Latest news with #MiG-23s
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Former Air Force Pilot and Minister Uttam Reddy seeks transparency on reports of Rafale downed in Operation Sindoor
Hyderabad Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, also a retired Indian Air Force pilot, demanded full transparency from the Government of India regarding the losses suffered during the recent Operation Sindoor, particularly the reported downing of Rafale fighter jets. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Saturday, he pressed the BJP-led Government at the Centre to act urgently on the concerns raised by the Air Force chief about delays in aircraft supply, talent shortages, and the gap between sanctioned and operational squadrons. He referred to recent statements made by Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh saying that these 'should concern us all.' He cited the warnings about severe delays in supply of fighter aircraft and weaponry, which, he said, were 'a serious problem for the Air Force.' He also cited the briefings of Air Marshal Bharti, Director General Air Operations, that the pilots returned safely while not denying claims of aircraft downed. Mr. Reddy also criticised the BJP government for initially denying these losses and launching a campaign against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. 'Now that the CDS himself has spoken, the government should stop the denials,' he said. 'We are proud of our armed forces, but transparency strengthens trust and helps us learn from every operation.' Mr. Reddy, a graduate from the National Defence Academy who flew MiG-21s and MiG-23s, reminded that during his tenure on the Parliamentary Defence Committee, he and his colleagues had repeatedly flagged India's operational fighter squadrons. He said they were below the sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons, each with 16 to 18 aircraft. 'India currently has only 31 squadrons, which is substantially lower than required, especially when we face a collusive threat from both China and Pakistan.' Quoting the Air Chief Marshal, Mr. Reddy said, 'India has fallen behind China in defence technology and production, even as our training standards remain superior.' He stressed that this should be of 'serious concern,' and urged the government to take necessary corrective steps. Mr. Reddy pointed out that the Air Force currently needs 35 to 40 fighter jets annually, but HAL, which is contracted to supply 24 fighter aircraft per year, has failed to deliver that. 'The Air Chief has also flagged a deeper malaise, contracts signed with unrealistic deadlines that vitiate the procurement process and erode institutional trust,' he said.
Hans India
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Ready to join combat if called upon: Uttam
Hyderabad: State Irrigation & Civil Supplies Minister Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy, who once flew MiG-23s as an Indian Air Force fighter pilot, announced that he is ready to return to combat if the Indian Armed forces needed his services. Chatting informally with reporters at Gandhi Bhavan, Uttam Kumar Reddy said, 'I was just 20, already a fighter pilot,' he said, looking back on postings in places like Uttar Pradesh, Srinagar, and Amritsar – areas that have long been on the edge when it comes to national security. Speaking about the April 22 incident, he called it a terror attack backed by Pakistan and slammed the killings, especially those carried out in the name of religion. According to him, the entire nation, including Kashmir, stood together in condemning it. He pointed to The Resistance Front, an outfit tied to Lashkar-e-Taiba, as the group which claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack. 'India had every reason to hit back,' he said, referring to the recent military response. Uttam Kumar Reddy also touched on Operation Sindoor, claiming Rafale jets and Kamikaze drones were deployed from within Indian territory as part of the mission. He argued that such strong responses are crucial if India ever hopes to achieve a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue. 'Personally, I believe the Kashmir conflict won't truly end until India takes back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir,' he said without hesitation. According to Uttam Kumar Reddy, the assault on Jammu left India no choice but to respond – and any continued aggression from across the border could spell disaster for Pakistan. 'No other nation is going to step in with military support,' he noted. And if it comes down to war? Uttam Kumar Reddy's message was clear: 'If there's a full-scale conflict and I'm needed – I'll fight again.'
India.com
09-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Pakistan Once Shot Down Its Own F-16 Jet: A Costly Mistake Resurfaces Amid Fresh Tensions With India
With escalating military tensions in India and Pakistan amid cross-border drone attacks and retaliatory action, a little-known historical episode involving a critical PAF gaffe has returned to the scene — one that saw Pakistan downing its own F-16 fighter aircraft inadvertently. The disclosure is made at a time when the Indian government has said that Pakistani military forces probably used Turkish-produced "Asisguard Songar" drones in the May 8 attacks on Indian cities. Initial forensic examination of debris from captured drones verified their origin and tactical application for reconnaissance and precision strikes. Against this background, defence experts are going back to a significant 1987 incident that humiliated Pakistan in the international arena. During the Soviet-Afghan War, two F-16 aircraft of Pakistan's 14th Squadron were sent to intercept four Soviet-supported Afghan MiG-23s along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. But the mission turned tragic when one PAF pilot accidentally opened fire on his own wingman in mid-air. The mission was commanded by Wing Commander Amjad Javed, with Flight Lieutenant Shahid Sikandar piloting the second F-16. When the jets climbed to attack the MiG-23s, Javed confused Sikandar's plane as an enemy target and fired an AIM-9P Sidewinder missile. The missile hit Sikandar's F-16, which was destroyed. Luckily, the pilot ejected safely and lived. First, the Afghan Air Force took credit for the shoot-down, saying that it had destroyed a Pakistani fighter plane. But a close examination of the wreckage told a different story: Pakistan had accidentally shot down one of its own planes. What made the humiliation worse was that the F-16, which was one of the most sophisticated multirole fighter aircraft then, had a friend-or-foe identification system. Investigations indicated that the system malfunctioned, but American officials were unconvinced for years about the explanation given by Pakistani authorities. With Indo-Pak tensions erupting anew, military observers point out that such incidents highlight the paramount value of operational discipline, good intelligence, and trusted technology in preventing unintended escalation — particularly between two nuclear-armed neighbours.
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Will join combat if reserved forces are called upon: Uttam
Former Indian Air Force fighter pilot turned politician and now Irrigation & Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has declared that he is ready to return to combat if the country ever needed the services of the reserved forces. A fighter pilot, who once flew MiG-23s, spoke candidly on Friday about his IAF sting and referred to the current tensions between India and Pakistan. Speaking to reporters at Gandhi Bhavan on Friday, Mr. Uttam recalled having joined the armed forces at the age of 16 years and by 1982 he was flying MiG-21s, and later got behind the controls of the MiG-23 — a jet so fast it could hit speeds more than twice the speed of sound. 'I was just 20, already a fighter pilot,' he said referring to his postings in Air Stations in Uttar Pradesh, Srinagar, and Amritsar — areas that have long been on the edge when it comes to national security. He termed the April 22 incident a terror attack backed by Pakistan and slammed the killings, especially those carried out in the name of religion. 'India had every reason to hit back,' he said, referring to the recent military response. Mr. Uttam also touched on Operation Sindoor, claiming Rafale jets and Kamikaze drones were deployed from within Indian territory as part of the mission. He argued that such strong responses are crucial if India ever hopes to achieve a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue. 'Personally, I believe the Kashmir conflict won't truly end until India takes back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir,' he said without hesitation. According to Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy, the assault on Jammu left India no choice but to respond — and any continued aggression from across the border could spell disaster for Pakistan. 'No other nation is going to step in with military support,' he noted. And if it comes down to war? Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy's message was clear: 'If there's a full-scale conflict and I'm needed — I'll fight again.'
