Saturday, January 16, 2010

DTN News: India TODAY January 17, 2010 ~ Ageing IAF Fleet A Major Concern, Says EAC Chief

DTN News: India TODAY January 17, 2010 ~ Ageing IAF Fleet A Major Concern, Says EAC Chief *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) SHILLONG, India - January 17, 2010: The IAF today indicated that the ageing fleet of its fighter planes was a matter of concern and hoped that the massive deal for purchase of 126 multi-role combat aircraft would come through. "A number of older generation aircraft like MiG-21 are operating since early sixties. We have problems with the ageing fleets and their maintenance," Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Indian Air Force's (IAF) Eastern Air Command, Air Marshal Kishan Kumar Nohwar told a press conference here. The Soviet-era MiG 21 fighters have been in operation in the IAF since 1963 and have been involved in a spate of crashes in the recent years. Under the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) programme, IAF plans to induct 126 fighter jets at an estimated cost of 12 billion USD. Currently, trials are being conducted with aircraft of six manufacturers vying for the deal.

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