Woman heading IAF in future a possibility: Arup Raha

Read report, here: http://bit.ly/1PzNfnh (First appeared on June 18, 2016)

No doubts on Tejas’ capabilities, squadron formation on track: Raha

By Dr Anantha Krishnan M

https://twitter.com/writetake

Bengaluru, Feb 19: Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha said on Thursday that the Indian Air Force (IAF) would begin the Squadron formation of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas after receiving third series production (SP) variant.

It was for the first time that an IAF Chief spoke comprehensively about the home-grown fighter jet’s squadron formation. “We have no doubt about the capability of the aircraft,” Raha said.

“The first two series production aircraft (SP-1 and SP-2) have some slight variations and from SP-3 onwards we will have them entering into the Squadron. The first squadron will consist of aircraft from SP-3 to SP-6,” the Air Chief said.

The Tejas Squadron will be first raised in Bengaluru and later will be positioned at the Sulur Air Force base, near Coimbatore.

Read the full report, here: http://bit.ly/1F0syw1

IAF Chief Raha to review HAL's Sukhoi, Tejas, Hawk projects

In Nasik, Raha will visit the Sukhoi manufacturing and overhaul facilities. 

Raha is expected to visit state-of-the-art Tejas facilities in Bangalore.

                                                               By Anantha Krishnan M
                                                                 Express News Service

ACM Arup Raha

Bangalore: The Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha will review the ongoing projects of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) during a two-day visit to its facilities in Nasik and Bangalore. Accompanied by Secretary (Defence Production) Gokul Chandra Pati and other senior officials from HAL and IAF, Raha is expected to take stock of all major manufacture, overhaul and upgrade programmes. Sources confirm to Express that it is Raha's first visit to HAL after taking over as the Chief of Air Staff in January this year.
Raha's visit starts with HAL's MiG Complex in Nasik on June 7, where India's frontline fighter Sukhois (Su-30 MKI) are manufactured and overhauled. Sources said that the air chief will visit the flight hangars, ROH (repair and overhaul) facilities, assembly line, machine shop, functional test labs and system test units.
The Air chief is also visiting the enhanced Kopyo (the radar used on MiG fighters) test lab in Nasik. The visit to the Kopyo lab is seen as significant move considering the IAF concerns on the radar in the past. Sources said that the Sukhoi cost escalation issues are unlikely to come up during Raha's visit, since the matter is being taken up at the ministry level.
The chief will also be updated on the technology advancements of Nasik Division, which is the nodal agency for integrating supersonic BrahMos missiles on Sukhoi. Currently one Sukhoi is undergoing system integration tests ahead of the flight trials with the air-launched version of BrahMos. The flight tests are set begin in October and the missile is expected to enter the IAF rolls officially next year.
Raha will arrive in Bangalore on Sunday and review various IAF projects being undertaken at HAL's Bangalore Complex, Helicopter Complex and Design Complex. The state-of-the-art Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Series Production facility, which is currently abuzz with activities ahead of the expected roll out of the first aircraft (SP-1) in August, will be an important stop for Raha. Though the IAF has already placed confirmed orders of 40 Tejas, HAL is pushing for 200 aircraft as an immediate replacement of the MiGs.
Sources said that the Hawk manufacturing facility, Mirage and Jaguar overhaul/upgrade installations will be on the chief's radar. He will also be shown around the Helicopter Academy to Train by Simulation of Flying (HATSOFF), a JV project between HAL and CAE (Canada).
Visit to strengthen ties: Raha's comprehensive visit to HAL is significant considering the strained relationship IAF had with India's leading Defence Public Sector Undertaking in the recent past. While HAL is keen to take risks and invest its own funds in select projects, IAF feels HAL should focus on its strengths and not venture into projects that might attract delay.
"There are issues and there were issues in the past as well. Today, HAL has improved its record on delivery and serviceability front. We will have more insights from the chief during the visit, which will help us serve the IAF better," said an HAL official at the company headquarters in Bangalore.

Copyright@The New Indian Express

IAF Chief Arup Raha takes MiG 27 on a date at Kalaikunda

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Photos: IAF

Ensure we touch the sky with glory: Arup Raha

Photo Courtesy: Vishal Thapar

(Unedited IAF release)
Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha took over the command of the Indian Air Force as the 24th Chief of the Air Staff at Air Headquarters, Vayu Bhawan today.
In his address to the IAF, Air Chief Marshal Raha said, “ I feel honoured and privileged to have been entrusted with the responsibility to lead one of the finest Air Forces in the world. IAF is on a trajectory of modernisation and is transforming into a strategic aerospace power with full spectrum capability. Accretion through new acquisitions, replacement of obsolete equipment with state-of-the-art inductions and upgrade of the vintage weapon platforms would bolster our capabilities. In-depth knowledge, proficiency and professional competence to harness the potential of new equipment would provide the necessary cutting edge in discharging our onerous tasks. In this strategic transformation process I expect sustained effort and special attention from all air warriors to maintain high operational status of the legacy equipment, while operationalising the new inductions in a time bound manner. This would obviously be achieved through exemplary leadership at all levels of the IAF.
Our air warriors displayed exceptional dedication and commitment during ‘Op Rahat’ in Uttarakhand, the largest ever Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief helicopter operations, rescuing thousands of people and saving precious lives. A record 3702 sorties were flown while 24,260 people were airlifted to safety, despite the challenges imposed by inclement weather, difficult terrain, high altitude and unprepared helipads. Our professionalism and grit has earned accolades from all quarters, not only in India but from abroad as well. High operational preparedness and successful conduct of various exercises in India and abroad have reinforced our professional reputation as a formidable force. We need to continue to work with great synergy and vigour in meeting all challenging tasks during the year ahead.
IAF is committed to providing vital support for our security forces deployed in Counter-Insurgency Operations. Sustained efforts in air maintenance in the Northern and Eastern sectors are being appreciated by the Military, Para-military, Central agencies and state authorities.
Our people are our most valuable assets. A strong, motivated and cohesive team is the key to our success. I exhort all air warriors to follow the fine traditions of this great service and ensure that we ‘Touch the Sky with Glory’”
Commissioned into the Flying Branch of the IAF in Dec 1974, Air Chief Marshal Raha graduated from the National Defence Academy(NDA), Pune with the President’s Gold Medal in 1973.
An experienced Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) holding ‘A2’ instructional category, Air Chief Marshal Raha, has served as a Directing Staff at Flying Instructors School(FIS), Tambaram as well as at the Tactics and Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) of the IAF and has to his credit nearly 3,400 hours of flying experience, mainly on fighter aircraft.
An alumnus of Defence Services Staff College(DSSC) and the National Defence College, New Delhi, he has functioned as an inspector in the Directorate of Air Staff Inspection in Air Headquarters and as Staff Officer to the Chief of the Air Staff. He was deputed as the Military and Air Attache in the Embassy of India, Kyiv, Ukraine from 1999 to 2001 and has held many operational assignments such as Command of a MiG-29 Squadron, Bhatinda in Punjab during ‘OP PARAKRAM’, Adampur and Advance Headquarters Western Air Command, Chandimandir. He has also served as the Deputy Commandant at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal,Hyderabad, Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at Headquarters Western Air Command and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command(CAC)and Western Air Command(WAC). He took over as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff(VCAS) on 01 Jul 2013.
Air Chief Marshal Raha is a recipient of Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vayu Sena Medal. He was appointed as Honourary Aide De Camp (Air) to the Hon’ble President of India wef 01 Dec 2012.
He is married to Mrs Lily Raha and has two children. He is an avid reader and a keen golfer who enjoys travelling.