar hard-hitting column on this, Col. Shukla.Abhimannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-43444156399975874002013-08-02T04:37:13.771-07:002013-08-02T04:37:13.771-07:00people who ask what the HLL did for the past seven...people who ask what the HLL did for the past seventy years should answer the question.<br /><br />Whty did IAF -MOD rejected the earlier IAF proposal to build the HTT-35 in the early nineties.<br /><br />The IAF after keeping a conspirational silence for a decade gave the PSQR for HTT-40 only in MArch -2009.<br /><br />By oct-2009 they determined HLL cannot do it and floated a diluted tender. If this is not scam , what is scam.<br /><br />HAL has already developed long-forgotten HTT-35 advanced turboprop trainer, in a full-scale mock-up, which was designed and fabricated in-house by HAL in the late 1980s and rolled out in the early 1990s<br />within four years a four-year effort.<br /><br />The objective at that time was to team up with a global avionics supplier (most probably THALES) and co-design the semi-glass tandem cockpits and offer the aircraft for evaluation by the IAF by 1998. <br /><br />However, after 1994 the HTT-35 vanished, no one knows what happened to this full-scale mock-up, or on why did the MoD or IAF HQ develop a coordinated ‘memory loss’ on the need to series-produce the HTT-35 almost a decade ago! <br /><br /><br />For it was realised as far back as 1998 that the induction of fourth-generation combat aircraft such as the Su-30MKI, and the impending induction of Rafale medium multi-role combat aircraft (M-MRCA), Tejas Mk2 MRCA and the fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) would force the IAF sooner than later into undertaking a critical revision of its flying training practices that included primary/basic flying training, advanced flying training, and lead-in fighter training (LIFT). <br /><br />Despite this, the HTT-35 BTT was scrapped, and instead of calling for the development of the HJT-36 as a swept-wing advanced jet trainer, the IAF in its all-knowing wisdom wrongly decided 14 years ago to have the HJT-36 as an intermediate jet trainer (IJT), a decision it is now regretting and that perhaps explains why the IAF has, since 2008, been maintaining sustained silence over HAL’s inability to develop the HJT-36.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-56931133630193913932013-08-01T22:11:01.157-07:002013-08-01T22:11:01.157-07:00Part II of my reply
Another strange thing. "...Part II of my reply<br /><br />Another strange thing. "HAL officials, speaking anonymously, confirm that, until the parameters were diluted in the ASQR issued in Oct 2009, the HTT-40 was being built to meet all the parameters in the PSQR". <br /><br />So, the HAL had pledged to meet the more stringent PSQR with the HTT-40. Ipso facto, it can also meet the lowered ASQR (allegedly done to favour Pilatus) too. So what prevents it from going ahead with the HTT development (150 crores internal plus some generous doles from the govt) and then challenge the PC-7 to a fly-off, mano-a-mano. <br /><br />Tell the govt " Hold the BTA purchase for a year. Let the IAF fly the existing 14 plus the 30 for 2014 = 44 for a year. We will deliver an HTT on 02 Aug 2014 for a fly-off challenge with the PC-7. If we win, we will leverage Pilatus' expertise to improve. If they win, we will help them produce it at 25% of the price and then, market it the world over". This is competition, this is innovative thinking. But unfortunately, these two terms are Greek and Latin for Indian defence PSUs.<br /><br />Instead of whipping the IAF, why don't you ask the govt for a reply to the lowered QRs? The babus would be chiddi-chup on this.<br /><br />Sir, young me, the flower of this nation, are dying due to aged trainers. The IAF is doing its best to stem the bloodshed even by lowering standards for replacements. And here, you are raking mud over the service.<br /><br />I don't expect you to kiss the butt of the Services even if you are a veteran. But I do expect you to be sensible, fair, even-minded and pragmatic. And not Janus. Maneesh Joshihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02382678667634536989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-78424769296651537212013-08-01T21:45:48.142-07:002013-08-01T21:45:48.142-07:00Part I of my reply.
Sir,
An excellent post with ...Part I of my reply.<br /><br />Sir,<br /><br />An excellent post with some caveats.<br /><br />I wish to link this disclosure with your earlier opinion of inducting the Tejas Mk 1 in numbers instead of waiting for the under-development Mk IIs - take what has been tested thoroughly NOW and future developments can be followed side by side.<br /><br />To me, this seems exactly what the IAF is doing for the PC-7 - plugging for an existent, proven BTA without waiting for HAL to deliver a more advanced one. So, how can you castigate the IAF for following your own advice albeit on a different platform? Such flip-flops on your part make you vulnerable to being cast as a Janus.<br /><br />As regards the ASQRs and the PSQRs stuff. The higher QRs would have been meet by more expensive types. Would the govt be willing to pay for them? One gets what one pays for. Most probably, the govt was unwilling to pay for the Texans/PC-21s/KT-1s and this was conveyed to the IAF. What to do then? Obviously try to get a cheaper alternative. May not be what is actually needed, but then, beggars (as all the Armed Forces of India are) cannot be choosers.<br /><br />Why be so paranoid that the IAF is always the bogey? What if, the govt had told the IAF - "Sorry, boys, we have money for scams but not for your toys. So, get something cheaper than the Texans et al. If that means lowering the QRs, you have to do it and also face the music when the media opens fire" or words to that effect. The IAF says" Fine, we will do that and also face the flak. At least, it will save lives that are being lost in MiG-21UM/Type 69s. Because...it is OUR blood that is being shed, not that of Rahul or Varun or the other upstarts" or words to that effect. Maneesh Joshihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02382678667634536989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-3931851319486534732013-08-01T21:15:42.949-07:002013-08-01T21:15:42.949-07:00HAL is a wholly-owned MoD entity,which cannot und... HAL is a wholly-owned MoD entity,which cannot undertake any R & D project aimed at producing an indigenous weapon system or sub-system without receiving authorisation from the MoD.<br /><br />What this means is that HAL’s management has neither the financial nor managerial autonomy to develop even a single product that is not required by any Indian end-user. <br /><br /><br />Therefore, when HAL took up the task of developing the HTT-35 BTT, it was only after being instructed by the MoD to do so at the IAF’s behest.<br /><br /> For it was a fairly well-known fact since the early 1980s that the HAL-developed piston-engined ab-initio primary HPT-32 ‘Deepak’ was not what the IAF wanted and HAL consequently had been mandated to develop the HTT-34 turboprop trainer with side-by-side seating, and a flying prototype was indeed built.<br /><br /><br /> The IAF then changed its mind and asked HAL via the MoD to develop a tandem-seat BTT (probably after watching the advent of Pilatus PC-7As and PC-9As, and Embraer/ShortsTucanos since the mid-1980s), to which HAL responded with the HTT-35.<br /><br /> What happened next is that sometime in 1995, HAL was instructed by the MoD at the IAF’s behest that this project was not a priority and was told to cease all further R & D activity, probably due to India’s reduced defence spending-levels in the period 1989-1999 (the so-called ‘lost decade’) as a result of the 1990 financial crisisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-55262015241025277032013-08-01T20:22:23.410-07:002013-08-01T20:22:23.410-07:00Shukla jumps to air force bashing from Infantry ba...Shukla jumps to air force bashing from Infantry bashing....<br /><br />Scuttle biting teeth ... one by one...<br /><br />That is defense journalism... bingoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-23249444299243684732013-08-01T17:12:24.988-07:002013-08-01T17:12:24.988-07:00HAL is simply incompetent to even assemble planes...HAL is simply incompetent to even assemble planes. All the gods in india need to bless Rafale project. HPT-32 was a mess, so many crashes, bad integration of engine. A BTA worse tha. WW 2 planes ! Please stop critizing IAF, tell us one good reason why HAL should exist and have monopoly on Indian aviation. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-5744347850691183542013-08-01T09:53:24.076-07:002013-08-01T09:53:24.076-07:00Exposing the IAF's corruption is unprecedented...Exposing the IAF's corruption is unprecedented in Indian journalism !<br /><br />Please keep up the great work Col Shukla !Abhimannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-12189465767657665202013-08-01T07:46:19.949-07:002013-08-01T07:46:19.949-07:00Few questions i would like to ask.
1. Why IAF kep...Few questions i would like to ask.<br /><br />1. Why IAF kept mum on future replacement for HPT-32 fleet until situation became dire?<br /><br />2. Why HTT-35 proposal was shut down, when it was nothing but replacement for HPT-32 fleet?Rahulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-27403545698943066542013-08-01T06:50:08.058-07:002013-08-01T06:50:08.058-07:00Why waste money on foreign or desi planes for pilo...Why waste money on foreign or desi planes for pilot training. The flying carpet & flying brooms would serve the purpose.Pakistaninoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-33768961985881953512013-08-01T05:28:13.779-07:002013-08-01T05:28:13.779-07:00Despite all the accusations and insinuations of im...Despite all the accusations and insinuations of impropriety there is one inescapable fact - <br /><br />The Pilatus PC-7 Mark 2 is available to train IAF pilots Today, the HAL HTT-40 is not going to be available till 2017. <br /><br />So on hand we have a fully functional and available aircraft with a long aviation record from a credible manufacturer - Pilatus and on the other we have an aircraft that is not even in the prototype stage, is built by a manufacturer who has a spotty aviation record and whose earlier aircraft failed miserably leading to deaths of more than one IAF pilot. <br /><br />You don't have to be Air Chief Marshal to make the safe bet. And as Air Chief Marshal, his primary responsibility is to keep the IAF fighting fit - not promote a domestic military industrial complex. His secondary duty is to safeguard and advocate for his pilots by getting them the best and safest equipment, not pandering to patriotic chauvinism at the cost of his pilot's lives. <br /><br />Pilatus won the contract because of one very simple reason - HAL messed up with its inability to produce a decent or safe basic trainer in the first place in the HPT-32. You cannot "select" something that never exists beyond paper drawings - like the HTT-40. <br /><br />In an effort to produce a "scoop" and perhaps in a misguided attempt to carry the torch for HAL,this article like the one before is hardly persuasive and ignores real world necessitates about time and safety. Indian products at all costs is not "patriotism", it is merely ignorance. Mazonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-47446383119077308852013-08-01T05:21:55.611-07:002013-08-01T05:21:55.611-07:00'....obfuscations in Indian Air Force explanat... '....obfuscations in Indian Air Force explanation on Business Standard reports' - more applicable to the writings of Colonle Ajain Shukla than the Indian Air Force!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-51925806924345778012013-07-31T22:36:49.714-07:002013-07-31T22:36:49.714-07:00It is now out in the open. The grounding of HPT-32...It is now out in the open. The grounding of HPT-32s (instead of fixing the straight forward fuel feed problem), the frantic haste in processing the case for buying basic trainers from abroad, the farcical manner of flight evaluation at Jamnagar, the blatant ignoring of 4th line maintenance costs (not submitted by Pilatus)to ensure 'L-1' for the Swiss trainer and rejection of valid arguments from the Koreans only points to an amazing plan. <br /><br />The IAF were TOLD to buy the Pilatus as the deal was already done via agents from a south east Asian country. The HTT-40 project was an inconvenience and could be bad mouthed at will. <br /><br />Would the IB care to investigate now or will this be after the national elections ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-59060112019019378242013-07-31T20:45:34.522-07:002013-07-31T20:45:34.522-07:00The swiss banks dont declare the asset of the acco...The swiss banks dont declare the asset of the account holders and that is why they won the contract and only way to beat that is ask HAL to open a factory in carribean island and assemble something imported from brazil or some american company and sell it IAF. The carrabeans are doing better than the swiss and thus have a better chance. <br />Jokes apart HAL is also responsible for sloppiness as P-51 Mustang was desiegned , built and tested in 19 months.They then decided to change the engine to merlin engine of the spitfire and a great plane was born which changed the course of the war.HAL cannot do that now evan after 70 years when the technology is openly available for basic trainer. The IJT is going at snail's pace and I wont be surprised that IAF choses some imported plane as wrong choice of the engine AL 55 slowed everything down. I would have gone with honeywell F 124 or F 125 without afterburner.If HAL is serious then quickly get IOC 2 for LCA Mk1 and build LCA MK 2 as one of the prototypes was not built and start simultaneously LCA MK 3 the twin engined plane with engines separated and in between is weapons bay and have stealth skin with multiple sensors and good range.The trainer building is very easy and HAL did not have vision to desiegn one.The great shunk works team use to target the technology 10 years before and desiegned some of the best planes.There is total disconnect between the HAL and IAF as they seem not to communicate what they would need in years to come. The IAF lower the requirements of the imports and dont make comment like three legged zebra or cheetah.<br /><br />TIMBAKTOOAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-90211976611736359972013-07-31T19:10:20.262-07:002013-07-31T19:10:20.262-07:00Great job Ajai! Thank you for posting and keeping ...Great job Ajai! Thank you for posting and keeping the pressure on the armed forces. <br /><br />This corrupt attitude is taking away billions from the country (God only knows how much is going to the dhotiwalas Swiss accounts). They say that a fool and his money are easily parted. The IAF chief has certainly harmed Indian industry by his callous attitude towards local efforts. Contrast this with China and Israel - both strong military powers that use a high percentage of local products.<br /><br />This attitude towards Indian products is exemplified by the purchase of 1000s of T-90s and no purchases of the T-90 beater - the one and only Arjun! The LCA is ready and has been tested with bombs and missiles and also has displayed its ability to operate in all weather conditions. In the past decade not one LCA has been lost while maybe a 100-150 Mig-21s have crashed in that period with the loss of a similar number of pilots.<br /><br />This is a result of the lack of moral values in our country. Corruption is rampant. All political parties are corrupt and have stolen 100s of billions of dollars from the nation. No Indian product or weapon will ever stand a chance against imports with this attitude.<br /><br />VivekVivek Khannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15639778463370154069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-40383646341670999762013-07-31T18:07:11.399-07:002013-07-31T18:07:11.399-07:00Prima facie, this issue seems like a fraud perpetr...Prima facie, this issue seems like a fraud perpetrated by IAF chief. On part of MoD, it seems like a case of dereliction of duty. Both, in case of national security, should be deemed as crimes against Nation and should be treated as Treason.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-91802033970041611222013-07-31T17:00:10.703-07:002013-07-31T17:00:10.703-07:00Same case... with arjun mk II... and T-90 S... imp...Same case... with arjun mk II... and T-90 S... imports keep... IAF... IA... pockets clinging... caught... hand in... cookie jar...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-35129027963319859192013-07-31T15:21:08.852-07:002013-07-31T15:21:08.852-07:00Rustom, please talk sense and not make these absur...Rustom, please talk sense and not make these absurd posts filled with bad english and rants against everyone and anyone- HAL, DRDO, MOD, the sun, moon, stars etc.<br />Please treat the topic seriously so we may engage you in a constructive dialogue, right now one struggles to make head or tail of your comments.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-58126859805597308892013-07-31T14:33:23.115-07:002013-07-31T14:33:23.115-07:00The Pilatus is a fine trainer, and is several deca...The Pilatus is a fine trainer, and is several decades more advanced than the HPT-32 was, which BTW, didn't have ejection seats, had side-by-side seating which is extremely suboptimal, had a maximum speed of about 280 kmph, consumed aviation gasoline (100LL) which is very hard to come by, and killed quite a few instructors and students.<br /><br />And a better glide ratio is not a desirable trait in all circumstances. Large glide ratios indicate big wing areas, and they aren't that conducive to teaching maneuvering flight which is what air forces want to do.<br /><br />On top of that, HAL has proved to be a very poor partner for the IAF. What is their track record of product delivery? What happened to the Sitara? How many problems did the ALH have?<br /><br />The lack of a basic trainer is debilitating for any air force. Can you imagine how laughable it is for an air force - one of the largest in the world at that - to not have airplanes to teach its future pilots? <br /><br />I wouldn't be surprised if the ACM got fed up with HAL and the mandarins at the MoD and decided to do something patriotic. I'll believe this until it's proven that he or anyone else in the IAF has received improper benefits from this purchase.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-28269476081693592652013-07-31T11:03:32.832-07:002013-07-31T11:03:32.832-07:00If a person got involved in one corruption activit...If a person got involved in one corruption activity, then all the contracts he involved should be taken under scanner. So whichever contracts Tyagi has overseen should be scanned.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03290750760324457012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-53254022953236291252013-07-31T08:18:34.473-07:002013-07-31T08:18:34.473-07:00Absolute blogging! keep it up Ajay! Fearless, Fort...Absolute blogging! keep it up Ajay! Fearless, Forthright and Fantastic. Thanks.mathew dallasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-86299310854843835342013-07-31T06:07:03.226-07:002013-07-31T06:07:03.226-07:00it is shameful on ur part to name ACM Browne for t...it is shameful on ur part to name ACM Browne for this..<br />in any case ur article is utterly wrong..<br />u need to follow trishul-trident to get clarifications on ur article..<br />ur article is devoid on sense.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-22264948294747730652013-07-31T04:26:41.306-07:002013-07-31T04:26:41.306-07:00Well done ajai !.
Two excellent articles and this...Well done ajai !. <br />Two excellent articles and this riposte to the IAF's statement is an outstanding example of what investigative defence journalism should be doing in this country.<br />You will be called a HAL chamcha etc etc by IAF supporters and i daresay a very slippery floor will greet you next time u visit Vayu Bhavan ( that is if u ever get an invite) !! But dont lose hope.<br />Keep the CAS in your sights (send him a calculator on his next birthday)and let the public know what games air marshals play with the babus in the MOD whilst daily our pilots have narrow brushes with death in their flying coffins.<br />Tallyho !strykerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00793356119290565579noreply@blogger.com