We will train with Israelis: IAF chief

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We will train with Israelis: IAF chief

Harinder Mishra in Tel Aviv | September 09, 2004 11:53 IST

Chief of Air Staff Srinivaspuram Krishnaswamy has said the Indian Air Force will train with their Israeli counterparts and expressed satisfaction at the military hardware India has procured from Israel, saying they are 'cost effective' and operationally unique.

"We would work and train (with Israel) in some manner in exercises that are practical and possible. We look forward to learn from each other in many ways and the reactions (to such proposals) are positive and it is a matter of working out practicalities," Krishnaswamy, who is in Tel Aviv on a five-day visit, told PTI.

Krishnaswamy, who on Wednesday achieved the unique distinction of being the first chief of air staff of any country to fly aboard an F-16I fighter jet, said, "We are pleased with whatever inductions we have made. They are very cost-effective and unique in terms of operational features."

The Phalcon deal, he said, would give us a longer look beyond the horizon and 'we will exploit its advantages'. The $3 billion Phalcon AWACS deal was signed between Israel, India and Russia in 2003. India is seeking to fit the Phalcon on three IL-76 transport aircraft.

The IAF chief, who is in Tel Aviv at the invitation of Israel's Vice Chief of Defence Staff Dan Halutz, appreciated the cost-effective training methods adopted by the Jewish state.

During his visit, Krishnaswamy has visited the Israeli aircraft industries and the Israeli military industries and would be visiting air force bases in Ramon and Palmachim.

He has also held extensive talks with senior defence officials to outline possible areas of further cooperation.

Applauding the way Israel has gone by with this, Krishnaswamy said, "We have a lot to learn from them. The Israeli Air Force is about 35,000 people in uniform but they are very formidable.

"It is certainly inspiring to learn the way Israel manages cost capability. It is very unique and I am interested in the way they train right from the selection of the people. There is so much of care and attention to the skills and capability. Each one wants to contribute so effectively to the greater system."

Calling upon the urgent need to adopt such methods of training and management, he said, "It is my responsibility to look after not only operational effectiveness but (also) at what cost? We have to look at the budget and investment in acquiring that capability."

Defence sources in Tel Aviv said Israel has normally avoided sharing information on techniques of training, which is limited to only a few select countries. Any such move with India, they said, is a 'statement of huge trust'.

Comparing the Israeli defence industries to the diamond cutting industry, which is 'very small but very precious and expensive', the chief of air staff said that India is, however, not chasing their technology per se but 'the usability of it, the application and the concept'.

The IAF chief, who is also chairman of the Chief of Staff Committee, also praised the rapid strides made by Indian defence industries.

Calling himself a man of aeronautics, Krishnaswamy said India is developing a jet engine, which is 'unique, something extraordinary' and would attract worldwide attention.

Noting the successful exercise by six Jaguars that crossed the Atlantic Ocean recently, he said, some Mirage 2000 jets would next week be heading to South Africa, crossing the Indian Ocean for a joint exercise with that country.


http://in.rediff.com/news/2004/sep/09iaf.htm

Interesting about the jet engine
 

srirangan

Banned Member
Yeah, very interesting about the Jet Engine. I guess the recent tests of the Kaveri have produced some interesting results.
 

adsH

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Israel has some of the best pilots they groom the best i think it would be beneficial for IAF to learn some-stuff of the Israelis.
 

XEROX

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Indian Air Force commander proposes joint maneuvers with IAF
By ARIEH O'SULLIVAN

The visiting commander of the Indian Air Force has proposed joint maneuvers and training exercises with the Israeli Air Force.

In an interview with The Jerusalem Post, Air Chief Marshal Srinivaspuram Krishnaswamy said that he had received a "positive" reaction from his Israeli counterpart.

OC Air Force Maj.-Gen. Elyezer Shkedy is hosting Krishnaswamy, a former test pilot. He has given him the honor of becoming the first non-Israeli to fly in the US-made F-16I, Israel's newest fighter jet.

"We look forward to exercising with the Israeli Air Force," Krishnaswamy said. "We can learn from each other in many ways as we are learning from the others."

"It is a matter of working out the practicalities, whether they wish to come [to India] or we come here and other various modalities. I believe there are mutual appreciations and interests. We hope that it would progress further."

He said that his air force has not conducted joint training with any Arab states.

Speaking to The Jerusalem Post earlier this week, Shkedy said the IAF was in the process of developing links with other air forces.

"One of these nations is no doubt India," Shkedy said. "Openness to the world and training around the world has benefits for the IAF."

Krishnaswamy noted that the Indian air force has trained with the French and most recently with the United States in Alaska. It was the first time Indian fighter jets crossed the Atlantic Ocean, traveling 30,000 kilometers one way.

"It was a very successful exercise and they quite enjoyed themselves," he said.

He said that the Indian air force was dispatching next week their Mirage 2000 to train in South Africa. They will be crossing the Indian Ocean. Next year the air force is planning to send them to France to exercise with the French Air Force.

Next month, Singapore's F-16 squadron is slated to come to India to train.

In Israel for a five-day visit this week, Krishnaswamy toured on Thursday the Ramon air base, home of the F-16 I squadrons and the Palmahim base, where Israel maintains part of its large UAV aircraft and attack helicopters.

His visit is part of the ongoing warm relations between the two militaries.

During his visit here, Krishnaswamy also stopped by Israel Aircraft Industries to review the progress on the $1 billon deal to supply India with three "Phalcon" early-warning airborne radar aircraft.

"It will be a force multiplier by providing a radar in the sky. It will give us a longer look beyond the horizon and it certainly has its operational utility. We look forward to it," Krishnaswamy said.

Krishnaswamy said he was not familiar with reports that said India was keen on getting Israeli satellite photos of Pakistani nuclear sites.

"We have our own access to whatever intelligence is necessary," he said.

He also was adamant that India would not request or require any Israeli aid to meet future threats.

"I don't expect any significant help as such from Israel. We are quite capable of managing it ourselves. We don't expect any help or support to meet our threat from any nation. Let's make that very clear," he said.

Krishnaswamy said the Indian air force was interested in learning how other countries manage their air forces and train their pilots and crews.

He said he found openness from the Israelis and was "inspired" by the training methods he was shown.

"We were briefed that the Israeli air force has about 35,000 people in uniform, but you have some very formidable capabilities. You have your number of squadrons and you manage it so efficiently," he said.

In his capacity as chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee, Krishnaswamy also visited TASS Israel Military Industries, Elbit, and Rafael.

Defense links and deals are blossoming with India, but Krishnaswamy indicated that India expected to off-set purchases in India for weapons purchases here.

"Between countries there is a certain reciprocity, like in the good old days of trade and barter. We are looking at which way we can be beneficial," he said.

While declining to give precise figures, Krishnaswamy said that Russia and Israel were its main arms suppliers.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1094613508217


Above article is more or less the same as the first article but with an Israeli perspective (The Jerusalem Post),

Regarding the jet engine who knows???, it could be the Kavari, Kavari-2 or even the Avatar engine - latter 2 are questionable :)
 
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