PARLIAMENT QUESTIONS (MoD)- RAJYA SABHA, MARCH 10, 2010

TEJAS FOR AIRCRAFT CARRIER SHIPS OF NAVY

New Delhi

March 10, 2010

The prototype of the naval variant of Tejas aircraft is being built for aircraft carrier. The project has lagged behind its schedule due to various requirements connected with the development of a new aircraft.

Deficiencies have been detected in the airframe and other associated equipment of the aircraft. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is working out modalities with various organisations for rectifying these deficiencies by suitable modifications to the engine / airframe design.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in written reply to Dr. Gyan Prakash Pilania and Shri Lalit Kishore Chaturvedi in Rajya Sabha today.

ACCIDENT OF IAF AIRCRAFT / HELICOPTERS

New Delhi

March 10, 2010

MiG – 21 fighter aircraft crashed near Bagdogra in West Bengal on February 19, 2010. Every IAF aircraft accident is investigated by a Court of Inquiry and remedial measures taken thereon.

In the past six months (September, 2009 to March 04, 2010) six fighter aircrafts and one helicopter of IAF have crashed. Preliminary causes of the accidents were Human Error / Technical defects

Various measures to reduce aircraft accidents including operational risk management, crew resource management and improvised training on aviation safety have been implemented to generate a safer flying culture. Visit of all flying bases by senior aviation safety functionaries of IAF have been undertaken to apprise and caution operating units about the causes of accidents. Continuous and multi-faceted effort is always underway to enhance and upgrade flight safety. Constant interaction with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), both indigenous and foreign, is also maintained to overcome the technical defects of aircraft. In addition anti-bird measures are also undertaken.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in written reply to Smt Shobhana Bhartia in Rajya Sabha today.

UPGRADATION OF EXISTING FLEET OF FIGHTER AIRCRAFT

New Delhi

March 10, 2010

The Government has signed a contract for upgrade of the MiG-29 aircraft with M/s Russian Aircraft Corporation (RAC MiG) on March 07, 2008. The total cost of the contract is USD 964,082,937.46. The MiG-29 aircraft upgrade is planned in two phases namely Design & Development phase in Russia followed by series upgrade in India.

The Government has signed a contract for ugpradation of AN-32 aircraft with M/s Spets Techno Export, Ukraine on June 15, 2009.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in written reply to Shri Gireesh Kumar Sanghi in Rajya Sabha today.

SHORTAGE OF OFFICERS IN ARMED FORCES

New Delhi

March 10, 2010

There has been shortage of officers in the Armed Forces. The shortage of officers in the Army is around 11,500 and in the Navy, the shortage is 1606. The number of vacancies in Air Force is 1342.

The shortage is partly attributable to accretions in the Armed Forces from time to time, tough selection procedures, difficult service conditions coupled with perceived high degree of risk involved in service career.

A number of steps have been taken to attract the talented youth to join the Defence Forces. All officers including those in Short Service Commission (SSC) are now eligible to hold substantive rank of Captain, Major and Lieutenant Colonel after two, six and 13 years of reckonable service respectively. The tenure of SSC officers has been increased from 10 to 14 years. A total number of 750 posts of Lt. Col have been upgraded to Colonel towards implementation of AV Singh Committee Report (Phase-I). Further, 1896 additional posts in the ranks of Colonel, Brigadier, Major General and Lieutenant General and their equivalents in the other two Services have been upgraded towards implementation of AV Singh Committee Report (Phase-II). The implementation of the recommendations of the VI Central Pay Commission with substantial improvement in the pay structure of officers of Armed Forces, is expected to make the Services more attractive.

The Armed Forces have also undertaken sustained image projection and publicity campaign to create awareness among the youth on the advantages of taking up a challenging and satisfying career. Awareness campaigns, participation in career fairs and exhibitions, advertisements in print and electronic media, motivational lectures in schools, colleges are also some of the other measure in this direction.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in written reply to Shri Tariq Anwar in Rajya Sabha today.

COMPLAINTS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE AGAINST ARMED FORCES

New Delhi

March 10, 2010

The number of complaints from J&K regarding Human Rights abuse (year-wise) against the Army personnel during the last six years are as under:

Year

No. of Complaints

2004

13

2005

34

2006

21

2007

27

2008

17

2009

21

Total

133

The year-wise number of requests for permission to prosecute Army personnel during the same period, year-wise are as under:

Year

No. of Requests

2004

2005

02

2006

16

2007

10

2008

09

2009

01

Total

38

No permission for prosecution was granted during the same period.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in written reply to Shri GN Ratanpuri in Rajya Sabha today.

ACQUISITION OF C-17 GLOBE MASTER – III AIRCRAFT

New Delhi

March 10, 2010

Government proposes to get 10 C-17 Globe master – III giant strategic aircraft from US and sent a letter of request to the US Government. The proposal to procure C-17 Globemaster II aircraft from the US Government to meet the strategic airlift requirement of Indian Air Force was approved by the Defence Acquisition Council on October 19, 2009. The Letter of Request was issued to the United States Government on January 01, 2010.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in written reply to Shri A Elavarasan in Rajya Sabha today.