Mahindra has knocked it out of the park in terms of value proposition. Prices for the base model, which features a slightly tuned down engine, start at Rs 7.49 lakh.
Air India’s new policy, effective from 2 May, introduces new weight limits for tickets in each of the different 'fare families' — Comfort, Comfort Plus, and Flex.
New Delhi has, in past, too, objected to Chinese construction activities in Shaksgam Valley. Work in this strategic region gathered pace after the 2017 Doklam stand-off.
A theme has not yet emerged for BJP & people see lack of a contest, which makes it unexciting. For all these reasons, 2024 is turning out to be an unexpectedly theme-less election.
America reluctance to part with any useful technology goes against picking their fighters. US & Russia both flex their mussels to get indian defence contract. It is high time we become self reliant and as such India should make it point to work with countries that is much more forthcoming in sharing technologies. It interesting to note that the CAG earlier noted the boeing P8i delivered to India was substandard.
CAG report on Rafale exposes IAF quite badly as it could not clearly state that it requires only Mirage or Rafale and nothing else. There would have been nothing wrong with this demand. Government could have got a best possible deal for it under IGA by 2007 itself. The MMRCA tender was a waste of time and indeed a fraud. In the end, Modi did well to get them their immediate minimum requirement after due negotiations with France. But Modi did not explain why he announced the deal in Paris, when the MMRCA tender talks were on with HAL.
Hopefully, in the next MMRCA tender, we will have a proper process followed and it will not be a repeat of the previous deal. IAF and armed forces in general must accept their short comings in this area and behave responsibly.
All senior officers / HOD may be posted in any x y z organisation are and were always a slave to the PM house. One phone call of pm house decide the FATE of any Case. Whatever these CAG , Air Force Officials, Defence Ministry officials will back out what statements they are giving to save the Face value of Modi ji, tomorrow when another PM will be elected in May 2019. Truth always Prevail.
A nice article! IAF should get what they need and not what MoD officials sitting in their officees decide. And the article clearly tells that Congress is to be blamed for IAF problems. They could have done IGA in 2005 itself and buy Rafale. Then Modi doesn’t even come in picture. But of course they were probably lobbying for the Eurofighter in the hopes of getting some commission as has been the norm in defence deals under their reign in India.
The author of the article forgot to mention that the Eurofighter bid was also non- compliant of the RFP. Thus, in effect no bidder was eligible! Modi did the right thing by adopting the IGA route. In the final analysis, IAF is going to fight the war, not the politicians nor the bureaucrats . Modi gave IAF what they wanted. The author is right in saying that IGA route should have been adopted in 2007 itself. India is hopelessly dependent on foreign suppliers to fulfil its defence needs. Whether it’s Russia, France or any other country, it is bound to extract its pound of flesh. The only way out is make your own R&D and become self-reliant. Short cuts like transfer of technology are not going help either. HAL indulged in ToT for seven decades. What happened? Emulate China , which adopted three-pronged strategy- copy, steal or do your own reasearch.
This is unnecessary attempt to politicise the Rafael issue. Mirage, made in France has already proved its capabilities, hence, with all reason said above, was asking for French made Rafael for Indi’s security point of view in longer term.
The way audit is done by CAG for extremely costly and complex systems should be changed. There should be two levels of audit. First CAG should be done when technical evaluation is completed to check that all technical parameters are being met and all relevant data / information has been provided. Second audit to be done only of the financial aspect after L1 party has been selected but order is yet to be placed. CAG should do both these audits in time bound manner, say two months in each case. This will ensure there are no objections at initial stages or charges of wrong doing later on. This CAG report is basically useless. It only does a postmortem examination.
The airforce should get what they want, not what some babu thinks they should get. After all its the pilots whose lives are on the line. Senseless article. Presstitutes at it again.
The fact of the whole article is – congis knew that it was either French or Russian which will see us through in a catch22 situation. So that should have gone for an IGA the moment opportunity arose. But the farce of tender was kept alive. With amount of commissioning that happened during the UPA II this was the norm. When Modi came in he did what a government would do in country’s interest. Homes in on French and had an IGA. The pity is Congress hasn’t matured. For them it’s still family then party, the country can go to dogs. They delayed the purchase because of selfish interests. But post 2014 it has been more of trying to derail the acquisition for again narrow parochial interests. India is in urgent requirement of a viable opposition if the BJP isn’t to go the Congress way – arrogant and self-serving. For that either the family should mature or they should be kicked out – Congress will fare better if it opts for the latter choice!!!!
In my opinion the only contenders are the French and Russian jets. The American fighters or the Eurofighter or even the Grippen will be a disaster for the air force irrespective of the compliance or otherwise to our requirement. In times of conflict with Pakistan the US will surely ground our fleet of American aircraft. The Eurofighter will be even worse. It is assembled from parts made from multiple European countries any one of whom can ground our entire fleet at all by cutting off supplies of spares. The Grippen is no better with Engines derived from US designs and can easily be grounded. Another reason for avoiding F16s an F18s is that PAF pilots are probably the most highly skilled pilots of F16s with immense experience of American aircraft. Our pilots with far less experience with US aircraft will be no match with PAF pilots with American aircraft.
Why no mention of congress government finalising 126 aircraft deal with dassault before BJP. This is what Rahul gandhi have been comparing from so many days. dont give biased news
America reluctance to part with any useful technology goes against picking their fighters. US & Russia both flex their mussels to get indian defence contract. It is high time we become self reliant and as such India should make it point to work with countries that is much more forthcoming in sharing technologies. It interesting to note that the CAG earlier noted the boeing P8i delivered to India was substandard.
CAG report on Rafale exposes IAF quite badly as it could not clearly state that it requires only Mirage or Rafale and nothing else. There would have been nothing wrong with this demand. Government could have got a best possible deal for it under IGA by 2007 itself. The MMRCA tender was a waste of time and indeed a fraud. In the end, Modi did well to get them their immediate minimum requirement after due negotiations with France. But Modi did not explain why he announced the deal in Paris, when the MMRCA tender talks were on with HAL.
Hopefully, in the next MMRCA tender, we will have a proper process followed and it will not be a repeat of the previous deal. IAF and armed forces in general must accept their short comings in this area and behave responsibly.
All senior officers / HOD may be posted in any x y z organisation are and were always a slave to the PM house. One phone call of pm house decide the FATE of any Case. Whatever these CAG , Air Force Officials, Defence Ministry officials will back out what statements they are giving to save the Face value of Modi ji, tomorrow when another PM will be elected in May 2019. Truth always Prevail.
Completely biased article
A nice article! IAF should get what they need and not what MoD officials sitting in their officees decide. And the article clearly tells that Congress is to be blamed for IAF problems. They could have done IGA in 2005 itself and buy Rafale. Then Modi doesn’t even come in picture. But of course they were probably lobbying for the Eurofighter in the hopes of getting some commission as has been the norm in defence deals under their reign in India.
The author of the article forgot to mention that the Eurofighter bid was also non- compliant of the RFP. Thus, in effect no bidder was eligible! Modi did the right thing by adopting the IGA route. In the final analysis, IAF is going to fight the war, not the politicians nor the bureaucrats . Modi gave IAF what they wanted. The author is right in saying that IGA route should have been adopted in 2007 itself. India is hopelessly dependent on foreign suppliers to fulfil its defence needs. Whether it’s Russia, France or any other country, it is bound to extract its pound of flesh. The only way out is make your own R&D and become self-reliant. Short cuts like transfer of technology are not going help either. HAL indulged in ToT for seven decades. What happened? Emulate China , which adopted three-pronged strategy- copy, steal or do your own reasearch.
This is unnecessary attempt to politicise the Rafael issue. Mirage, made in France has already proved its capabilities, hence, with all reason said above, was asking for French made Rafael for Indi’s security point of view in longer term.
The way audit is done by CAG for extremely costly and complex systems should be changed. There should be two levels of audit. First CAG should be done when technical evaluation is completed to check that all technical parameters are being met and all relevant data / information has been provided. Second audit to be done only of the financial aspect after L1 party has been selected but order is yet to be placed. CAG should do both these audits in time bound manner, say two months in each case. This will ensure there are no objections at initial stages or charges of wrong doing later on. This CAG report is basically useless. It only does a postmortem examination.
The airforce should get what they want, not what some babu thinks they should get. After all its the pilots whose lives are on the line. Senseless article. Presstitutes at it again.
Rightly said 100% true
The fact of the whole article is – congis knew that it was either French or Russian which will see us through in a catch22 situation. So that should have gone for an IGA the moment opportunity arose. But the farce of tender was kept alive. With amount of commissioning that happened during the UPA II this was the norm. When Modi came in he did what a government would do in country’s interest. Homes in on French and had an IGA. The pity is Congress hasn’t matured. For them it’s still family then party, the country can go to dogs. They delayed the purchase because of selfish interests. But post 2014 it has been more of trying to derail the acquisition for again narrow parochial interests. India is in urgent requirement of a viable opposition if the BJP isn’t to go the Congress way – arrogant and self-serving. For that either the family should mature or they should be kicked out – Congress will fare better if it opts for the latter choice!!!!
In my opinion the only contenders are the French and Russian jets. The American fighters or the Eurofighter or even the Grippen will be a disaster for the air force irrespective of the compliance or otherwise to our requirement. In times of conflict with Pakistan the US will surely ground our fleet of American aircraft. The Eurofighter will be even worse. It is assembled from parts made from multiple European countries any one of whom can ground our entire fleet at all by cutting off supplies of spares. The Grippen is no better with Engines derived from US designs and can easily be grounded. Another reason for avoiding F16s an F18s is that PAF pilots are probably the most highly skilled pilots of F16s with immense experience of American aircraft. Our pilots with far less experience with US aircraft will be no match with PAF pilots with American aircraft.
Why no mention of congress government finalising 126 aircraft deal with dassault before BJP. This is what Rahul gandhi have been comparing from so many days. dont give biased news