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2004-10-06 Home Front: Tech

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Posted by Mrs. Davis 2004-10-06 10:10:26 AM|| || Front Page|| [4 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I found it strange that they F-15C didn't best the 2nd rate junk flown by the IAF. Now I know. Sounds like the pilots were told to fly blind and naked but the opposition did not. This is a tactic that they use at begining Red/Green Flag exercises. First the enemy is weak and they become stronger as the exercise plays out. If we were playing the 'enemy' then it makes since they would 'hobble' our forces.

Posted by Cyber Sarge 2004-10-06 11:42:32 AM|| 2004-10-06 11:42:32 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 They also admit they underestimated the training and tactics of the Indian pilots. Indian air force planners never repeated failed tactics and were able to change tactics as opportunities became available, mixing things up and never providing the same tactical "look."

High time we started to take seriously the notion of close cooperation, if not an outright alliance, with this talented and capable frontline democracy.

Posted by lex 2004-10-06 11:54:07 AM|| 2004-10-06 11:54:07 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 CS, I think you're missing the point. They weren't blind, although they weren't as armed as they'd like to be. Key phrases--"don't normally train," and "underestimated." The Indian AF is on its way to becoming a very powerful, Western, data-linked and aggressive AF. The Mirage is a match with our F-16, and the Su-30MKI is a very dangerous bird with a lot of Israeli upgrades. With waves of Flankers to one northern border and hair-trigger nukes to the other, they have to be good. India is a democracy, and is not doctrinally or socially hidebound like most of our opponents are. Soon they will be working off of steel decks, too. The good thing--they're on our side.

One other consideration--what aircraft could the Indians be preparing to fight that has limited data link and radar range, no AWACS support, no active or semi-active radar missile? Sounds to me like the USAF agreed to simulate a regional threat, and whether or not it's apparent here, all sides benefited greatly.

Posted by longtime lurker 2004-10-06 12:01:42 PM|| 2004-10-06 12:01:42 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 The good thing--they're on our side.

Not entirely true as regards Iran (yet), but in general, they can and should be enormously helpful to us in the regions they adjoin. Apparently their navy is already pulling a lot of weight in combatting piracy across Asia; perhaps they can also step up their role in combatting rogue state and proxy WMD threats to slip dirty nukes into container ships.

More than anything else tho we need to get the Indians off of their appease Iran kick. Perhaps a mix of very large economic and other carrots in order to build a united anti-Iran front with Israel and perhaps even Russia?

Posted by lex 2004-10-06 12:08:45 PM|| 2004-10-06 12:08:45 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 Yes, "on our side" is probably an overstatement. They certainly aren't our enemy, and probably not an adversary. They are an English-speaking democracy, and as such are pretty much natural allies. From a strategic POV, India is essential to controlling the IO and the Malacca Strait, and is a severely underrated buffer between the Arab/Persian muslim world and the Asian muslim world. And the more buffer between them, the better we all are.

Posted by longtime lurker 2004-10-06 12:31:24 PM|| 2004-10-06 12:31:24 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 What are the prospects for real and serious US-Indian military cooperation in the next few years? I know the Pakistan angle is difficult but Bush/Armitage have done an excellent job positioning the US as an honest broker, and I assume Musharraf's regime can be managed or soothed.

You mention India's increased capabilities, incl in the data management sphere. Is their military inter-operable with ours? Aren't the Indians already stepping up their cooperation with Israel?

Also, any links to good websites that focus on this topic would be appreciated.

thx,
Lex

Posted by lex 2004-10-06 12:41:30 PM|| 2004-10-06 12:41:30 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 I couldn't talk about prospects, just don't know. I think it's inevitable, but currently delayed for various reasons, including the need to secure Pakistan's nukes. As for DL, you'd need to research Israeli products. Without extensive, expensive retrofits, I don't know how you'd get any DL to work between Mirages, Fulcrum, Flanker, and Floggers, but they know how to use what they have as effectively as it can be used, and not according to Soviet doctrine.

Posted by longtime lurker 2004-10-06 1:39:13 PM|| 2004-10-06 1:39:13 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 Let's not forget that the Indians thoroughly understand that it's called the Indian Ocean for a reason. Should they want to throw their weight around, there is very little we could do to stop them.

One of the Harpoon series computer games had a number of scenerios based upon a war with India, and Tom Clancy seems to feel it's possible, as well.

Posted by Chuck Simmins 2004-10-06 2:43:54 PM|| [http://blog.simmins.org] 2004-10-06 2:43:54 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 any links to good websites that focus on this topic would be appreciated.

Lex,
I don't know about serious US-Indian cooperation, but I know about a year or two ago a group of veteran Israeli pilots arrived in India to train the Indian pilots. FYI.. there will be future training with Israeli AWACS in 2005. Here are some links.
India, Israel to hold joint air exercise in â05
Indian Campaign Against Kashmiri Mujahideen Based On Assistance From Israel

Posted by Poison Reverse 2004-10-06 5:06:34 PM|| 2004-10-06 5:06:34 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 Thanks, PR

Posted by lex 2004-10-06 8:02:15 PM|| 2004-10-06 8:02:15 PM|| Front Page Top

10:10 Antiwar
05:49 Antiwar
05:48 Antiwar
10:09 Antiwar
05:52 Antiwar
05:53 Antiwar
09:21 Antiwar
09:19 Antiwar
09:18 Antiwar
09:28 Antiwar
09:25 Antiwar
09:23 Antiwar
15:52 lex
15:24 Joseph L.
07:03 MendoScot
06:27 Howard UK
06:01 Memesis
05:34 Sock Puppet of Doom
05:28 Memesis
05:14 Sock Puppet of Doom
05:12 Sock Puppet of Doom
05:07 Memesis
05:05 Bryan
04:55 Matt Helm