EXERCISE ‘GARUDA’ BEGINS

New Delhi: Jyaistha 24, 1932

June 14, 2010

The Indo-French Air Exercise began today at Istres Air Base in Southern France. The fourth round of Air Exercise 'GARUDA' which began today would conclude on 25 of June 2010.

During the Ex Garuda, the Indian Air Force and French Air Force would be engaged in various missions ranging from close combat engagement of large forces, slow mover protection, and protecting and engaging High Value Aerial Assets. According to the Contingent Commander of IAF, Group Captain J Mishra, "The focus of the Air Exercise is learning from each other's best practices. The Air Defence operations would be central to our various maneuvers. These would take place in AWACS and non-AWACS environment. The intensity of the exercise would be gradually increased throughout its duration so that we learn and absorb maximum from the exercise".

During the exercise the IAF's Special Forces 'Garuds' would also be proactively participating and shall be carrying out jumps along with the French Special Forces. The IL-76 aircraft which are an integral part of the exercise flying missions would practice static line drops with the French Special Forces. It may be recalled that the IAF is participating with six SU-30 MKIs, three IL-78s and one IL-76 aircraft.

The entire IAF contingent arrived at the Istres Air Force Base on 12 Jun 2010 by 1215 hrs local time. The Istres Air Base is a large base located near Istres, North of Marseille in the Bouches-du-Rhone department France. The base houses some of the world's finest fighters and helicopters and serves multiple functions, including a repair facility and training grounds. The landing strip of this airbase is said to be the longest in Europe. The Istres Air Base was built before the World War II and has been of immense historical and operational importance.

It may also be recalled that the Republic of Singapore Air Force is also participating in the Ex-Garuda for the first time with the F-16 Aircraft. The French Air Force assets such as the mid -air refueller have commenced their participation in the exercise.

IAF TEAM FOR EX - GARUDA FLAGGED OFF

An IAF contingent of 230 Air Warriors was flagged off from Air Force Station Bareilly by Air Marshal S Varthaman, Senior Air Staff Officer, Central Air Command at a formal ceremony today. The IAF contingent would be taking part in Exercise Garuda scheduled from 14 Jun to 25 Jun 2010, at Istres Air Base, France.

The IAF assets taking part in exercise include 06 Sukhoi - 30 MKIs Air Dominance fighter aircraft , 03 Ilushin - 78 Flight Refueller Aircraft & 01 Ilushin – 76 Heavy Lift Transport Aircraft. The SU-30 MKIs would be taking part in an exercise in France for the first time. Earlier SU-30 KAs had participated. Also a team of Garud Special Forces would be taking part in Exercise Garuda for the first time.

Addressing the contingent members at the flagging off ceremony Air Mshl Varthaman said "Indeed it is a proud & privileged honour for him to bid the team good flying & happy landings. We have prepared well for last 6 to 8 months and I am sure you will excel with your professionalism. So fly safe, fly well, make friends, win hearts & touch the sky with glory."

At the Exercise Garuda the French Air Force would be participating with their Mirage 2000s & Rafael Aircraft. It should also be noted that the Republic of Singapore Air Force would also be participating in Ex-Garuda with their F-16 Block 52 Aircraft.

Gp Capt J Mishra is the Team Leader under whose supervision the IAF contingent would perform in France. Gp Capt NN Sinha of IAF would be the Exercise Director, who would be planning, coordinating & executing different aspects of the flying & ground maneuvers at Ex Garuda.

A joint exercise of this nature enhances mutual operational understanding. It also refines the procedural aspects and provides for tremendous learning experience, for all the participating Air Forces. It also enables the operators to understand each other's capability. Exercise Garuda continues to enhance & cement the close military ties between the Indian and the French Air Forces.

AIR MSHL KK NOHWAR, AOC-in-C,EAC, IAF VISITS AIR BASES IN WEST BENGAL

Kolkata , April 9, 2010

Air Marshal KK Nohwar, Air Officer Commanding in Chief (AOC-in-C), Eastern Air Command (EAC), IAF is presently on a four - day visit to various IAF Bases in the State of West Bengal.

Air Mshl Nohwar has today i.e. on 09 Apr 2010 visited Air Force Station Barrackpore near Kolkata. Earlier on 07 and 08 Apr 2010, he visited the IAF base at Kalaikunda. He reached IAF base Barrackpore on 08 Apr 2010 afternoon and later today he would also be visiting AF Station Panagarh, before proceeding back to EAC Headquarters at Shillong.

At Air Force Station Kalaikunda he was received by the Base Commander Air Cmde DK Vashisht. The Air Mshl inspected various operational and support facilities at the base. He expressed his appreciation on the preparedness of the base and was extremely happy to see the infrastructure matching the international standards. During his interaction with the Air Warriors at Kalaikunda he said that the base had become very important due to regular joint exercises at the base with foreign Airforces.

At Air Force Station Barrackpore Air Mshl Nohwar was received by the Base Commander Group Captain Pankaj Bishnoi. The Air Mshl took a stock of Air & Ground defences at the base. He also visited the training facilities which impart theory knowledge about the AN-32 and Mig 21 systems to aircrew and groundcrew. Air Mshl Nohwar inspected various communication facilities at the base.

Air Mshl Nohwar is accompanied by his wife Mrs. Anita Nohwar. Mrs. Anita Nohwar is the president of Air Force Wives Welfare Association at the regional i.e. command level. She interacted with the members of AFWWA at AF Stations Kalaikunda and Barrackpore and took a stock of welfare activities initiated at these bases. Mrs Nohwar also visited and appreciated the School "Umeed- Asha Kiran" at AF School Barrackpore meant for the special children.

Democratic Republic Congo, Indian Aviation Contingent

The Indian Ambassador, Devendra Nath Srivastava on his visit in Goma, Democratic Republic Congo, Indian Aviation Contingent Commander Gp Capt AK Nabh briefing various operational and support aspect provided by the IAC in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on March 23, 2010.

IAF in Congo

The Senior Air HQ representative, Air Vice Marshal M. Bahadur interacts with Indian Aviation Contingent (IAC) Commander Group Captain A. Nabh, at Goma in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on March 17, 2010.

Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Navy, Vice Admiral Nyan Tun with Indian Army and navy Chiefs

The Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Navy, Vice Admiral Nyan Tun with the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma, in New Delhi on February 22, 2010.



The Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Navy, Vice Admiral Nyan Tun with the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Deepak Kapoor, in New Delhi on February 22, 2010.

IAF Chief, Air Chief Marshal P V Naik flies Eurofighter Typhoon simulator at the DefExpo 2010

IAF Chief P V Naik being instructed by Eurofighter Test pilot, Alex Hoenig along with Mr. Bernhard Gerwert, CEO, Military Air Systems, EADS & Chairman, Supervisory Board, Eurofighter GmbH (extreme right)

India's 65th Staff Course at Defence Services Staff College stresses on jointness

The 65th Staff Course at Defence Services Staff College that completes its mandatory 45 week training in April 2010 becomes the first course to train as per the recently revised training syllabi with far greater emphasis in jointness – more than 50 % of the syllabi consists of joint training of the three services – The Army, Nave and the Air Force.

With a motto – ‘Yudham Pragraya’ meaning ‘to war with wisdom’, the Defence Services Staff College stands tall as the epctome of Indian Military proficiency. Being one of its kind in the world, it is the only institution that provides under the very staff training to officers of Army, Navy and the Air Force alongwith officers of civil services and those of common wealth and friendly foreign countries.

Outlining the aim of this institution which is to train and educate selected officers of the three services in command and staff functions in peace and war, in own service and inter services environment, the present Commandant of DSSC Lt Gen HPS Kler said, “Our aim is to create an atmosphere of professional excellence led by an outstanding faculty with students learning in a supportive, challenging and educational environment, which shapes future leaders to think creatively, reason critically and act decisively.

The origin of this premier Tri-Services institution dates back to 1902 when Lord Kitchner proposed to establish an Indian Staff College to train officers to improve military proficiency on the lines of Staff College Camberley. The approval of the proposal in 1905 let to the establishment of Indian Staff College in Quetta (Now in Pakistan) in 1907. With partition becoming a reality in 1947, the Indian elements of the college moved base to Wellington in Tamil Nadu as an Army Category ‘A’ training establishment.



01 April 1948 saw the first interim course of 20 weeks commencing at the college attended by 46 Army, 02 Air Force and 02 Naval officers with a purely Army syllabi. Today in the 62nd year of its existence, the DSSC has evolved into a true joint training institution with integrated training Syallbi and operational synergy.


Talking of this college Late Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw who had been the Commandant of DSSC, said “In 1971 Indo Pak War I was to experience first hand the synergy achieved in battle due to the spirit of jointmanship it ingrains within the Officers of the three services who graduate from this college”.

IAF guard of honour dress

The President of Turkey, Mr. Abdullah Gul inspecting the Guard of Honour at the Ceremonial Reception, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on February 09, 2010.

IAF Winter uniform

Indian Air Force Winter uniform, New Delhi on February 04, 2010

Air Marshal J Neri takes over as Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance

Air Marshal Joseph Neri took over as the new Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance (AOM), today at Air Headquarters.

Air Marshal Neri is an Electronic Engineering was commissioned in the IAF in July 1974. He held the post of DG (Aircraft) prior to taking over as AOM.

Indian Phalcon AWACS and SU-30 MK's

IAF Phalcon AWACS and 2 SU-30 MKI's in arrow formation fly over Raj path during the celebration of the 61st Republic day-2010 in New Delhi on January 26, 2010.

Indian tests laser guided bomb again

In continuation to the test of laser guided bomb kit on 21st January 2010, another trial of the bomb developed by ADE was conducted on 22nd Jan 2010. But this time, releasing it intentionally with 400 metres offset. Inspite of the initial offset, guidance system of the bomb ensured that it homes on accurately to the target. All the mission objectives were met in this trial also. LASTEC has developed the laser subsystem and CEMILAC has done certification of these air dropping trials.

BRO to hire helicopter agencies to expedite road construction in Arunachal Border

The Minister of State for Defence Shri MM Pallam Raju has asked the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to explore the possibility of hiring helicopters from outside agencies to expedite construction of strategic roads in Arunachal Pradesh and other Himalayan border states. Presiding over a meeting of the Border Roads Development Board (BRDB) in Itanagar last evening, Shri Pallam Raju stressed on the need to build infrastructure right upto the border areas.

The Director-General, Border Roads Lt. General MC Badhani informed the meeting that the Indian Air Force airlift capability was extremely low, leading to delays in most border roads in Arunachal beyond 2013. Against BRO’s need of 3,500 tons last year, only 400 tons was actually airlifted. The Pawan Hans has submitted an initial proposal to partially meet the BRO’s helicopter requirements in the North-East, said General Badhani, but their pilots were not trained for hanging payloads that need to be airdropped in inaccessible places lacking landing sites. Over 75 percent of BRO’s road construction projects are in High Altitude Areas, he added. The BRO is presently building 2,764 kms of the total 5,061 kms road length in Arunachal Pradesh alone.

Pointing out that the earthmovers and machinery deployed in snowbound areas were reduced to a life span of just 30 percent of their optimum level, Engineer-in-Chief Lt. General AK Nanda assured that the Utility Factor was obsolete to the BRO’s present day working environment and would be revised soon.

Expressing concern that the fatality rate is highest in the BRO amongst any force in the country, General Badhani said even the Army did not deploy men in difficult areas beyond two-three years. Seeking road construction projects in the hinterland as well, General Badhani said the BRO men were too stressed, working all their career in very difficult areas and cut away from their families. The Secretary, BRDB, Shri Subhash Sharma said that the BRO had a very high fatality rate of nine in ten days, much higher than the fatality rate of the Army battalions in Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier yesterday Pallam Raju inaugurated a War Memorial at a World War-II cemetery at Jairampur in Arunachal’s Changlang district. The cemetery is located on the Stillwell Road built by the Allied Forces, linking Ledo in Assam, passing through Myanmar and running right upto China. Only two of the nearly 1,000 graves, believed to be of US, Chinese and Taiwanese soldiers, were found during the road reconstruction project in February, 1999.

Raju also inaugurated the 3-day Pangsau Pass Winter Festival at Nampong, Changlang alongwith Arunachal Chief Minister Shri Dorje Khandu.

India tests 1000 lb, laser guided bombs kit

“ADE, Bangalore has developed a guidance kit for 1000 lb, laser guided bombs. These guidance kits are designed to improve accuracy of air-to-ground bombing by Indian Air Force. A number of tests have been performed both through simulation and flight tests over the last few years to reach the required performance levels. The bomb, once released, by the mother aircraft at appropriate range, will seek the target and home on to it very accurately and with high reliability. All the necessary on-board components are sourced from Indian industry. Two flight trials were conducted today at ITR, Chandipur to test the effectiveness of the guidance and control systems. On-board systems in both the trials have worked satisfactorily and the mission objectives have been met. Another DRDO Lab, IRDE has partnered ADE in this project.

Indian Air Force officers have flown the aircraft and released the bombs as per prescribed standard operating procedures. The tasks have been conducted at the DRDO’s Integrated Test Range near Balasore.

CAS’ visit to Bangladesh

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal PV Naik PVSM VSM ADC, is on a goodwill visit to Bangladesh.

The visit, the CAS met the Hon’ble President of Republic of Bangladesh, Mr Zillur Rahman on 17 Jan 10. The CAS will also be meeting the Prime Minister & Defence Minister, Mrs Sheikh Hasina Wajed on 20 Jan 10. Air Chief Marshal Naik also met the three Service Chiefs of the Armed Forces of Bangladesh and is having detailed interactions with Air Mshl SM Ziaur Rahman, CAS Bangladesh. Main focus of the visit will be on improving bilateral relations, promote Defence ties, outline further areas of defence co-operation between the two countries and to resolve pending issues through dialogue and understanding. The CAS will also visit NDC, Defence Services Command & Staff College (DSCSC), Mirpur; Naval Headquarters and Army Headquarters at Bangladesh, during the visit.

SAC Area of Responsibility increases : Feb 20, 2009

In an indication of growing importance of Southern Air Command, the Maritime Air Operations (MAO) Headquarters based in Mumbai will be placed under it. The new arrangements will come into effect from April 1, 2009. This was announced by Air Marshal S Radhakrishnan, AOC-in-C of Southern Air Command (SAC) here today. Currently the MAO Hqs in Mumbai is under the control of Gandhinagar based South-Western Air Command of IAF. Thus, air support for maritime activities will now be controlled by SAC.

While interacting with media during the ongoing IAF Exercise 'DAKSHIN PRAHAR', Air Marshal Radhakrishnan said an Aerostat Radar with the capability of picking up targets at lower ranges will be established in two years.

IAF is conducting Exercise DAKSHIN PRAHAR to validate the concept of flexi use of air space from 18^th February and will end on 25^th February 2009. During the exercise, IAF and Airport Authority of India (AAI) officials are constantly in touch on daily basis and the information is being shared regarding flight plans so that civil air traffic is not affected, Air Marshal Radhakrishnan said. On each day of the exercise, a certain target is fixed in carefully crafted corridor in coordination with AAI and modern tactics of using combat air power is being practiced.

State of the art fighter aircraft such as Sukhoi 30 MKI, Mirage 2000 and upgraded versions of maritime Jaguar are taking part in the exercise. The maritime Jaguars can carry special weapons required for maritime operations. Aircraft are also being operated from Bangalore, Pune and Goa, in addition to Thiruvananthapuram, he said. All the combat aircraft are capable of air-to-air refueling by the IL- 78s which are strategically positioned to increase the reach of fighters to go around the peninsula without refueling. AN-32s, Avro and Mi-8 are providing vital transport support and perform communication duties during the exercise.

IAF contingent of UN Peace Keeping Mission to Sudan flagged off

An IAF contingent will be departing to Sudan as a part of the Indian UN Peace Keeping Mission. The contingent is led by Gp Capt TA Dayasagar. The contingent was flagged off by Director General (Inspection & Safety) Air Marshal TS Randhawa, VM

Sudan has been in a state of turmoil since it attained freedom in 1956. Indian Armed Forces have been contributing to peace missions in the strife torn state since 2005 and have proved instrumental in bringing a semblance of normalcy to the state. Currently the Indian Air Force has one aviation contingent stationed in Sudan. The departing contingent is to replace the Indian Aviation Contingent headquartered at Kadugali, situated in the South-Central region of Sudan.

The contingent comprises 196 IAF personnel of diverse specializations. Flying operations, administration, logistics, technical and medical services from a part of the base set up in Sudan as the contingent is modeled on the lines of a regular Air Force base. The contingent includes six Mi-17 utility helicopters. The twin purpose of the contingent is to provide mobility to the UN staff/forces and logistical support.

The Mi-17s would be primarily used for troop insertion/extraction, casualty evacuation, logistic supply, search and rescue, reconnaissance and observation. The Indian contingent would also be maintaining an Aero Medical Evacuation Team at Sudan.

Addressing the Sudan bound Air Warriors, Air Marshal Randhawa said, “You are the ambassadors of peace and the Nation has very high expectations from you in terms of discipline, integrity and professional standards. Your predecessors have set high standards and you should aim to achieve even higher standards”. The Air Marshal congratulated every member of the contingent for being specially selected for the mission and expressed his confidence that they would keep the Tri-colour flying high.