<Aircraft carrier without aircraft - Depleted fleet of fighter jets makes navy flagship a sitting duck SUJAN DUTTA
New Delhi, March 9: The Indian Navy's only aircraft carrier is almost bereft of aircraft. Nearly the entire depleted fleet of the INS Viraat's Sea Harrier jump-jet fleet has been grounded. This means the navy's flagship is without its air defence cover and attack capability. The Sea Harriers are the only fighter aircraft capable of taking off from and landing on the Viraat. Bereft of them, the Viraat is little more than a floating airstrip, a sitting duck for enemy aircraft in the event of hostilities. The navy has lost more than half its fleet of 30 Sea Harriers to air crashes since they were procured from British Aerospace in 1983. British Aerospace has stopped producing the aircraft. The upshot is that the Indian Navy is now scouring used-aircraft markets - asking navies that used the aircraft but do not need them any more - to buy vintage jump-jets and cannibalise them to keep its only fleet flying. But even that does not entirely explain the current acute shortage. The navy has only about 10 Sea Harriers that are fit to fly. These aircraft have now been sent into hangars for an urgent refurbishment programme for which the aircraft have been grounded. Defence minister A.K. Antony said Hindustan Aeronautics was carrying out an upgrade programme estimated at about Rs 476.69 crore. The modernisation is to be completed by 2009. This means that the INS Viraat cannot be sent on an operational mission immediately if circumstances so demand. This is not the first time the Sea Harriers have been almost rendered incapable of flying operational missions. In 2005, the navy took up another programme to equip the jump-jets - that have short take-off and vertical landing capability - with Israeli-made Elta-EL/M-2032 multi-mode fire control radar systems. Antony admitted the shortage in Parliament earlier this week. "The ongoing upgrade of Sea Harrier programme has temporarily affected the availability of the aircraft," he said in a written reply. The navy is already at sea - in a way it does not like - over the procurement of the Russian-built aircraft carrier, the Admiral Gorshkov. Moscow has demanded $1.2 billion over the contracted amount of $1.5 billion for the carrier. The delivery schedule is also delayed and the earliest India can expect it is 2012. But before that, in 2010, the INS Viraat is due for de-commissioning. With the Gorshkov delayed, the navy will now have to keep the Viraat floating beyond its lifespan. The carrier, again procured from the British, is more than 50 years old. The navy is now proposing to buy 17 Goshawks, again from British Aerospace systems. It is also eagerly waiting for the delivery of MiG 29K/KUB fighter aircraft from Russia. The aircraft were negotiated as part of the package with the Gorshkov.> http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080310/jsp/frontpage/story_9001402.jsp What good will the MIG29K/KUBs do? Arent they tied to the Gorshkov? They may not be able to operate from non-Russian aircraft carriers. The KUBs are supposed to be based in Dabolim for training purposes. The aircraft carrier itself was supposed to be based at Karwar. Viraat is in Bombay -- mostly in dry dock for one refit or another. It's high time the Goa government took an active interest in what military purpose is being served at Dabolim and how Goa benefits from it directly and indirectly.