No emotions or Romance in War

JM: How many squadrons do we have of these aircraft in our country?
DK: Oh, plenty!

JM: How many pilots are there in the country who can fly this plane?
DK: (After brief hesitation) Is it necessary for you to ask that?

JM: Definitely my readers will be curious to know.
DK: We have trained many chaps and now, many more are undergoing training.

JM: How much does a Mirage actually cost the country?
DK: Rs. 15-20 crores. Taking into account the weapons training, infrastructure-easy Rs 20 crore.

JM: Have you ever had a go at the Mirage?
DK: Yes.

JM: Does your age permit you to?
DK: Well, I have only flown five or six sorties. But I do feel old flying it.

JM: Must be an enjoyable experience?
DK: No! Not for me-when I fly, I love to fly with confidence, packed with skill and professionalism. It takes around 100 hours in the logbook to achieve that. Then you enjoy commanding the bird. Flying it just three or four times does not give me pleasure though it may satisfy my ego. I do not have to fly it because it is the next-generation’s job. I do not have to jump into their shoes. A pilot is what he is, not what he was. I have faded into the hallowed halls.

JM: How does the Mirage rate nationally and internationally?
DK: Well in India, It’s on the top. And in the world too, it is one of the most advanced products of defense avionics. No doubt about it. Many nations are buying it. In fact, any nation out of the clutches of the White House goes for it. There are only two aircraft in the running; the Mirage 2000H and the F-16. Those who do not come under the pressure of the US buy the Mirage. Conversely, those who want to get out of the clutches of the US buy the Mirage.

JM: What are the capabilities of the Mirage?
DK: Latest we can do anything. It’s a true multi-role air craft.

JM: Does the IAF have enough strength to stand the threat across the two borders?
DK: Of course! We are well prepared and that’s what we are trained to do.

JM: Do you support the idea of the Army having a separate air wing?
DK: We can’t afford it. It’s a very sensitive question but I will answer it. You see, to fly an aircraft is not as simple as it looks on the face of it. For that you need a massive infrastructure. During the past 30 or 40 years. the IAF has built up that infrastructure. To begin now from scratch would mean dishing out crores of rupees. Can we afford it? In the Vietnam war, the US had seven air forces-army air force, the marine air force and what not-but it couldn’t work. So, they all had to be brought under a single seventh air force headquarters to prove effective. It’s not a debatable question. If you can afford it, have it.