National   

'Some MiG-21 aircraft being phased out'

By Our Staff Reporter

Coimbatore April 8. The Air Force has already started phasing out the "Type-77 variant of the MiG-21 aircraft" based on their residual technology life, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal S. Krishnaswamy, said here today.

He was talking to reporters on his arrival at the airport here on his way to the Defence Service Staff College at Wellington in the Nilgiris. He pointed out that just because of "stray incidents" of air crashes involving MiG-21 aircraft in the recent past, the entire family of the particular aircraft could not be declared "useless".There were nine variants with four different engines in MiG-21 aircraft inducted into the IAF right from 1962 to 1983. "They are good war-fighting machines that could be relied upon in the event of a conflict situation and the IAF is confident of fighting a war with them effectively."

The recent crash of a MiG-21 was suspected to be the result of a possible engine failure as per prima facie evidence and an "engine shedding" had been reported when the aircraft took off and some evidences had been collected from the runway, he said.

With the help of these evidences and that of the black box, investigation was under way.

The MiG planes that had already completed the number of stipulated flying hours and calendar years were being phased out.A capital-intensive modernisation of the IAF was also going on.The most advanced Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) of the HAL had proved to be the best in weight and size and there was no other matching combat aircraft available today.Similarly, the IAF was exploring the possibilities of having hi-tech Advanced Light Combat Helicopters.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• They rose as one man against the U.S.
• India, Singapore free trade agreement in 18 months
• Opposition has run out of ideas: Advani
• 16 States to implement VAT by June 1
• Jaswant won't be pushed around
• 'Safety commission should be transferred to Railway Ministry'
• Parliament attack: court gets forensic report
• 'Indo-French ties not up to potential'
• Open ballot introduced, residency clause removed
• Nonsense, says New Delhi
• Sanctions-proof offer on AJT?
• Yahoo takes on Google in search engine stakes
• Plan for Pandits' return not shelved
• Dept. of Urban Employment 'not serious enough'
• VAT will not be tolerated: traders
• RS concern over lack of facilities to tackle SARS
• LS nod to Bill on disrespect to Tricolour
• IAF men to monitor Delhi air traffic
• Muslim forum assails ASI decision
• 'POTA accused can move for bail within a year'
• Ariane all set to launch INSAT-3A into space
• India to attend Washington meeting
• Telecom: Govt. response today
• PSUs owe Rs. 2,082 cr. to staff
• 'Iraq war, SARS will not affect tourism'
• SARS suspect may be deported
• HC rejects R.K. Sharma bail plea
• 'Some MiG-21 aircraft being phased out'

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu