RAFALE: INDUCTION OF A NEW GENERATION IN WAR-FIGHTING

Induction of Rafale Jets signifies a great trust and responsibility being imposed on those who will manage, maintain, support and fly these wonderful war-fighting machines

- AIR CHIEF MARSHAL S. KRISHNASWAMY (RETD)

Combat aircraft are primarily weapons of war and their potentials define their ability in war-fighting. In 1965, our pilots fought air battles flying the Gnat that had just two guns but no missiles or on-board radar which is unthinkable these days. The MiG-21s that we acquired in the late ‘60s and right through the ‘80s flew much faster, had a rudimentary radar’ but were limited in respect of payload and range.

A void was felt in the capability of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to strike deep inside the enemy territory. That called for the induction of a fleet of Deep Penetration Strike Aircraft (DPSA) that could carry twice the load of the MiGs and fly double the range. The Jaguar came in 1979 as the DPSA which had an inertial navigation system, the accuracy of which was hitherto unheard of. These aircraft could deliver weapons with pin-point accuracy; but were limited in manoeuvrability. Then came, the air-superiority fighters that were designed with relaxed stability to achieve supermanoeuvrability by virtue of electronically-driven flight controls.