A November morning, 1996.
As the mist had cleared over the Yelahanka airfield near Bengaluru, a host of VVIPs, including prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda, defence minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, star-bearing air marshals and DRDO chief A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, sat down to watch dazzling fighter jets taking off and getting into stunts at Aero-India, India’s biennial air show. Just then, a pedestrian voice announced from the ATC: “Next, ASP Avro.”
That was the understatement of the year. Hardly anyone paid attention to an Avro.
From a corner of the airfield, an old Avro lumbered down the runway and lazily lifted into the air, like an ostrich too heavy to fly. The propellers whirled noisily, eating up the air in front and keeping the garishly painted giant machine afloat. A thousand eyes turned to the slowly rotating dome, perched asymmetrically over the plane, somewhat like a Great War cannon on a pack-camel’s back. It kept a monotonous pace with the rambling plane, yet slowly activated a magnetic field of pride, admiration and envy.
Those who were on the airfield and watching could not believe their eyes—they were looking at an Indian AWACS in flight!
Sadly, as the superstitious would say, it attracted the evil eye too. About two years later, during an experimental flight from INS Rajali at Arakkonam, near Chennai, “after 90 per cent of the project had been completed”, the whole aircraft, complete with the rotodome, four scientists and four IAF men, crashed. The rotodome collapsed over the plane, and the plane “did two somersaults, then swerved to avoid electricity lines and the villages”, as an eyewitness told THE WEEK correspondent then.
With that went down India’s AWACS dreams.
This story is from the March 24, 2024 edition of THE WEEK India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 24, 2024 edition of THE WEEK India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Indira's Bang
How Indira Gandhi secured the borders, ended food import, before going for the test
Who's Afraid Of A New Nuclear Doctrine?
It has been 50 years since Pokhran I. With its capabilities increasing and global power equations changing, does India need to look at reviewing its nuclear doctrine?
I don't think things will change because of the win
When independent filmmaker Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light scripted history by winning the Grand Prix at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, it was not just a proud moment for the film's team, but also a triumph for the collective aspirations of women across the country.
Sid for kids
As a child, Sidhartha Mallya wished he had someone in his life to tell him what he wants to convey in his latest children's book, Sad Glad
Ready to roll
Following the Pokhran tests, India has operationalised a credible deterrent that the nation should be proud of
Breaking nuclear apartheid
How India protected its ability to move ahead with the nuclear weapons programme despite not signing the NPT
Power point
The Pokhran tests launched India's march towards being a full partner and participant in the global nuclear order
Shock and awe
India’s comprehensive capability in the nuclear domain is the result of its autonomous pursuit of the atomic programme against all odds
Spied on none, stole from none
A senior scientist during the Pokhran test in 1974 and chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission during the tests in 1998, Dr Rajagopala Chidambaram has been a key figure in the Indian nuclear journey.
Leader with a difference
ARVIND KEJRIWAL'S RETURN TO JAIL APPEARS IMMINENT. BUT HIS BLISTERING POLL CAMPAIGN MAY HAVE BRIGHTENED INDIA BLOC’S PROSPECTS