Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 27

Hundreds of serving and retired Indian Air Force pilots today bid emotional farewell to “Cold war” era fighter jet MiG-27, which India procured from the Soviet Union in 1985.

A formation of MiG-27 flew for the last time in India at Jodhpur this morning. The IAF’s 29 Squadron known as the “Scorpios” flew in a five aircraft “Arrowhead” formation flanked by Sukhoi 30-MKI aircraft as a mark of respect.

India operated about 165 MiG-27 planes and these saw frontline combat during the Kargil war in 1999. Before the Kargil conflict, fighter jets had not been used at such altitudes—15,000 feet or more. The IAF was tasked to bomb the Pakistani army-occupied locations at altitudes ranging between 15,000 and 18,000 feet.

No country and no air force had used any fighter jet to drop armament at such altitudes. It was unique. It meant pilots in MiG-27, MiG-21 and Mirage-2000 jets were flying at 30,000 feet to hit targets that were around 12,000 feet away.iG-27 jets had a unique capability to swing their wings from 16° to 72°, depending on the mission. This allowed the plane to fly at variable speeds.

New Delhi, December 27

A day after Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat made a controversial statement over Citizenship (Amendment) Act, he said on Friday the armed forces are “extremely secular” and the driving ethos is “insaniyat” (Humanity) and “sharafat” (Decency).

He also stressed the armed forces have utmost respect for laws related to human rights and they not only ensure protection of human rights of people of the country, but also of its adversaries.

He was addressing interns and senior officers of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on “Preserving Human Rights in Times of War and Prisoners of War” at the Manav Adhikar Bhawan here, officials said.

“The Indian armed forces are much disciplined and have the utmost respect for human rights laws and international human rights laws. The Indian armed forces not only ensure protection of human rights of our own people but also of adversaries and deal with Prisoners of War as per the Geneva Conventions,” General Rawat was quoted as saying in a statement.

Rawat asserted, “The driving ethos of the armed forces are ‘insaniyat’ and ‘sharafat’ (humanity and decency) and they are extremely secular.” He said the Army headquarters had created a “human rights cell” in 1993, which is now being upgraded to the level of a directorate. — PTI

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New Delhi, December 27

Indian Air Force (IAF) decommissioned Mikoyan-Gurevich 27 (MiG-27), the fighter aircraft that played a stellar role during the Kargil war with Pakistan 20 years ago, on Friday when the last squadron of seven planes roared through the skies for the last time.

The fighter aircraft took to the skies one last time at the Jodhpur airbase where the only IAF squadron that operates the MiG 27 is based.

The MiG-27, code named ‘Bahadur’ in India, has had an impeccable track record in its more than three decades of glorious service to the nation.

“These aircraft have made immense contribution to the nation, both during peace and war. The fleet earned its glory in the historic Kargil conflict when it delivered rockets & bombs with accuracy on enemy positions. The fleet also took active part in Op-Parakram,” the Ministry of Defence said.

The formidable strike aircraft of Russian origin has the single most powerful engine in the world and variable geometry wing which allows the pilot to change the wing sweep angle while flying as per the mission requirements to achieve optimum flying characteristics.

The Number 29 Squadron is the only unit in the IAF operating the MiG-27 upgrades, the Defence Minister said. The squadron was raised on March 10, 1958, at Air Force Station Halwara with Ouragan (Toofani) aircraft. “Over the years, the Squadron has been equipped with numerous types of fighters such as MiG-21 Type 77, MiG-21 Type 96, MiG-27 ML and MiG-27 upgrade,” the ministry said.

“The Squadron is now slated to be number plated on 31 March 2020 with 27 December 2019 being its last flying day thereby making the swing wing fleet a part of IAF’s glorious past,” MoD said.

“Veteran air warriors along with serving air warriors are taking part in the ceremony. Air Marshal S.K. Ghotia VSM, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief South Western Air Command are presiding over the wind down ceremony,” the defence ministry said.

This swing wing fighter bomber was inducted into the IAF fleet in the late 1980s. Being a dedicated ground attack aircraft, it was one of the main strike aircraft of the IAF.

“With its sophisticated avionics and weapon computers, it is capable of delivering a variety of loads in different modes of attack with immense precision,” the ministry said.

The pilots proudly call themselves ‘Swing Wingers’ and have always vouched the aircraft’s precise weapon delivery and rapid acceleration.

“This formidable ground attack fighter aircraft has served the Nation for over three decades. Inducted in 1985, MiG-27 has been the mainstay of IAF”s ground attack capability. It has participated in all major #IAF operations and has played a stellar role in the 1999 Kargil War,” the IAF said in a series of tweets.

Twitter users tweeted farewell messages for the fighter aircraft.

#MiG27 trended with 1,611 tweets.

One user wrote: “Adieu, MiG-27. Thank you for your illustrious service.”

“Truly the end of an era. #MiG27 #IndianAirForce,” wrote another user.

One post read: “The roar of a MiG-27 taking off, with its afterburners lit, shook everything! Air Force stations will miss it. #MiG27” One user posted a funny request: “I request the Air Force to gift me one #MiG27 as they are of no use to them now….” “Goodbye #MiG27 Bahadur. Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end,” tweeted one user.

Another tweeted: “Some named it ‘the flying coffin’ and some called it the Mikoyan MiG… but it will always be remembered as the ‘BAHADUR’ of the 99 Kargil war. Adieu #MiG27,” said one user.

“Goodbye #MiG27. Thank you for your illustrious service. India thanks you. Truly the end of an era.” — IANS

Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, December 26

Army chief General Bipin Rawat kicked up a storm on Thursday when he commented on the anti-CAA protests across the country, condemning those leading the “crowds to carry out arson and violence”.

Speaking at an event-Six Sigma Healthcare Delhi-he said it is not leadership if people lead university and college students towards violence.

General Rawat said: “Leaders are not those who lead people in inappropriate directions. We are witnessing in a large number of university and colleges students, the way they are leading masses of crowds to carry out arson and violence in cities and towns. This is not leadership (sic).”

Since both Houses of Parliament approved amendments to the citizenship law earlier this month, protests — sometimes violent — have taken place across the country. Multiple protestors have been injured and have died in these protests, especially in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.

Gen Rawat, who is due to retire on December 31 as Army Chief, is tipped to be India’s first Chief of Defence Staff who will be the single-point military adviser to the government on tri-services matters. In his three-year tenure as Army Chief, he has faced allegations of not remaining politically neutral.

Since both Bouses of Parliament approved amendments to the citizenship law earlier this month, protests — sometimes violent — have taken place across the country during which many protesters have died, especially in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.

“What is so complex about leadership, if it is all about leading. Because when you move forward, everybody follows. It is not that simple. It appears simple, but it is a complex phenomenon,” Rawat said in his speech.

“Even amongst the crowd you find that the leaders emerge. But leaders are those who lead people in the right direction. Leaders are not those who lead people in inappropriate directions,” he added.

However, Gen Rawat’s comments triggered a massive row.

Former Navy Chief Admiral L Ramdas said Gen Rawat was “wrong” in making such remarks as people in the armed forces must follow the decades-old principle of serving the country and not any political force.

“The rule is very clear that we are serving the country and not political forces, and to express any political views as we have heard today are quite a wrong thing for any serving personnel whether he is the top gun or at the bottom rank. It is not proper,” Ramdas said.

The Section 21 of the Army Act prohibits any Army personnel to attend or address any meeting or to take part in any demonstration organised by anybody for any political or other purposes. It also bars them from communicating to press or to publish any book relating to any political question.

The Army Chief’s comments also evoked sharp response from political leaders.

The CPI(M), in a statement, asked the General to apologise to the nation for his “indiscretion”, holding that his remarks will have extremely adverse ramifications for the constitutional arrangement in the country.

The Politburo of the party said the General has “directly indulged” in condemning the student protestors who have been opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act and the proposed pan-India National Register for Citizens.

“Army Chief’s statement underlines as to how the situation has degenerated under the Modi government where the highest officer in uniform can so brazenly breach the limits of his institutional role. It is, therefore, necessary to raise the question as to whether we are going the Pakistan way of politicizing the military. Such obnoxious interference in matters of democratic struggles from top ranking military professionals is unheard of in the history of independent India,” it said.

Congress Spokesperson Brijesh Kalappa too slammed Gen Rawat for his remarks.

“Army Chief Bipin Rawat speaking against #CAAProtests is wholly against Constitutional democracy. If Army Chief is allowed to speak on Political issues today, it also permits him to attempt an Army takeover tomorrow!!,” he tweeted.

After his remarks generated a storm, Army issued a clarification, saying the Army Chief has not referred to the CAA.

“He has not referred to any political event, personality. He was addressing the future citizens of India who are students. (It is his) righteous duty to guide students on whom shall depend the future of the nation. In the Kashmir valley, youths were misguided the first, by people whom they trusted as leaders,” the Army statement said.

Rights activist Yogendra Yadav said: “I agree with him, yes leaders should lead (people) in the appropriate direction. I am absolutely sure, he has the Prime Minister of this country in mind when talking about that.”

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said leadership is about knowing the limits of one’s office. “It is about understanding the idea of civilian supremacy and preserving the integrity of the institution that you head,” he said.

K C Tyagi, leader of the JD(U), an ally of the BJP, also criticised Gen Rawat for making “political comments”.

Twitter also erupted in response to the Army Chief’s statement, with some suggesting he be “given a party ticket now”. (With PTI)

Pune: Two Army jawans were killed and four others injured in an accident during a bridge construction training at the College of Military Engineering here on Thursday, an official said. A court of inquiry has been ordered into the incident. A “tower support” collapsed during the training, said an official of Southern Command. PTI

On 26 December 2019, troops were undergoing training at College of Military Engineering (CME), Pune. During the training of bridge construction, the tower support collapsed and six- seven troops got injured and were immediately shifted to Military Hospital (MH), Kirkee / Command Hospital (CH), Pune. Lance Havildar Sanjivan PK and Naik Waghmode BK sustained serious injuries and lost their lives during the treatment. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered for investigating the incident and the Next of Kin (NOK) of the deceased soldiers have been informed.

Avneet Kaur
Jalandhar, December 26

As the Indian Air Force (IAF) has finally decided to decommission its MiG-27 ground-strike aircraft named ‘Bahadur’ at the Jodhpur Air Force Base today, a retired Air Vice-Marshal (AVM) from Jalandhar and other fighter pilots of the last squadron of seven MiG-27s have been invited to fly its last sortie and bid adieu to the plane with a salute for its glorious service to the nation.

Air Vice-Marshal Sarvjit Hothi (retd), who was the commanding officer of the three squadrons at Halwara during the Kargil War, speaking to The Tribune over phone while he was on his way to Jodhpur, said after four decades of rich service, the seven MiG-27s of the 29th IAF Squadron, that played a crucial role during the 1999 Kargil War, will be decommissioned and given a ceremonial adieu, which was to be attended by retired fighter pilots, Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal, among others.

He said the MiG-27 aircraft in India has had an impeccable track record of glorious service to the nation. Procured in 1980s from the then Soviet Union, the fighter jet has proved its worth in various operations, including Kargil, and earned rich accolades in numerous international exercises held in the country.

Sharing his own experience with MiG 23 and 27, Hothi, who has VM and VSM to his credit, said during the Kargil War, the 30 per cent bombings were done by MiG 23 and 27 pilots. He said formidable strike aircraft had the single-most powerful engine in the world and variable geometry wing which allows the pilot to change the wing sweep angle while flying as per mission requirements to achieve optimum flying characteristics.

He said the aircraft would pass into history not only in India but in the entire world as no other country operates MiG 27 now.

“It’s a feeling that could not be expressed as I am happy and equally proud to be part of the farewell ceremony on Friday. Also, I will be meeting my old friends. All the memories and risky encounters with MiG 27 will be refreshed while we have a last sortie,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hothi had also been part of the 10-member pilot crew selected for flying the elite light fighter aircraft — Gnat — in 1971 during the Indo-Pak War. Besides, he had been a pilot for Air India after his retirement from the IAF.