News Analysis India

Tag: IAF

  • Indian Air Force undergoing monumental transformation: IAF Chief 

    By PTI
    HYDERABAD: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is undergoing a monumental transformation with rapid infusion of technologies due to rapidly evolving security challenges coupled with rising geopolitical uncertainty in the neighbourhood and beyond, IAF Chief RKS Bhadauria said on Saturday.

    Addressing a Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) at the Air Force Academy here, he said, “IAF is undergoing a monumental transformation. Rapid infusion of niche technologies and combat power in every facet of our operations has never been as intense as it is now.

    “This is primarily because of the unprecedented and rapidly evolving security challenges that we face, coupled with the rising geopolitical uncertainty in our neighbourhood and beyond.”

    Noting that the last few decades have clearly established the critical role of airpower in achieving victory in any conflict, he said it is in this backdrop that IAFs ongoing capability enhancement assumes tremendous significance.

    The IAF Chief, who reviewed the parade earlier, also spoke about the crucial role played by IAF in the national fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Military put on standby as Cyclone Tauktae likely to intensify within hours

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Indian Armed Forces on Saturday mobilised their men and machinery for rescue and relief as Cyclone Tauktae, expected to turn into a very severe cyclone, was set to hit the western coast.

    The Air Force Spokesperson said, “The IAF has kept 16 transport aircraft and 18 helicopters on operation readiness in peninsular India in the wake of cyclone Tauktae which is expected to cause very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall along the western coast of India in the next few days.”

    ALSO READ | Cyclone Tauktae: Heavy rain batters Kerala, red alert issued in nine districts

    One IL-76 aircraft has already taken 127 personnel and 11 tonnes of cargo from Bhatinda to Jamnagar. Also, a C-130 aircraft has flown 25 personnel and 12.3 tonnes cargo from Bhatinda to Rajkot. Additionally, two C-130 aircraft have airlifted 126 personnel and 14 tonnes cargo from Bhubaneswar to Jamnagar.

    “Indian Navy is on standby with ships, aircraft, helicopters and relief teams in coordination with the district administration,” the Navy spokesperson said.

    ALSO READ | Tamil Nadu braces for cyclone Tauktae, CM Stalin asks officials to monitor dam levels

    The Cyclone is expected to intensify, the Information Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) updated through its Tweet. “Cyclone Tauktae in Arabian Sea likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and further intensify into very severe cyclone storm PM 15/ AM 16 May. Likely to move NNW and cross between Porbander and Naliya, India on 18 May.”

    The IFC-IOR is Indian collaborative initiative along with friendly-member nations which enhances maritime safety and security on the seas of this region.

    ALSO READ | 50 families evacuated in Mangaluru after Cyclone Tauktae hits Karnataka coast

    The IAF’s Covid relief operations teams in the west coast areas will also undertake cyclone relief operations, said the IAF Spokesperson.

  • IAF C17 crew bring 37 tonnes of oxygen from UK in 35-hour flight journey

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Indian Air Force personnel on Tuesday completed a 35-hour gruelling duty cycle to and from the United Kingdom to bring home oxygen cylinders in the midst of a COVID-19 crisis that is overloading the healthcare system of the country. 

    The two C-17 Transport Aircraft began the journey on 02 May.

    IAF Spokesperson Wing Commander (Wg Cdr) Ashish Moghe said, “After a gruelling duty cycle of 35 hours, an IAF C17 Globemaster III landed in Chennai at 11:30 A.M. today carrying 37 tonnes of oxygen cylinders from Brize Norton in United Kingdom.”

    Two C-17 Globemasters of the Indian Air Force flew out consecutively within a two-hour window from the Jamnagar air base on May 2nd heading towards Brize Norton in the UK. 

    The two aircraft flew nonstop for 11 hours and 30 minutes to reach UK and airlifted critical life support equipment.

    After taking off, the aircraft only had two halts. The only stoppage apart from the destination was in Egypt’s Cairo for refuelling.

    The first aircraft landed at 0200 Local Time and achieved a quick turnaround time. They flew back to Chennai with 37 tonnes of equipment including 450 empty oxygen cylinders for India. The aircraft landed at Chennai at 0500h on 4th May.

    Necessary arrangements were made to facilitate the proper functioning of a long-haul flight. 

    Wg Cdr Moghe said, “Additional crew members are part of such missions. As per the Air Force rules, the crew is permitted to fly a maximum time of eight hours in a day considering the alertness of mind. From experience and research, it is known that a crew member can be alert only for eight hours before reaching a state of ‘Crew Fatigue’.” Till date, the IAF has brought in 54 cryogenic containers, and 900 oxygen cylinders from outside India (Singapore, Dubai, Bangkok, Frankfurt and UK), clocking over 140 hours of flying.

    Within India, the IAF has transported 180 empty cryogenic oxygen containers, apart from other relief material like oxygen cylinders, oxygen plant equipment, essential medicines and hospital equipment.

    Airlift of the IAF RAMT (Rapid Action Medical Team), the medical officers and the personnel of the Indian Navy has also been undertaken.

    The IAF has employed 8 C-17, 4 IL-76, 10 C-130 and 20 An-32 aircraft, as well as Mi-17V5 and Chinook helicopters which have altogether clocked more than 360 hours of flying time. 

  • IAF brings oxygen cylinders, other equipment from UK

    By PTI
    CHENNAI: Nearly 35 tonnes of equipment, including 450 empty oxygen cylinders donated by the UK and airlifted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) from Britain arrived here early on Tuesday.

    According to the Indian Red Cross Society, UK donated 5,000 cylinders to India through it to meet the emergency requirement for empty oxygen cylinders during the second wave of coronavirus in the country.

    Of these, 900 cylinders were meant for Tamil Nadu.

    The equipment were brought from Brize Norton, by one of two IAF C-17 Globemaster aircraft that earlier left for the UK on May 2 from its Jamnagar air base in Gujarat to bring the supplies, a Defence release said.

    “The aircraft which left the Jamnagar air base on May 2, flew non-stop for 11 hours and 30 minutes to reach Brize Norton in the UK to airlift the critical life support equipment.”

    “The first aircraft landed at 0200 local time and with a quick turnaround, flew back to Chennai with 35 tonnes of equipment including 450 empty oxygen cylinders for India,” it said, adding, the flight reached the city around 5 am on Tuesday.

    An IRCS official, who received the oxygen cylinders, said 900 of them were meant for Tamil Nadu.

    “We received the first batch of 450 cylinders this morning and the second consignment will be delivered (later) today,” M Karnan, Manager, Administration, IRCS, Tamil Nadu state branch, told PTI.

    Karnan received the cylinders on behalf of IRCS and handed over them to HLL Lifecare Ltd which would distribute to hospitals in consultation with the state health department.

  • Indian Air Force presses 50 transport aircraft and 20 helicopters in COVID pandemic duty

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has ordered round-the-clock readiness of the entire heavy-lift fleet and substantial numbers of medium-lift fleets to operate in a hub and spoke model.

    In support of the national effort to combat COVID-19 second wave, the IAF fleet is operating from a hub with sorties within India and abroad

    IAF in a statement on Friday said, “Presently 8x C-17, 4 x IL 76, 8 x C130, 20 x An-32, 1 x DO – 228 Dornier aircraft and 20 Helicopters have been tasked for COVID Tasks.”

    While the force has augmented Aircrew for all fleets to ensure round-the-clock operations, IAF has taken stringent measures to preserve its combat potential in the face of COVID 19.

    Special care has also been taken to prevent an outbreak amongst the operational crew and all personnel involved in COVID tasks, including segregation and stringent precautions.

    “98% of all air warriors have been vaccinated with the first dose and 85 % percent with the second dose. Sustained efforts to ensure 100% vaccination at the earliest are ongoing,” informed IAF.

    While the force, with its measures, has restricted active cases to 1% of the IAF population, strong measures to enhance capacities in hospitals and medicare centres have also been taken. With proper planning and precaution, the efforts of the air force personnel have succeeded in executing major mobilisation.

    As per the force, “As of 30 Apr 21, IAF has used their heavy-lift assets to airlift 39 cryogenic oxygen containers from Singapore, Thailand, and Dubai, and has already rapidly positioned 126 oxygen tankers at key locations within the country.”

    Oxygen containers were the primary load ferried on Friday with heavy-lift transport aircraft making both domestic and international sorties. C-17s airlifted four cryogenic oxygen containers from Singapore to Panagarh Airbase. The airlift of four more cryogenic oxygen containers from Singapore is in progress.

    Mobilising the C-17s, two cryogenic oxygen containers were airlifted from Chandigarh to Bhubaneswar, one from Baroda to Ranchi, two from Gwalior to Raipur, two from Mumbai to Bhubaneswar. 

    The airlift of two cryogenic oxygen containers from Agra to Ranchi, two containers from Indore to Surat, two containers from Chandigarh to Ranchi, six containers from Hindan to Ranchi is in progress. 

    In addition, IAF IL-76 has also airlifted three oxygen plant equipment from Delhi to Dimapur and an Army load of 11.5T with 90 medicos from Dimapur to Bakshi ka Talab for setting up of Covid Hospital at Lucknow.

    These efforts are ongoing and all requirements being projected are being met on a war footing, said the Air Force.

  • IAF presses its heavy and medium lift fleet into round-the-clock Covid duty

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has mobilised a major portion of its transport fleet to meet the requirements arising due to the Covid pandemic situation.

    The Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria on Wednesday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and briefed him on the efforts being undertaken by the IAF.

    The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in its statement said, “Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria informed the Prime Minister that the IAF has ordered 24×7 readiness of the entire heavy-lift fleet and substantial numbers of the medium lift fleets to operate in a hub and spoke model to rapidly meet all Covid-related tasking across the country and overseas. Aircrew for all fleets has been augmented to ensure round the clock operations.”

    Bhadauria informed that the IAF is deploying big and medium-sized aircraft to cover all terrains. He briefed the PM about a dedicated Covid Air Support Cell set up by the IAF to ensure faster coordination with different ministries and agencies to Covid-related operations.

    The PMO said: “The Prime Minister stressed the need to increase the speed, scale, and safety of operations in transporting oxygen tankers and other essential material. PM spoke about the need to ensure that the IAF personnel engaged in Covid-related operations remain safe from infection.”

    The PM inquired about the health of IAF personnel and their families. Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria apprised him that near saturation vaccination coverage has been achieved in the IAF.

    He also informed the PM that hospitals under the IAF have increased covid facilities and also allowing civilians wherever possible.

    Meanwhile, the Army decided to increase the capacity at the Base Hospital Delhi Cantonment (BHDC). Army, in a statement, said, “A plan was quickly put in place to expand the capacity to 650 Covid beds of which 450 beds will be oxygenated by April 30, 2021. The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is also being enhanced from 12 beds to 35 ICU beds by April 29, 2021. The next phase of expansion will see the present capacity being augmented to 900 oxygenated beds by the second week of June 2021.”

  • COVID-19: Indian Air Force airlifts 9 cryogenic oxygen containers from Dubai, Singapore

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force (IAF) airlifted nine cryogenic oxygen containers from Dubai and Singapore and has brought them to the Panagarh airbase in West Bengal, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday.

    These containers were brought on Tuesday, it said.

    In addition, the IAF’s C-17 aircraft on Tuesday also airlifted two cryogenic oxygen containers from Indore to Jamnagar, two from Jodhpur and Udaipur to Jamnagar and two from Hindon to Ranchi, it said.

    “IAF’s C-17s have airlifted six cryogenic oxygen containers from Dubai to Panagarh Air Base.

    Another C-17s brought three oxygen containers from Singapore to Panagarh Air Base,” the statement said.

    The IAF also airlifted eight cryogenic oxygen containers from Hyderabad to Bhubaneswar, two from Bhopal to Ranchi and two from Chandigarh to Ranchi, it said.

    India is struggling with the second wave of coronavirus infection and hospitals in several states are reeling under a shortage of medical oxygen and beds in view of a rising number of COVID-19 cases.

    The IAF has been airlifting empty oxygen tankers and containers to various filling stations across the country to speed up the distribution of the much-needed medical oxygen in treating COVID-19 patients.

  • PM Modi reviews preparations by Armed Forces to assist in COVID management

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the preparations by the Indian Armed Forces deployed to assist the civil administration in COVID Management. Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat informed that the number of medical personnel from the armed forces is being beefed up.

    As per the official statement of the Prime Minister Office, the CDS briefed the PM, “All medical personnel from armed forces who have retired or taken pre-mature retirement in the last 2 years are being recalled to work in Covid facilities within proximity of their present place of residence. Other medical officers who retired earlier have also been requested to make their services available for consultation through medical emergency helplines.”

    ALSO READ | Modi-Suga talks: India, Japan to work in close collaboration to deal with COVID-19 crisis

    In another step, earlier the defence ministry on Friday announced that it was extending the tenure of SSC doctors in the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) till December 31, 2021 in order to “to tide over the current surge in medical services.” “This will augment the strength of AFMS by 238 more doctors,”.

    PM was also informed that all medical officers on staff appointments at Command HQ, Corps HQ, Division HQ & similar HQ of Navy and Air-Force will be employed at hospitals.

    The CDS informed the PM that nursing personnel are being employed in large numbers to compliment the doctors at the hospitals. PM was also briefed that oxygen cylinders available with armed forces in various establishments will be released for hospitals.

    PM Modi was informed of the medical facilities created in large numbers and where possible military medical infrastructure will be made available to civilians.

    PM also reviewed the operations being undertaken by IAF to transport oxygen and other essentials in India and abroad.

    Further, as discussed Kendriya and Rajya Sainik Welfare Boards and Officers posted in various headquarters in veterans cells may be instructed to coordinate the services of veterans to extend the reach to maximum extent possible including in remote areas.

  • Mizoram govt seeks IAF’s help to control wildfire

    By Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: The Mizoram government on Sunday sought the help of the Indian Air Force to control a massive wildfire which affected 20 sq km areas in the state’s Lunglei district.

    “On the requisition of Mizoram government, the Indian Air Force is deploying two Mi-17V5 helicopters, equipped with Bambi Buckets, to douse the major fire in Lunglei district and adjoining areas,” Shillong-based defence spokesman Wing Commander Ratnakar Singh told this newspaper.

    A user wrote on Twitter: “Wildfire/Forest fire continues to rage in Lunglei as firefighters and local volunteers stayed up throughout the night to prevent it from spreading to homes and petrol stations”.

    Official sources said the fire, which broke out on Saturday, was spreading fast due to wind and temperature.

    “The fire is spreading fast due to wind and temperature. Sometimes, it looks normal and then suddenly it flares up. We are using all available local resources to contain it,” Lunglei District Magistrate, Kulothungan A told this newspaper. 

    He said except for one place on the outskirts of Lunglei, the fire had not entered any human settlement areas. He said it was completely under control by Saturday evening until started raging again on Sunday morning.

    “Nobody was injured and there is no economic loss. We have an evacuation plan. We will evacuate people as and when required. The administration will take care of their needs for food and shelter,” Kulothungan said.

    He said investigation was on to find out the cause of the inferno. The burning down of jungles by the villagers for jhum cultivation was the reason behind many such incidents of wildfire in the Northeast in the past.

  • Maharashtra: IAF ferries empty oxygen containers to Jamnagar for refill

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: The Indian Air Force on Saturday airlifted two empty oxygen containers from Pune to filling stations in Jamnagar and two more containers will be flown there during the day, a defence release said.

    The containers will return to Maharashtra by road or train once they are loaded with medical oxygen which is in high demand due to the surge in COVID-19 cases.

    A C-17 plane of the IAF arrived in Pune from Hindan air base in the morning and left for Jamnagar around 1:30 pm, carrying two empty containers of 15-ton capacity each, the release said.

    “The aircraft is already on its second shuttle for two more tankers,” said an official.

    The filled tankers will be brought back by road or railway as they cannot be airlifted due to safety reasons, he said.