If US President Donald Trump offering to mediate on the Kashmir issue wasn’t enough, he went ahead and exonerated ‘selected’ Prime Minister Imran Khan – implying that under Khan, Pakistani perfidy has stopped. To cap it all, the State Department announced a resumption of military supplies – specifically F-16 spares – to Pakistan. In many ways, the F-16 is a microcosm of India-US ties: oversell, unable to understand the other, stringing your lover along in spite of not understanding what he/she is saying, and a final rejection leading to bitterness.
Let us be clear, however, that the F-16 never stood a chance. Lockheed Martin (LM) screwed up on several issues: its primary weapon the AMRAAM; its sales pitch peddling a point the Indian Air Force (IAF) did not understand; a sales campaign that bordered on outright lies; and finally, Balakot, which proved to be the last nail in the coffin.
Avoiding F-16 in a dogfight
The moment India is offered the same equipment as Pakistan, you pretty much know it’s going to be rejected. Although, India had no hesitation buying the same manufacturer’s C-130 transport aircraft, which Pakistan also operates. However, the IAF, instead of looking at how its aircraft perform in combat situations, seems to be obsessed about fitting them with one particular missile: the European Meteor. The Meteor missile’s long range outclasses the F-16’s primary long-range air-to air weapon, the AMRAAM.
It is in fact a tribute to the F-16’s potency that the IAF wants to avoid engaging it in a dogfight and would prefer to take it out at longer ranges. In effect, it wasn’t the F-16 that irritated the IAF so much as it was the AMRAAM – after all, no matter how advanced an F-16 India was being offered, if the missiles were going to be the same as Pakistan’s (AMRAAM), the electronics differential of the launch platform wasn’t going to be much use to India.
Also read: Days after Trump-Imran meet, US approves deal to monitor 24×7 Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jets
F-16, upgraded to F-21
To counter this perception, LM had a clear case that the F-16 being sold to India (the Block 70 variant, since renamed F-21) was a whole different beast from the Block 50 that Pakistan has. Beyond the superficial exterior resemblance, there’s about 40 per cent difference in terms of equipment; and the electronics derive much from the F-35’s heavily network centric architecture. As such, the F-21s are a generation ahead from anything on Pakistan’s F-16 that could be better in terms of being able to see further, ‘talk to’ other networked assets, and jam enemy frequencies better. So, even if the F-21 and F-16 use the same missile, the F-21 can detect its enemy faster and shoot first and more accurately.
Sadly, given the hodgepodge of equipment the IAF operates, almost none of which talk to each other, the IAF simply doesn’t understand networked warfare, nor does it care. Stuck in the 1980s’ mindset, the IAF still believes in kinetics while the rest of the world has moved towards electronics. The simplest explanation for this is the scene from Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark, where an Arab swordsman comes around flaunting his sword skills and Indy simply shoots him with a revolver. Here, the IAF is the Arab swordsman, who thinks a better sword could have won him the battle, instead of transitioning to a revolver; Lockheed Martin is the revolver salesman, who futilely tries arguing with the swordsman to give up his sword for the revolver.
Also read: Was it US’ F-16 or China’s JF-17 that ‘downed’ MiG 21 Bison piloted by Abhinandan?
US firm’s disinformation campaign
If LM’s sales pitch left the IAF confused, then LM’s disinformation left the IAF entirely not-amused. This disinformation campaign started off with the promise of F-16 production being shifted to India. This developed into a set of transparent lies that F-16 production would involve deep technology transfer and make India independent. Obviously, it didn’t take long for the lies to get called out, which was followed by a public retraction from Lockheed. The amount of damage this did to LM’s campaign is almost incalculable.
But Balakot was the last straw. The IAF is convinced that it shot down an F-16 using an obsolete MiG-21. The severe factual inaccuracies of the “IAF didn’t shoot an F-16” lobby, combined with an embarrassing set of tweets by the Pakistani DG-ISPR unable to explain two missing pilots, means the IAF is now convinced that its reliance on dogfights is valid (that is, the Arab swordsman can still win against Indian Jones’ revolver) and that the F-16 is a flawed product.
In the end, the overall problems of the India-US relationship explained earlier are distilled into India’s F-16 saga: India’s understanding of war and technology being different to the US, both talking a different language; disinformation from the US’ side; India giving false hope where there was none to begin with. In such circumstances, the resumption of military sales to Pakistan was a foregone conclusion, and would have happened regardless of whether there was a Donald Trump involved without anyone getting surprised.
The author is a senior fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies. He tweets @iyervval. Views are personal.
The Print once again tries to make a quick buck with irs filth.
Luytens media and unprofessional journalists (the print) shame on you. Don’t show your stupidity to the public. Go to faKISTAN o chinkistan n live there happily.
All I can say that I can smell foul in this article. As usual, has a biased POV. I firmly believe IAF knows more about the modern warfare than the author.
It was clear in MMRCA trials that F16 lost to Rafael and Typhoon. IAF regularly participates in combat exercises with Nato countries so it knows aircrafts better than the author.
This article is shit!
Has anyone seen the writers brain I am sure he is not using it
F16 is no match for Rafael or other contenders. There is no dearth of brokers in India working for other countries just for piece of s**t. This media joins this list.
Indian airforce should adapt modern warfare. It is essential no matter what u do u need to be organised and attact with real time information. For that reason india is buying reconicence aircrafts but the sad thing is russian built fighters are lacking of technology( stealth, radar jamming) par with others and reliability is a big issue. India should consider buying rafale as it is only its option. india cannot but euro fighter as it is opposed by some EU countries like germany to sell to india and only other option is US we don’t have such good relation with US. Now, the real problem appears India wants modernize its squadrans but cannot have a relaiable partner hence it is such depended on mig29 and sukois of russian made or licenced to produce by HAL. It’s a different game in navy as there are many sellers of submarines and frigates ( sweden, UK, US, Russia, France) but for IAF it is hard choice so guys the only viable option is considering rafale as it is modern and effecient for coming decade.
It’s pretty obvious it’s you that’s stuck in the 1980’s relishing past achievements and glory. It’s 2019 today, Indian Air Force has been using network warfare for quite a long time now. The SU 30 is the most sophisticated air superiority multirole plane in it’s class that can also operate as a MINI AWACS, and once their upgraded to the Super Sukhoi standard they will be nearly unmatched. Only recently did the US start to catch up with the F22 & F35 and they still don’t have some of the features the SU 30 has.
The author says IAF is behaving like a 1980’s Force which doesn’t know network warfare capabilities. So far from truth that it’s a blatant lie and how do these people even write articles without knowing the basics as t how much IAF is investing in NCW capability. Within a decade our flying platforms will have datalink while this Mr.Learned now thinks he knows sooo much. An earlier article by late Mr. Karnad wanted Rafale deal to be scrapped and India instead go for strategic bombers. That, my friends is the 1950’s mindset which the US deployed in Vietnam and Korea. Grow up my revered intellectuals…at least don’t palm off frivolous articles and mislead the common people while not deserving even a casual laugh.
The Print will soon loose its readership if such silly pieces continue.
IAF has combined and used various OEM tech in past and is using technology from multiple OEMs and have excelled at making diverse components work together.
Example: Balakot bombing -> French Aircraft, Israeli Ammunition and Russian radar and communication technology.
Even as we speak IAF is working on Sukhoi – Meteor integration. This is entirely home made integration which either tech OEMs have declined.
Now, if the author says that IAF doesn’t understand network model, then probably author doesn’t understand what IAF is currently running. Nor does the author has any ideas of the outcomes of Airforce war games IAF teams have recently participated in using Russian and French origin Aircrafts. Much more than the machine, it is the man and the training that wins you wars. IAF doesn’t need crap LM junk.
Sadly zero research or analysis by the author!
It’s bull shit to say IAF doesn’t know electronic or fly by wire avionics… Author seems to be paid writer… F16 is old technology and can’t fit to IAF looking at.. US simply want to kill indigenous efforts of India to build Tejas fighter. Tejas itself is fourth generation fighter and way ahead then F16. If US is really in interested in sell of its fighter, offer us F35. Secondly if u buy any of defence equipment from US one has to compromise on its use. US will never share entire technology and always try to control all your defence activities. Look at Pakistan Saudi Arabia UK Japan……
US main role under any President always try widening gap between neighbouring countries to creat war type sitation to sell its arms and ammuniation as well as fighter crafts. Further, this developed country also try to capture oils, resources and other minerals from small countries by way of economic and other pressures. India under PM Narendra Modi Ji should not come under the influence of Donald Trump, as he is unpredictable, but maintain diplomatic relations.
India is DEADPOOL rather than old school Arab swardsman. India uses it’s brain and chooses it’s weapon accordingly.
stupid mentality level
The author needs to be sent to some asylum for rest of his life. He has no logic and his brain seems to have stopped working when he shoots shit through his pen
This is the same guy who went to jail for deragatory comments on Odisha state & it’s history. Just another guy born in a privileged family & wasting entire countries time with his worthless words. I’m more than surprised that he’s still getting hired in the name of free press. What’s the point of letting whack jobs write stories just because they’re against the tide? At least they should have a little credibility.
We have many more such Moles working in India paid by CIA and ISI who blow hot and cold in same breath. The article doesnot analyse anything precisely but advertise shamelessly F16 of US for India. Mr. Mitra,your logic and analytical skills are very suspicious and are laced with treason.
What is it with The Print – They bring Bollywood or Hollywood into their stories –
In this article, Indiana Jones movie is referred to – In the videos Shekar GUpta makes analogies with songs sucks “Mera Juta again Japani, Yeah Patloon . . .”
These analogies happen too often in The Print – Lets not make it a trend !
I bring it up as such journalism makes important issues “feel” less serious. – As such the English used is not on par to convey command of language or subject & then adding such analogies makes it worse !
My request toALL Journalists – Being PROFESSIONAL m ans something !!
I believe the author watches Hollywood movies only ..
Theprint didn’t disappoint. Expected no less than some skewed news with a misleading headline.
How much money did Shekhar Gupta get paid for this ad from LM? Here is the bottom line: history shows that we can not trust US, especially with the critical technologies for national security.
The F35 was a joke so was the F16 the only true capable aircrafts were F-15 eagle strike ,F-18/A super hornet and the F-22 which the U.S. keeps to themselves only..No Current export variety of an US aircraft can match Mirage 2000 or sukhoi 30MKI varient that India uses Russian Radars on Indian Jets and Those isareli targeting systems on those Jets and not to mention how agile the Russian Jets are compared to US export variants…F-21 is a joke and BTW US will impose Monopoly on it’s usage so author go fuck yourself
I can’t understand the fact that the F16 is the sword which the author describes as the revolver. Even the revolver is outdated. IAF downing the F16 with a second generation Mig with some upgrades questions the entire product. If the US was to offer the F22 raptor or the F35 things would have been different. Well played IAF by not purshasing a. Piece of junk
The writer is abhijit lyer mitra, yes the same one that got arrested for making derogatory remarks on konark temple and spend 43 days in prison. This American lapdog will give bj to donald trump for 50 dollar if asked. Don’t believe a single word this vermin is saying. Both rafale and mig 35 are far superior to f21 in every single way. And India and her people will not listen to some western hoe for advice
F-16 is rebranded product of F-21. F-16 & F-21 is same fighter aircraft. It is not suitable for IAF as per of their present requirement. But LM trying to push sell it just for making huge profit and securing $18 billion USD global tender by Govt. Of India. France Rafel air craft is most suitable fighter as per of IAF present requirement.
You know for a while i used to think the print is also a legit news media showing opinions of the other spectrum… But this is absolute rubbish and anti national to even claim an f21 is better than a rafale…the ans is simiply no. An f21 is in its barebones an f16 and will always be an f16. Rafale is simply a generation agead and the obvious better pick. The obvious other option was the eurofighter tycoon… But never an f21. I am not getting into the corruption charges… But to even suggest an f21 as an option is baffling
Author my friend your point has one problem , F16 was long rejected by our Airforce before all the current events happened in MMRCA 1 . Second US does not believe in concept of Transfer of Technology , Third your aircraft boneyards are filled with Stockpile of F16 junks where they can be easily be salvaged and made to be retrofitted to the so christened F21 , Finally you need to get out of the mass Hysteria that only your Airforce is a capable one , just because you have technology on your side . Do remember even with all technology you couldn’t stop an Atom Bomb Test of India , couldn’t check Pakistan using F16 to target our Country and finally a 1960s plane got your Marvel of technology down to dust . Because of the man who flew it and not because of any technology Period .
The author is either a paid agent of Lockheed or a pakistan sympathizer……blatant example of yellow journalism
It’s not only about the gun, it’s about the man behind the gun… Paid article for sure…
The print was and will remain a mouthpiece of India’s enemies. The author in this case seems to know more than the IAF itself, and clearly does not talk about the Congress rule, where the defense forces were intentionally kept under equipped.
Very nicely described the current situation with Indian Armed forces ! The need of the hour, whether we like it or not, electronic reliance and platform (aircraft, ships, network and surveillance platforms like Radar systems, AWACs, information warfare, cyber security protocols) enabling the new paradigm in information enabled warfare to be recognized as soon as possible. Otherwise, it might be too late and costly for the conventional mindset and the equipment in the armed forces to be upgraded in the foreseeable future leading to India’s Broken Arrow !!!
My 2 cents,
Jai Hind !
Thank you Sir for this informative article. If I were a Pak or Chinese, I will smile. Because I do not need to waste resources in human intel to get info. All I need to do is look out for such in depth analydis of all Indias weakness, their holdings, their policies, how incapable the indian defence personnel are and their thinking and strategy orientation. Kudos, please continue with such free widom disdemination.
One such wisdom is never trust US and their f16. With right PILOTS like abhinabhin with an old mig21 can show enemy’s day. This article is a part of f16 marketing. If u follow writings on this issue u can confirm it urself.
@ Shankar : First of all, this article is simply the author’s opinion and he’s no expert on the Indian armed forces, and hence his ‘analysis’ not reliable. If anything, it helps if our enemies underestimate us. Secondly, the information he has provided is all within the public domain. There are govt agencies who take care that the Official Secrets Act not be violated.
I dont know much about modern fighter aircrafts but one thing I would like to remind. When ISRO wanted a cryogenic engine to fit into its GSLV rocket it was the USA that did its best to deny India this critical technology. It was Russia that came to our rescue with 5 readymade cryogenic engines for ISRO’s use while our scientists struggle to master this technology and produce our own engines . So who is the more reliable defence partner can.easily be deduced from this episode.
The article is laced with ridiculous logic. US was offering India a nearly 45 years old airframe, for use over the next possible 50 years. This is an aircraft for which the manufacturer does not have even a single order for supply, and the plant was under consideration for being closed, till the 126 Rafael aircraft deal got scuttled. Typically, the sales pitch was based on falsehood.
It is very unwise to buy any electronics controlled equipment from US, because they always retain hidden remote control over the equipment.
US has never been a trustworthy friend to anybody. Why trust them on matters of our national security.
This article has clear telltale indicators of influence of Lockheed story-telling!
What a disillusioned & biased article.
F-16 is a 1970’s era junk & so is the author’s brain
U.S is looking to dump their extinct revolver(F16) with a new paint (F21). You could have your garbage to yourself and in your regular dump yard (Pakistan). We(India) are interested in Laser gun not revolver
The author and whatever ‘fellow’ he is, one thing for sure, he is a paid stooge of LM or US. This fellow has no understand of aerospace defence requirements and IAF strategies. Using Indiana Jones analogy he just dates his knowledge. It would be foolish to buy a cutting edge weapon from US which has used sanctions as a weapon against us in the past on more than one occassion. What’s the point in buying a revolver which will not be operational when required. A sword will and always will serve its purpose even if some rusts begets it.
And then Rafale/ Su’s/ Eurofighters are no swords if that 80’s junk is a revolver.
Print please mark such articles as advertisements
A good article for children stories .
Does writer knows when you dog fight and when you launch BVR?
If not meteor what else?
Or any Dreams by DRDO?
Live in what is available and not what can be…..because what can be has led to delays and never got items..
India is committing a blunder keeping US Dollars 138 Billion in UD Treasuries pat of which will fund Pakistan,the World Bank.We get 2 percent for our US Treasury Holdings and give 9.5 percent for the US Dollar 105 Billion WB Loan losing, about US Dollars 7 Billion about Rs 50000 Crores, per year y arbitrage.The money in US Treasury will be bad if the US A offers Financial Aid to Pakistan as India may be finding the same,in addition to losing huge amount annually..USA’s IPR does not allow India getting high Tech from that Nation.Hence any “Strategic Alliance” is fruitless.And that includes the huge US Treasury Holdings at huge loss by India.
As rightly pointed out the USA was embarrassed by India shooing down the F 16,with its sales prospects becoming dim.All said and don India has to review its US Policy as the latter misuses Sanction etc,forcing Sovereign nations lose in Global trade and adversely affecting Foreign Relations.
The Print is also living in Delusion over Indian Jones fantasy.. F-16 is the looser in IAF tender..
IAF is getting rafale, which is much better than your old revolver ? lol. Also pakistan still can’t win against a swordsman like IAF no matter how much revolver US supplies them.
US or Lockheed not giving us Fighters free we have to pay so why we trust a country which send aircraft carrier as help of Pakistan on 1998war on india. & Pakistan. So its our choice with which we go russia or us whome we pay for a good deal we are not. Beggers like pakistan thats why The Print just shut your mouth for our internal matter. Write this thigs for begger state like pakistan not for india
The author gets it completely wrong. An aircraft is not about just it’s missile systems or munitions. So Aamram beeing bone of contention and Meateor obsession is primitive view of IAF assessment. F21 is 1.5 ton heavier and not as maneuverable as F16 C/D blocks. The author even goes on to contradict himself by saying IAF avoids dog-fights with F16 and later saying IAF is banking on Dog fights. In reality IAF regularly parctices with many airforces operating F16 and Singapore F16 pilots train in India. This is most flawed analysis that I have come across. As to how he is senior fellow at the said institute is a reflection on the standard of the institute. It’s more gossip than analysis.
Your article shows IAF like some obsolete force while you completely ignore the fact that it is one of the most advanced airforce in the world and even there are shortfalls in modernization but still Pakistani s are no match to it. Balkot showed that too, Pakistani s can’t even detect Indian warplanes..
Such paid but confusing article won’t serve India’s cause of mmrc. No developed Country use f16 as their front line Fighter, it’s on verge of phasing out in usaf . And for pakistani f16 pilots, squadron leader Hassan Shiddiqui and wing commander Nauman Ali, in pak parliament name of Hassan Shiddiqui was mentioned by the PM himself to be facilitate in honor his feat. But none of them the they could produce before media, What they would have done repeatedly to humiliate India. Both r dead, it’s foregone conclusion. I repeatedly challenge them in different social media platforms to show a glimpse of them but none could, only they forwarded some old videos of interviews and training. F16 is hyped fighter do business in undeveloped countries. It is as much vulnerable as mig 21 bison. Apart from this we should always keep china in our mind while purchasing fighter jets.
How much you try, India will not buy that junk f16. May be f/a 18 has a chance.
Utterly uninformed and vague article. The article is biased towards US defence industry, trying to make an impression that they make the best weapons that can be operated. There is no point about how LM F-16 / 21 would integrate with existing and available stockpile of weapons India own (some of which are the best in the world).
Simply a pre-sales pitch or a cry over India shunning the substandard US weaponry.
SIMPLY PAID ARTICLE. AUTHOR DON’T KNOW F-16 IS OUTDATED VERSION IN AVIATION. HOW MUCH IT UPGRADE WITH NEW ACCESSORIES LIKE FRENCH MIRAGE_2000 . WORLD HAS ENTERED 5TH GENERATION AIRCRAFT . SUKHOI SERIES AIRCRAFT ARE MORE ADVANCED THEN WEST AIRCRAFT. RECENTLY SYRIAN WAR PROVES THAT AMERICANS ARE NOWHERE EVEN THOUGH NATO MEMBER TURKEY IS ALSO BUYED RUSSIAN MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM S_400.. DON NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE IAF. THEY ARE MASTER IN TASTE/EATING EXPENSIVE FOREIGN DISH BRITISH SPECAT JAGGUAR, FRENCH MIRAGE RUSSIAN DISH.. AND THEY NOT INTERESTED HOME MADE FAILED HAL MARUT, TEJAS ALWAYS LOT OF COMPLAINT OTHER SIDE THEY NEVER COMPLAINT FROM FOREIGN MAKE DISH I THINK THEY EXPLORING THE WORLD AND WASTE OF PUBLIC MONEY LIKE APACHE -64 ., C 17, THEY ALREADY HAVE BETTER OPTION LIKE MIL 17, MIL 24 HIND, KA SERIES, IL 76. THEY ARE BETTER THEY ALREADY CRASHED BRAND NEW C 130J . RECENTLY CRASH RECORDS SHOWS A IAF WAS WASTEING THE PUBLIC MONEY. P.M SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS MATER NEED SERIOUS ACTION.
No matter which ever car is given to you, if you are drunk, you will crash. Pakistan’s position is like that. Any good fighter jet have no meaning if the usage is not clear to the pilot. Many times, Indian pilots performed better is stressful condition with old technologies to Pakistan’s so called latest. Pakistan is America’s military market, funded by same Americans.
F 21 is another shit like f16.
Better planes available in the market why will india but these old USA planes.
They trying to sell there old technology planes to India.
Sukio 57 is more superior.
India should wait till Russia operations of sukoi s57
A perfect summarization of the situation or the mess. Exposing issues on both sides. Primarily India needs to fix.
IAF should invest in armed drones, cheaper and dont need expensive pilots.
Comparing IAF with Arab swords man is like boosting yourself as the top defence expert. May be your knowledge is limited to the small 5*5 room in terror factory. Accept the fact PAF F16 was shot down. Obviously it is understood that neither USA and Faker a Azam will accept that given how USa derive money from its military sales. And it is known to all no adversary operate same weapon as primary offence platform or Defense platform. And what you say IAF equipment don’t talk to each other LMAO please die in your multi billion dollar bathroom. India have developed it’s own communication equipment unlike Terroristan which is even dependent for FAKER a Azam underwear in China. In short I will tell you your article is not even worth to publish in class nursery level wall magazine also.
I don’t know much about fighter jets but even I can deduce that Rafale is a far better figure aircraft than the upgraded version of F-16 which is in use since 1980’s. And I also know that USA cannot be trusted in this kind of matters.
P.S: The author should stop watching too much of Hollywood movies.
Good job defaming the IAF Sir , but whatever you say , the fact is that the IAF is a pretty capable force , and in any circumstance , the French Rafales and it’s Meteor missiles are way advanced the the AMRAAM , also , it’s just not the aircraft that matters but also the pilot in it .
Selling US military aircraft to India is important, but that doesn’t mean that Pakistan is no longer relevant to the US in the Afghan context.
A good basis for a durable friendship between India and the United States would be : Feel free to sell your military hardware to customers of your choice, some of whom have been with you since the 1950s. We in turn will continue to buy from our traditional suppliers, some of whom go equally far back in time.