Flysikkerheten i Indias Forsvar - Curt Lewis

Armed forces lost 48 aircraft, 21 choppers since 2011 (India)

NEW DELHI: A total of 48 military aircraft and 21 helicopters were lost to crashes
since 2011 in which 79 people were killed, the government told Lok Sabha today.

Replying to a question, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said all
such incidents and accidents are thoroughly investigated and preventive
actions taken based on probe reports.

"A total of 48 aircraft and 21 helicopters were lost in crashes by the armed forces
since 2011. 79 persons were killed in these crashes," he said.

To a separate question, Bhamre said it is planned to utilise Light Combat Aircraft
Tejas as a flying test bed to design and develop a stealthy unmanned combat
aerial vehicle.

He said the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd has undertaken a feasibility study to
convert Chetak helicopter into an unmanned technology demonstrator.
The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has also planned to develop a futuristic
stealth combat drone.

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, replying to another query, said the ADA is also
developing MK­II version of LCA for the Navy with a higher thrust engine than the one
used in MK­I version of Tejas.

"Final Operational Clearence (FOC) of LCA (Navy) MK II is likely to be obtained by
2023 for induction in Indian Navy and FoC for Air Force MKII is likely to be obtained by
December 2025," he said.

Replying to a separate query, Bhamre said Indian Navy has decommissioned 11 ships
since January 2015.

The Minister said no incident of Indian UAV having been shot down by Pakistan has
taken place.