08 October 2015

Letter to Editor . MOD comment on Rafale Deal .

Sir here is another article for your consideration for publication in Guest Coloumn of your esteemed news paper .

Sir .
Read the news item "Government pushes for "Tejas" , "NO" to more Rafale "  in the Hitavada dated
 8 October 2015 .

Chief of the Air Force in his annual press conference last week had laid strong pitch to expand the Rafale fleet to six squadron from currently ordered 36 aircraft . Chief of Air Staff , who has spent his life in the IAF , knows the strengths & weaknesses of the IAF and fully knows the requirments of the country as well as what the Ar Focre needs to carry out its functions . He knows the comperative performances of Tejas and aircraft of Rafale class .

An Official in MOD , who prefer to hide behind anonymity , gives the example of Quater & Egypt .
 The argumet being if the Airforces of the world  and that of Quatar Quater can operate with 2- 3 Squadrons of Rafale class of airaraft,Why should India need more than 36 ? And seem to be justyfy the decision to limit the purchese to 36 Rafale . Adding insult to injury by recommending to make up the short fall with Tejas  which is cheaper .

Okay .

 Let us give no considerations to the Area of Economic Zones , The Number of Island  , Total land area of the Country , etc , all of which are also to be be defended by the defence forces.
Let us give no consideration to the neighbour countries and their interstate relstionship .

Quatar has only Saudi Arebia and their relations are cordial .
Egypt has These countries as neighbours:Gaza Strip (11 km) ,  Israel (266 km), Libya (1,115 km) and Sudan (1,273 km) . Except for Yom Kippur Wra with Isreal in which Isreal won decisive victory and almost entirely destryoed Egyptian Air Foce , It has faught no Wars . Isreal , its known enemy, has since that war , taken no overt or covert offencive action agsinst it . 
India has these countries as neighbours: Bangladesh (4,142km) ,  Bhutan (659 km), Burma (1,468) km, China (2,659 km), Nepal (1,770 km) and Pakistan (3,190 km). 
It has faught a bitter war with China in 1962.Even today the relations are not what they should be . It has faught 4 major wars with Pakista, in which it won  decisive victorien in 1971 Bangladesh war and 1999 Kargil War . Pakistan is bent on promoting insurgency in J & K and sends terrorist groups to create chaos in our country . Nepal , Bhutan , Bangladesh  and Maynmar do not have evil intentions but are being used as training grounds by insurgency groups to train their cadre .This forces us to have constant vigil on all fronts.Drains our resources and lives .

 Let us Only compare the lengths of Land borders and the length of the coast line of  Quater , Egypt and India.

Quatar : 
Land Border = 60 Kms.
Coast Line = 560 Kms
 Total Length to be defended : 620 .
No of Rafale orderd : 24 .
Other Combat aircraft , Mirage 2000 : 9 , Alpha Jet : 6 . Total Combat ac : 39 .
Availability of Rafale ac per Km of border = 24 / 620 = 0.0387096, say 0.04 Rafale ac per km of border .
Availability of front line combat ac / KM = 36/620 =0.0580645 , Say 0.06 ac per Km of border .
Egypt 
Land Border = total2,612 km 
Coast Line = 2900  Kms  
Total Length to be defended : 5512 KMs. 
No of Rafale orderd :  Delivered : 3 , on order : 24 +.Option of additional  12 . Eventul total 36.
Other Combat aircraft ,  F-16 : 220 , Mirage 2000 : 18 ,Mig 21 & Chengdu : 113., Mirage V: 82 , Alpha Jet : 14
Total Combat ac : 436
Availability of Rafale ac per Kms of border = 36 / 5512 = 0.0065312046444122 say 0.0070 Rafale ac per Km of border .
Availability of front line combat ac /Km = 436/5512=0.079100145137881 , Say 0.08 ac per Km of border .

India . 
Land Border = total:15,200 km 
Coast Line = 7500 Kms  
Total Length to be defended :22,700Kms. 
No of Rafal orderd :  36 . Presently NIL .
Other Combat aircraft ,  606 . Air Superiority 408 ( 36 Trainers) + 291(33 Trainers)
Total Combat ac after : 606.
Availability of Rafale ac per Km of border = 36 / 22700 = 0.0015859030837004 say 0.0016 Rafale ac per km of border .
Availability of front line combat ac / Km = 606/22700 = 0.0266960352422907 , Say 0.03 ac per Km of border .

This would mean that if  India is to maintain availability of Rafale acircraft per Km of our border
as that of Quatar and / or  , Egypt India needs to place orders for Rafale ac as given below
Same as of Quatar : 908 Rafale ac .
Same as of Egypt  : 158.9 Say 159 Rafale ac .

Any one who says if Quater and Egypt can be satisfied with 36 Rafale ac why Indian AF needs more Rafale then them , must be stupidest man alive . No wonder the MOD Official wanted to maintain his anonymity . I am not giving the number of combat squadrons on the inventory of China , US of A , Russia and even pakistan , that would make MOD officials look even more stupider then they are .

It is the sadest and most tragic state of affairs , when the well thought out , considered essential operational requiments are projected by the heighest professional of the country , Viz , Chief Of Air , Staff , A babu from MOD , who can not defferentiate between aircraft air intake and aircraft engine exhaust , not only questios but more often than not overrules the needs projected by the Air Force & Defence Forces .

It is an open secret that generally products of Public Sector Undertakings are not only of poor quality. Often do not meet the requirements of their customers in numbers and time frame . Neither do thay meet the specifications of the Defence . Just because thay are Public Sector Undertakings their products are shoved down the throats of the Defence Forces. As has happend with Tejas in case of Airforce and Vaijayanta & MBT in case of Army .
Historically to use aircraft as a weapon started in first world when the observers in their bi-planes shot at enemy from revolvers and later with rifles . They inovated further by carying couple of 25 lbs bombe in their lap and dropped them on enemy . They should prove the cheapest option . If cheapness is the only criterian for aircraft purchase I am sure Babus from MOD will recommend WW I biplanes instead of Rafale or even Tejas ,

Things have come to such a pass that I am reminded of pre 1962 era when Krishna Menon as DM asked Ordinance Factories to start production of pressure cookers and other kitchen utensils . Desastrous consiquences of 1962 are well known to all .
It is said that wisemen learn from history. However the way Babus from MOD have systemetically undermined the Defence forces and continue doing it . It is very clear that neither the Babus nor the Political leadership has learned their lessons from history ,

The forces will never let the country down . They will fight the enemy with all the valour & courage and no hesitation to lay down their lives with whatever equipment the Government chooses to equip them with . It must be clearly understood that consequences of such a situation will spell disaster for the Country .

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