IAF's request to joint Malabar exercise turned down

[RPK]

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IAF`s request to joint Malabar exercise turned down


New Delhi: Government has recently turned down Indian Air Force's request to take part in the Indo-US bilateral naval exercise Malabar.

The bilateral exercise involving the navies of the two countries was held off the coast of Chennai in the Bay of Bengal earlier this month.

The IAF was earlier part of the exercise but later on it was decided by the government that they will not be part of it, Navy sources said here without elaborating.



The IAF wanted to deploy the maritime attack squadron of its Jaguar aircraft for the exercise and test them in an exercise with the US Navy aircraft on board the USS Carl Vinson nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

Apart from the USS Carl Vinson, the American side fielded its Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey.

The Indian Navy's assets included INS Satpura, destroyers INS Ranvir and INS Ranvijay, and the corvette INS Kulish along with the replenishment oiler INS Shakti

[Abingdonboy]

I just can't think of a logical reason why this request would be turned down. Surely it is win-win, if it was the PAF/PLA(AF) asking to be included then fair enough but the IAF? What could the MoD possibly object to?!!

[arp2041]

Indian government does not think strategically & does not have proper military approach.

[Adnan Faruqi]

Its another proof that manmohan singh is a fool and weak PM.

[GR!FF!N]

we need a joint chief...army,navy and air force(this wing is the most trouble maker) are always busy in brawling (for funds)...we need a joint chief to monitor them.

[tvsram1992]

May be we are going soft on China

[Abingdonboy]

Its another proof that manmohan singh is a fool and weak PM.

Mate, these descions would never be taken by the PM! More likely some mid-level bureaucrat in MoD who can't look beyond his own nose.

[Papa]

I think more sensible persons are working over there in MOD rather then here on PDF. Just wait till more info comes out.

[Oscar]

Idiotic move by whosoever made the decision.
what could have been an excellent learning opportunity has been lost to an uninformed decision.
and the fellow is probably feeling very smug about it.

[acetophenol]

Hope there's some genuine reason for it,or i'll kill antony!

[Abingdonboy]

It's a strange descison espceillay when you understand such clearance was given back in Malabar 2007 for IAF maritime strike SQD-

[Tshering22]

Its another proof that manmohan singh is a fool and weak PM.

What's a PM again ?

[gubbi]

Idiotic move by whosoever made the decision.
what could have been an excellent learning opportunity has been lost to an uninformed decision.
and the fellow is probably feeling very smug about it.

Probably a move to demarcate the responsibilities of IN airwing and IAF maritime force. With the growing naval air wing, MoD thinks that maritime role should be the sole responsibility of IN and IAF should concentrate on traditional air-superiority/strike/interdiction/interception roles. CAS role should be given to army air wing with rotary aircraft only.

[tvsram1992]

Probably a move to demarcate the responsibilities of IN airwing and IAF maritime force. With the growing naval air wing, MoD thinks that maritime role should be the sole responsibility of IN and IAF should concentrate on traditional air-superiority/strike/interdiction roles. CAS role should be given to army air wing with rotary aircraft only.

Maritime IAF will be defending where as ACCs will be attacking enemies . Hope you understood the logic .

[gubbi]

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Maritime IAF will be defending where as ACCs will be attacking enemies . Hope you understood the logic .

CBG has all the elements required to mount an attack as well as be able to defend it self and the ACC. The complement of aircraft that the carrier carries also protect their base.
IMHO, with the growing naval air power, MiG-29ks and Naval Tejas and other aircraft in the inventory, IN should shoulder the responsibility for maritime security, while IAF should do what it does best - defend the skies where needed.

The USN operate their own air-wings, along with the marines airwing and USAF does not interfere with their responsibilities.