Category Archives: 4th Oct 2018

The Needle’s Eye
Wings Clipped, Fighting Unfit 

In all chatter on defence spend & Rafales, it’s the IAF that’s losing out Nobody with even a rudimentary interest in national security will dispute that the Indian Air Force (IAF) needs more firepower. Currently, it has 600 combat aircraft and 33 active squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 44. We face two implacable foes…

The Needle’s Eye
The IAF is the loser in the war over Rafale

Nobody with even a rudimentary interest in national security will dispute that the Indian Air Force (IAF) needs more firepower. Currently, it has 600 combat aircraft, and 33 active squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 44. We face two implacable foes, on our western and northern borders. India’s 2018-19 defence budget totalled Rs 2.82 trillion,…