Two IAF pilots killed in plane crash
The Indian Air Force (IAF) said two of its pilots were killed on 15 February after their plane crashed in a remote northeastern state.
The microlight plane crashed soon after taking off for a routine sortie from Jorhat airbase in Assam state.
An IAF official said the pilots attempted an emergency landing but the plane crashed and burst into flames.
The official said: ‘Both the pilots died in the crash and a court of enquiry has been ordered.’
It was not immediately clear what caused the two-seater to crash, but accidents are not uncommon.
More than 170 IAF pilots have lost their lives in accidents in the past three decades, with crashes blamed on its ageing fleet.
Most of the accidents involve Soviet-era MIGs unflatteringly dubbed ‘flying coffins’. In May 2017 two IAF pilots were killed in Assam after their Russian-made fighter jet crashed near the border with China.
India is investing billions of dollars to modernise its decades-old fleet.
More from Defence Notes
-
How UAE defence giant EDGE Group plans to double its exports
The UAE defence conglomerate has put an aggressive strategy in place to increase its share of exports while navigating the growing gap between East and West.
-
US lawmakers warn that “more military spending is absolutely necessary” to ensure Pentagon’s readiness
The US Congress has raised concerns about how inflation rates and cuts in main acquisition programmes could affect the US military.
-
Can the US overcome Russian and Chinese nuclear capabilities?
Washington’s ageing inventory and the pace Moscow and Beijing have been modernising their capabilities put in check the US Nuclear deterrence.
-
US FY2024 funding package passes as China closes military capability gap
The Pentagon has been operating under temporary funding since October 2023, which has impacted its main acquisition and development programmes, increasing the capability gap between the US and China.
-
NATO outlines future challenges as Ukrainian funding from US stalls
In 2023, defence spending increased by an unprecedented 11% across European NATO countries and Canada. Since 2014, the group has spent an additional US$600 billion on defence.
-
US Pentagon to reduce investments in main acquisition programmes over FY2025
The DoD requested nearly US$850 billion to fund operations over the next fiscal year. Despite the amount being 1% higher than the FY2024 budget request, it has not covered the 3% inflation rate, which could impact the DoD’s main programmes in the medium and long term.