In May last yr, Squadron Leader PD Dongre's aircraft suffered critical failure soon after take-off, necessitating a flapless landing, a challenging configuration for MiG-21 Bison.
IAF down to 31 fighter squadrons on paper against sanctioned strength of 42. Number will go down further next year when 2 remaining squadrons of MiG 21 Bison get phased out.
Total number of crashes this year is more than twice that in 2020. But defence sources say this is ‘within expected levels’ when measured against the total flying hours.
The IAF wing commander, who has resumed flying following his crash in the aftermath of the Balakot strikes, flew a MiG-21 Type 69 aircraft as co-pilot.
The plan is to make Abhinandan Varthaman fly during the Apache attack helicopters induction ceremony in Pathankot on 3 September. He’s medically cleared.
Russia, which buried the MiG-21 in 1985, has asked for 3 aircraft for demonstrations of vintage flying. India, which still uses it, has agreed to the gift.
The real danger is not just discrimination, but that it hides behind a facade of objectivity. A recruiter can shrug: the system rejected the candidate.
FM adds that AI-assisted technologies should be adopted in all districts to bring development & highlights importance of collaborative ecosystems in tech innovation.
To be truly functional and durable, even eternal, a state doesn’t just need a leader, a party or an ideology. It needs functional and robust institutions.
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