India’s expertise in maintaining Russian aircraft and its vaunted
pilot training skills are helping New Delhi win friends and influence nations
in Asia
The induction of advanced Flanker aircraft in Asian air
forces is proving to be an unexpected windfall for India. As a maintenance hub
for Sukhoi-27/30 Flanker series aircraft and by training foreign fighter
pilots, the country earns a substantial amount of money. But more importantly,
it strengthens New Delhi’s ties with the region.
Neutralising Indonesia
In October 2013, India agreed to train and support the
Indonesian Air Force in operating its fleet of Sukhoi fighters. The Indonesians
currently operate both Su-27 and Su-30 jets, with the latest batch of Flankers
arriving last month.
According to the agreement, which was arrived at during the
Indian defence minister’s trip to Jakarta, India and Indonesia will cooperate
in the areas of training, technical help and spares support.
In the past Jakarta had a pact with China to train its
pilots and provide technical support for its Flanker fleet. But Jakarta has now
veered round to the view that the Indian Air Force (IAF) is an ideal mentor.
For, the IAF has earned a worldwide reputation as a dogfight duke after beating
the powerful US Air Force in a series of Cope India air exercises. Plus, in
three wars – in 1965, 1971 and 1999 – it has routed the Pakistan Air Force,
which is no chump.
Given that India will have one of the largest Flanker fleets
in the world once all the planned 272 Sukhoi jets enter service, Indonesia’s
decision to change fighter gurus is understandable. Indonesian officials will
hold talks with a high-level IAF team to finalise details of the training and
spares support package.
Besides Flanker servicing and training of pilots, India and
Indonesia will significantly enhance their defence cooperation. “The two sides
exchanged views on issues relating to regional and global security, bilateral
exercises involving services, training, co-production of defence equipment and
ammunition and visits at high levels,” said an Indian Defence Ministry
spokesman.
Joint synergies
Defense Industry Daily explains the significance of the
India-Indonesia Flanker deal: “The move will have an importance that goes far
beyond its dollar value, as it’s part of a wider set of enhanced defence
cooperation agreements the two countries are reportedly pursuing.”
DID adds: “Indonesia isn’t looking to antagonise China, but
China’s aggressive claims in the South China Sea are contrasting poorly with
India’s support for freedom of navigation, and for multilateral resolution of
the disputes under international law. The result is an important Indonesian
tilt toward more cooperation with India, which fits very well with India’s own
strategic priorities.”
Malaysian fleet
India also plays a role in helping the Royal Malaysian Air
Force (RMAF) to maintain its fleet. While Sukhoi is the main contractor for
supplying Su-30s MKMs, the aircraft’s canards, stabilisers and fins are
manufactured by India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited at Nasik under a $25-30
million value subcontract.
In 2008 India accepted Malaysia’s request to train the Royal
Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) personnel on the operation and maintenance of its
Su-30 MKM fighters. “The initial training for the RMAF personnel was conducted
in India by HAL and IAF,” says the website of the Indian diplomatic mission in
Kuala Lumpur.
“Subsequently, a composite team of flying and technical
training instructors was deployed at Gong Kedah Base as part of Indian Air
Force Training Team (IAFTT) for two and a half years to impart the training.
The training successfully concluded in Sep 2010. The IAFTT team personnel were
felicitated in a special ceremony prior to their departure by General Dato Sri
Rodzali bin Daud, Chief of the RMAF.
Vietnam spinoffs
Flanker cooperation has had another spinoff. India’s success
in mating the BrahMos cruise missile with its Sukhois has Vietnam showing
interest in buying the missile. If the deal goes through, it would mark the
first overseas sale of the much talked about missile jointly developed by India
and Russia.
A senior Vietnamese delegation that visited New Delhi this
month requested India to provide submarine training and conversion training for
Vietnamese pilots to fly Sukhoi-30 aircraft.
Strategic moves
Indonesia and Malaysia are both Muslims nations and despite
their historic Indic roots, their current religious affiliation makes them lean
towards other Muslim nations.
Why is this a concern? Well, in the 1965 India Pakistan War,
Indonesia dispatched naval warships to Pakistan to fight against India. Prior
to that, when the Communist Party of Indonesia came to power, it sided with
communist China. Indonesian leaders soon started voicing claims to the Andaman
& Nicobar Islands, and demanded that the Indian Ocean be renamed the
“Indonesian Ocean”.
Although Indian military power today is of an order of
magnitude higher compared with the 1950s and 60s, and the Indonesians are
unlikely to repeat their reckless gunboat diplomacy, the fact is India wouldn’t
want Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur to support Pakistan in any way.
Flanker diplomacy is thus an excellent way to boost defence
ties with these two countries. Indonesian and Malaysian military officers
working in sync with the IAF will most likely be in India’s corner in an
India-Pakistan or India-China conflict.
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