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File photo of F-16 fighter plane. PTI

Washington, March 19

F-16 jets give India a unique opportunity to be at the centre of the world’s largest fighter aircraft ecosystem and it is the only programme with proven performance to meet its operational needs and ‘Make in India’ priorities, according to an American defence company.

As India continues to shop around to add new fighter jets into its air force, Lockheed, which is the world’s largest defence company which has offered to relocate its entire production line to India has said that it intends to create far more an F-16 “assembly line” in India.

“We plan to introduce two new words into the lexicon of international fighter aircraft manufacturing: “India” and “exclusive.” F-16 production in India will be exclusive—something that has never before been presented by any other fighter aircraft manufacturer, past or present,” Vivek Lall, vice president, Strategy and Business Development, Lockheed Martin told PTI in an interview.

“The F-16 gives Indian industry a unique opportunity to be at the centre of the world’s largest fighter aircraft ecosystem,” Lall said.

“The F-16 provides unprecedented manufacturing, sustainment, upgrade and export opportunities to Indian industry well into the future. Only Lockheed Martin and its Indian partners can deliver the capabilities and industrial benefits to truly propel India’s military and defense industrial base into the future, Lall said.

He has played a key role in some of the big ticket American military sales to India, including the General Atomics-built Guardian Predator Drones announced by the US last year. Known as a renowned global aerospace leader, Lall recently joined Lockheed after spending a few years in General Atomics.

“The F-16 is the only aircraft programme in this competition with the proven performance and industrial scale to meet India’s operational needs and Make in India priorities,” he said, claiming that that no competing aircraft comes close to matching the F-16’s operational effectiveness and industrial success.

“The success of the F-16—3,000 F-16s flying today with 25 leading air forces—is a testament to the cost-effective, combat-proven capabilities the F-16 delivers. That combination of cost and capabilities is why F-16 production opportunities today total more than 400 aircraft, including India,” he said.

Lockheed is offering F-16 Block 70, which is the most advanced version of the aircraft.

“The F-16 continues to aerodynamically outperform its competitors and advanced technologies are continually integrated into the F-16. Block 70 mission systems are completely new and leverage technologies from the F-35,” Lall said.

The F-16 remains the backbone of the US Air Force, the world’s most capable air force, he said.

Structural and avionic upgrades to the US F-16 fleet will extend service life to 2045, while the F-16 becomes even more capable as technology enhancements from the F-22 and F-35 are continuously integrated across all three platforms, he added.

Responding to a question, Lall said the offer from Lockheed is cost advantage for India.

The single-engine F-16 has a 30-40 per cent lower operation and maintenance cost per flying hour than twin-engine aircraft in its class, according to figures published by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, he said.

“Whether you’re talking about battlefields or budgets, the F-16 is the clear choice for India,” he said.

Lall, however, refused to reply questions on F-35.

“Any discussions regarding potential new F-35 customers begin at the government-to-government level. It is not our place to speak on behalf of the US government or the government of India,” he said.

Notably the US Pacific Command Commander Admiral Harry Harris during his two recent Congressional testimonies have supported selling F-35 to India.

“At the moment, India is considering a number of US systems for purchase, all of which USPACOM fully supports: the F-16 for India’s large single-engine, multi-role fighter acquisition programme, Harris told the Congressional committees last week.

He also said the purchase includes, F/A-18E for India’s multi-engine, carrier-based fighter purchase; a reorder of 12-15 P-8Is; a potential purchase of SeaGuardian UAS; MH-60R multi-role sea-based helicopter; and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. PTI

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 18

In what could be a deliberate move, China’s state-owned shipbuilder has revealed, and then removed from its website, plans for a massive naval scale-up, including a nuclear-powered sea-going aircraft carrier of 1 lakh tonnes and a new set of nuclear submarines that would be more silent while operating underwater.The state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), which runs Dalian shipyard where China builds its aircraft carriers, revealed future plans with models last week only to later remove the same from its website. This could possibly be a deliberate move to tell the world what’s coming, especially as India expands to dominate greater parts of the Indian Ocean while Japan is adding to its naval fleet and the US has increased its naval presence in South-East Asia.The CSIC is a major shipbuilder for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and its biggest item could be China’s first nuclear-powered carrier. In strategic circles, this is identified as “Type 003”. Till now, there were only estimates on its size, structures and operations. Now, it seems, this will be the largest non-American warship in the world. China already has two diesel-electric powered carriers—the Ukraine-built “Liaoning” and the domestically built carrier, CV-17, launched in 2017.Only the US and France, operate nuclear-powered carriers. The Chinese one is expected to displace between 90,000-100,000 tonnes and have electromagnetically assisted launch system (EMALS) for fighter jets (only the US has tried these, so far). It will possibly carry J-15 fighters, J-31 stealth fighters, airborne early warning and control aircraft, anti-submarine warfare helicopters, and stealth attack drones.A nuclear-powered carrier will give China unlimited endurance at sea as the ship will not need to stop for fuel, and water is nowadays recycled from sea.The CSIC website also said it would build a new nuclear-powered submarine, likely to be called Type 095 nuclear-attack submarine (SSN). Compared to the existing Shang Class nuclear submarines, the 095 SSN will include new noise-reduction measures. The CSIC said it was also working on a separate “quiet” submarine, autonomous robot submarines or what are called the armed unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). Autonomous UUVs, armed with torpedoes and missiles, could undertake missions that manned vessels cannot.Separately, the US Department of Defence, in its annual report to the Congress titled “Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2017”, warned: “The PLAN lays high priority on the modernisation of its submarine force. It currently possesses 63. By 2020, this force is likely to grow to 78.”

The aircraft carrier

• It seems the new aircraft carrier will be the largest non-American warship in the world; only theUS and France operate nuclear-powered carriers so far
• The Chinese one is expectedto displace between 90,000-100,000 tonnes and have electromagnetically assisted launchsystem for fighter jets (only theUS has tried these, so far)

The submarine

• The new nuclear-powered submarine is likely to be called Type 095 nuclear-attack submarine (SSN)
• Compared to the existing Shang Class nuclear submarines, this will include new noise-reduction measures

Una, March 14

A war memorial at the Municipal Park here will be formally inaugurated on March 23.In a press note issued here today, chairman of the district Ex-Servicemen Welfare Council Yashpal Thakur said members of 87 martyrs’ families would be honoured. The memorial, which displays the names of all martyrs, has been constructed with contributions from ex-serviceman, the Municipal Committee, the district administration, social organisations and public funds. — OC

The photogenic and politically correct French President Emmanuel Macron waltzed through his India state visit with the customary Parisian sophistication and panache by playing on South Block’s insecurities to set the stage for offloading more defence equipment on India. In brass tacks, the French signalled their intentions to supply two more squadrons of Rafale fighters; reopened conversations on a mega French nuclear power project; and won orders for their companies equal to one year of Indo-French trade. In return, India got a French offer to checkmate China in the Indian Ocean by the liberal use of each other’s naval facilities. The French astutely played on Indian susceptibilities and worries vis-a-vis a rising China to project themselves as India’s best allies. But will a French President, whose maiden overseas State visit was to Beijing, watch India’s back in a square up with China? Or when the Sino-French bilateral commerce is 10 times Indo-French annual trade? Paris, anyway, lost interest in South China Sea after being drummed out of Vietnam and Cambodia decades back. The second billing, after the joint Indo-French maritime alliance, was taken by the reopening of talks for French nuclear plants, rejected the world-over for their unproven technology and steep tariff. We are none the wiser about whether the French have patched up the security vulnerabilities in Scorpene submarines after 20,000 pages of its classified data was leaked to the media. The silver lining of Macron’s visit was the simultaneous staging of the first summit of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). France’s co-promotion of the ISA (along with India) brought in several heads of state from the mineral-rich Francophonic Africa where the Indian diplomatic footprint has been traditionally weak. The best challenge to China should be on land rather than in the oceans. India can do this in Africa by dovetailing the India-Japan led Africa Growth Corridor with an India-France trade centred foray in West Africa by riding on the opportunity given by the ISA. This approach will meet India’s prime aim of opening new trade avenues to compensate for the loss of existing ones due to the coming trade war.

Youth throw stones at security men in Srinagar on Tuesday to protest the killing of civilians in Shopian. Tribune Photo: Amin War

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 6

After an Army Major filed a complaint, the police have registered a case of attempt to murder against the persons killed in a shootout in Shopian on Sunday evening.The Army in its docket (complaint) to the police immediately after the incident, which left six persons dead, said apart from a militant, three persons were killed in the initial shootout. It said the three persons were “probably” overground workers (OGWs).In his complaint, Major Parveen Menon of 44 Rashtriya Rifles said the Army had set up a mobile vehicle check-post near a school at Pahnoo on Sunday evening when two cars tried to run through the check-post. “The troops at the check-post challenged the occupants of the cars but they did not stop and instead fired from inside the car on the troops, with the intent to kill them. In the exchange of fire between the Army men and the occupants of the cars, one militant was killed and probably three OGWs were killed and one weapon was recovered,” Major Menon said.The FIR, a copy of which is with The Tribune, says the complaint was verbally corroborated with the contents of the written report.“The contents of report have been read out to the complainant. The written report and verbal disclosure of the complaint attract offences under Section 307 (attempt to murder), Ranbir Ranbir Penal Code, and Sections 7/27 of the Arms Act. Hence an FIR is registered and investigation entrusted to a Sub-Inspector,” the FIR read. It further said the case was of a special nature. A senior police officer said the FIR had been registered in the case. “This is just a first information report. Various versions, including that of the Army, eyewitnesses and relatives of the deceased would be included in the investigation,” he said.Recently, the police was involved in a controversy after it lodged an FIR against an Army unit when three civilians were killed on January 27 in Army firing in Shopian district. On March 5, the J&K Government told the Supreme Court that Major Aditya Kumar had not been named in the FIR in connection with the incident.

The grieving family members of Subedar Mohammad Ashraf Mir at Maidanpora on Sunday. Tribune Photo: Amin War

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, February 11

A pall of gloom has descended on the villages of four Kashmiri soldiers who were martyred in a fidayeen attack at the Sunjuwan Army camp in Jammu.Subedar Mohammad Ashraf Mir of Maidanpora, Lolab, and Havildar Habibullah Qureshi of Batapora Hyhama, both from the frontier Kupwara district in north Kashmir; Lance Naik Mohammmad Iqbal Sheikh from Nageenpora, Tral, Pulwama, and Lance Naik Manzoor Ahmed from Kulgam district, were killed in the gunfight. Lance Naik Iqbal’s father was also killed in the attack.As the families waited for the bodies of the soldiers, residents of adjacent areas rushed to the villages of the martyrs.At Maidanpora, over 110 km from Srinagar, villagers started visiting the Mir family after the news about his death in the Jammu attack spread.“We came to know that he died on Saturday,” Subedar Mir’s father Ghulam Mohideen Mir said, adding that he was the only bread-earner of the family.Mir pitched for dialogue between India and Pakistan to stop the bloodshed in J&K.“Innocent people are getting killed each day and this should stop. They should talk and resolve issues,” Mohideen said.Subedar Mir, 43, was home when fidayeen barged into his quarter. A family member said militants shot him dead as he was preparing for pre-dawn prayers. His three children and wife, too, were at the quarter when he was shot dead on Saturday.The family of Havildar Qureshi at Batapora in Kupwara is also in mourning. A few family members were upset with the Army for not disclosing them about the death of the soldiers.“We came to know about (the death) through the media on Saturday. There was no news from the Army even today,” said another relative.In Tral, the Sheikh family was waiting for two bodies. Lance Naik Iqbal, 32, and his father were killed in the gunfight. He is survived by his wife and an infant son.

CM enquires about injured in hospital Jammu: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti visited Army Hospital, Satwari, on Saturday evening and enquired about the condition of those injured in the Sunjuwan Army camp attack. The Chief Minister met the injured and wished them speedy recovery. She also interacted with the doctors attending to the injured. She promised the injured all support of the government. TNS

There is enough space for us to innovate between regular pinprick-type LoC actions and a low-intensity conflict limited to J&K.

Four Indian soldiers of 15 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry have been martyred, including a young officer. On 4 February 2018, the Line of Control (LoC) in the Bhimbar Gali sub-sector of Rajouri erupted with gunfire between the Indian and Pakistan army troops.

We retaliated with vigour and in a few days, we will hear of a possible trans-LoC operation or heavy fire assault which will lay low a couple of Pakistani soldiers in the vicinity of BG.

This has routinely been our response ever since Pakistan chose to brazenly breach the unwritten ceasefire accord of November 2003. That response by us is essentially tactical in nature. Tactical operations have a local and temporary effect and are good only for quid pro quo; they give a chance to flex muscles and rhetoric.

In the prevailing environment, anyone experienced in the complex dynamics of LoC operations will tell you that unless tactical operations are innovative, and planned for a larger effect, the strategic outcome is questionable.

To have a strategic effect, we need clarity on just what Pakistan is intending to achieve by keeping the LoC alive.

It’s been explained many times that for Pakistan, turbulence in the Kashmir hinterland or the LoC is a part of its strategy to keep the pot boiling and remind the international community of the existence of the Jammu and Kashmir issue. Since the Indian Army manages time and again to restore stability in the hinterland, and negates Pakistan’s ability to calibrate terrorist operations at will, the LoC remains the only location where Pakistan can exercise a degree of higher initiative.

After all, its operations are launched from across the LoC, from an area under its own control. The heat along the LoC with ceasefire violations and targeting of Indian patrols is also Pakistan’s way of messaging its support to the people of Kashmir.

Fresh thinking must emerge on the basis of experience so that the damage inflicted on the adversary becomes difficult for them to absorb. We must ensure that the adversary can no longer keep its losses under wraps. The cost of misadventure must be made unacceptable.

It is clear that General Pervez Musharraf’s ceasefire of November 2003 never met the approval of his corps commanders. The policy is now completely in reverse since 2014. In the ten-odd years when the ceasefire became less effective since 2008, our emphasis and focus should have been on hardening defensive infrastructure along with necessary countering of terrorist infiltration. However, the former was comparatively ignored.

The fine art of LoC operations was also partially compromised. The institutional knowledge which existed since 1971, and included that indefinable notion—’moral ascendancy’—as a battle-winning factor, somehow eroded as the Army was on an overdrive of sub-conventional operations outside the domain of the LoC.

Most experienced veterans are unified in their opinion that graduated response to Pakistan’s continuing misdemeanor only contributes towards keeping our strategy tactical. To escalate it to the operational-strategic domain the following specifics are almost mandatory.

• An acceptance that the ceasefire has now ceased to exist.
• Vertical escalation through employment of coordinated fire assaults over extended periods employing heavy weapons without remorse. This would involve an escalation many notches higher.
• Horizontal escalation to extend the scope to different areas along the LoC, especially in areas where we exercise total domination such as the entire Neelam Valley. Let the threat to Pakistan’s defences escalate enough for it to majorly consider a hurried redeployment of its internal security formations. It can even escalate to Kargil.
• Sufficient trained resources to strike at will at multiple targets beyond the LoC.
• Adequate preparation for adversary response, including caution against border action teams targeting patrols and logistics.
• Immediate infusion of funds for transformational execution of hardening of defensive infrastructure, including the fast track construction of civilian bunkers for border villages. Such management was done by the NDA government in 2003 too. LoC infrastructure must become impregnable. It has been ignored over the years.

There will surely be differing opinions with doubts on India’s ability to keep a tight control over the possibility of escalation into a possible full blown war. But Pakistan is neither wanting a war, nor is it prepared for it. Its ploy about tactical nukes must be taken as a bluff and our nuclear response must be spoken about more often.

There is enough space for us to innovate between regular pinprick-type LoC actions and a low intensity conflict limited to Jammu and Kashmir. Without a well-considered response, a half-baked quid pro quo will keep the situation in Pakistan’s advantage. There is an opinion that DGMO talks should be held at the earliest to de-escalate the situation. Such talks in the past have produced temporary reprieve and must be looked upon as a parallel response if they do materialise. The window towards engagement can always be open but from a position of strength and not weakness.

Lt. Gen. Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd), a former GOC of Srinagar-based 15 Corps, is associated with the Vivekanand International Foundation and the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies.