Thursday, March 28, 2024
ADVT 
India

We Were Better Off In Recent Air Duel With Pakistan: Indian Air Force Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa

Darpan News Desk IANS, 15 Apr, 2019 05:29 PM

    Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa on Monday said India were “better off” in the recent air duel with Pakistan.

     

    He said the Rafale and S400 air defence missiles would restore the technological balance in favour of India, which existed at the time of the last stand-off, Operation Parakaram in 2002.


    Speaking at a seminar ‘Aerospace Power in the 2040s: Impact of Technology’, he said air power is more sensitive to technology than the other forces.


    He cited the Israel-Syria conflict of 1982 referred to as the Bekaa Valley clash saying Israel operating fourth-generation fighter jets had downed Syria’s third-generation planes.


    Talking about the recent air duel with Pakistan, he said, “We were better off as we had upgraded the MiG 21 Bison and also the Mirage.”


    “We had successfully hit a non-military target at Balakot (February 26). Did Pakistan achieve its military objective (attempting to hit military targets on February 27)? No.”


    The IAF chief was categorical that a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) plane had been hit that day. “We have electronic signatures of Pakistan having lost a plane.”


    Arguing his point, the IAF chief said, “The PAF often says that it had lost fewer planes than the IAF in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. You (Pak) lost half of your country.”


    Almost in the same vein, the German Air Force of World War II could not say that it had won the war, he said.


    He said technology affected the IAF the most. Purchase of air-borne radars and intelligence gathering platforms would have to be fast-tracked, he said. “In such short skirmishes we cannot bring out numbers to bare, hence the need for more surveillance platforms,” he added.


    The development process of fighter jets and Light Combat Aircraft (LCH) had been slow, he said.


    He expected the soon-to-be implemented Strategic Partnership model to bring in technologies that would allow production of fifth-generation fighter jets and long-range missiles.


    The seminar was held to mark the 100th birth anniversary of Marshal of Indian Air Force Arjan Singh who would have turned 100 on Monday.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    India Facing Shortage Of 6 Lakh Doctors, 20 Lakh Nurses, Claims Study

    India has shortage of an estimated 600,000 doctors and 2 million nurses, say scientists who found that lack of staff who are properly trained in administering antibiotics is preventing patients from accessing live-saving drugs.

    India Facing Shortage Of 6 Lakh Doctors, 20 Lakh Nurses, Claims Study

    Capt Amarinder Singh Slams Modi For 'Discriminating' Against Punjab Government

    Capt Amarinder Singh Slams Modi For 'Discriminating' Against Punjab Government
    Upping the ante against Modi, who on Sunday had targeted him in a speech at Kathua, Amarinder asked why the PM had not pointed fingers at the Akali leaders, including the Badals, for failing to attend the central government function on the centenary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

    Capt Amarinder Singh Slams Modi For 'Discriminating' Against Punjab Government

    SC Issues Notice To Rahul For His ‘Chowkidar Chor Hai’ Comment

    SC Issues Notice To Rahul For His ‘Chowkidar Chor Hai’ Comment
    “We never said what has been attributed to us by Mr Gandhi,” said a Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi.    

    SC Issues Notice To Rahul For His ‘Chowkidar Chor Hai’ Comment

    Gurugram Slum School Now Sports Inspiring Wall Art

    On the occasion of the ‘World Art Day' on Monday, the school walls got an artistic makeover by children from NGO Ritinjali, along with around 25 employees of leading publisher Oxford University Press India.

    Gurugram Slum School Now Sports Inspiring Wall Art

    VIDEO: Azam Khan Booked For ‘Khaki Underwear’ Comment Against Jaya Prada

    The Rampur police have booked Khan under Section 509 of the Indian Penal Code for insulting the modesty of a woman.    

    VIDEO: Azam Khan Booked For ‘Khaki Underwear’ Comment Against Jaya Prada

    Rahul Gandhi Will Be A 'Phenomenal' PM: Actor-Politician Urmila Matondkar

    Talking about Congress President Rahul Gandhi as a Prime Ministerial candidate, Urmila Matondkar believes he will be a "phenomenal" Prime Minister.  

    Rahul Gandhi Will Be A 'Phenomenal' PM: Actor-Politician Urmila Matondkar