NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has given clearance with immediate effect for flight operations of its frontline Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft after the fleet was temporarily grounded following the crash of an aircraft that took place exactly a month ago near Pune, defence sources confirmed on Friday evening.
The court of inquiry report is expected to be out very soon, in the wake of differences between India and Russia on the reasons for the crash.
A Russian team is in India to help the IAF in probing the crash of the aircraft. While the Russian experts are of the view that the ejection of seats cannot take place automatically, this contention has apparently not been accepted by the IAF.
Seat-ejection had taken place automatically which had led to the crash of the aircraft. But defence sources said each IAF Sukhoi aircraft had been checked to ensure this would not happen again following which clearance was given to operate the fleet.
The IAF, which is facing a problem of reduction in the number of its fighter aircraft squadrons, is also hoping that the multi-billion dollar 126 Rafale MMRCA (fighter aircraft) proposed deal with French company Dassault is inked “sooner than later”, with the IAF saying the project is “very important” for it to replace some of the obsolete fleet under its command.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) could take up the issue by the end of the month, triggering hopes that the proposed deal may be inked by the end of this year. There have been protracted contract negotiations between India and France on the proposed deal.
Meanwhile, speaking earlier in the day, IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha said, “This (Pune crash on October 14) was an accident which appeared to be automatic firing of the seats.
Court of Inquiry (CoI) is about to be complete and the findings are being finalised. We will have the results very soon and we are going to start flying the aircraft very soon.”
He said that “preliminary findings” do indicate that they have been able to find the reason and “we will be able to tackle the problem without much issue”.
“I am very hopeful that the CoI will end soon and we will be able to fly this fleet all over again and get back to normal,” he said.
