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In February, U.S. fighter pilots participated in their first air-combat exercise with the air force of India. The results were shocking. According to comments made the same month by Representative Randy Cunningham (R-CA), Indian fighters defeated America's top-of-the-line F-15C fighter over 90% of the time. U.S. Air Force leaders are being more circumspect in disclosing the results of the exercise, but they clearly were stunned by the sophistication of Indian planes and pilots.
... U.S. fighters were outnumbered three-to-one in many of the engagements, and that the poor U.S. performance may have been due partly to deficient training procedures rather than deficient technology. But the ability of diverse Indian fighters -- Mirage 2000's, SU-30 Flankers, modified MIG-21 Bisons -- to repeatedly defeat America's best fighter is a troubling development.
The possibility of having to conquer some future Baghdad without air superiority should make every general in the Army pause and reflect on what victory might require in the way of casualties and resources.
Note to self. Do not invade any country that houses one sixth of the world's population. Regardless of their level of military technology.
Posted by Owen at July 3, 2004 09:03 AM | TrackBackModified MIGs? It'd be interesting to see what the mods actually were.
Pretty impressive on India's part.
I think it would be a good idea to try the whole thing again. It's possible that the USAF simply underestimated their opponent. It's also possible that the training video is Top Gun. In either case, USAF has some re-evaluating to do.
Posted by: Jason at July 3, 2004 01:54 PMIt was discussed thoroughly in Russian aviation-related newsgroups and forums. Although, as you could see yourselves, we are quite proud of our aerospace technologies, these reports were met with some scepticism. While there is some truth to the fact that Su-30 is a better fighter, it is not that better.
Right now USAF is engaged in budget battles over F-22 Raptor. It is very expensive, and USAF has to prove that F-15 Eagle is obsolete.
Posted by: Mike Tyukanov at July 4, 2004 03:14 AMAre they suggesting a "future Baghdad" is in India? Because...that's stupid. Why would we ever invade them?
Posted by: Andrea at July 4, 2004 10:21 PMI think I recall reading a similar story a while ago: British or Canadian or some other sort of troops solidly kicked our technologically superior asses in a desert warfare scenario. We used a global communications network, they used jeeps, AKs, and hit-and-runs. Advantage: them. I think the lesson that our military didn't learn is this: it's not enough to just have superior technology, you actually have to have someone who can use it, too.
Posted by: Bugmaster at July 6, 2004 02:17 PM> Are they suggesting a "future Baghdad" is
> in India? Because...that's stupid.
> Why would we ever invade them?
Of cause it is stupid. They do not have oil.
Posted by: Sasha at July 6, 2004 09:57 PMAnd besides, if we invade India, where will we outsource all our jobs to ?
Posted by: Bugmaster at July 7, 2004 10:00 AMHahaha....
Its really funny...I am from india...Personally I feel that USA want to fool indians by showing that they are the best...Otherwise, why someone will tell loudly that he is not doing good..
And if it is really true..then it is not the problem of american technology...it must be because of poor training or lack of fighting spirit...
Vishal
vishal to me, is a traitor.
Why does he not opt for US citizenship.
That actually wasn't the first time that US planes and Indian planes have met. I talked with an F-15C pilot at an airshow who had been stationed in Japan three years ago and he said that he had scrimaged with Indian MiG-29s and Su-27s several times. He said that the 29s were easy, but the flankers gave them quite a challenge. He didn't say that he had been bested by one, but it sure sounded like it.
Posted by: achfly at October 28, 2004 08:37 PMWhat the hell is this talk about US attacking India. First of all both the nations are democratic. Second,Both are the world's largest english speaking nations(Yes, considering india's population of a billion, even 20% makes it 200 million) which is a little less than the popu. of US. So technically India is the second largest eng speaking nation.Third,both the nations are a reflection of each others culture. So if US attacks India,it would be like the same principles which the US has stood for
Posted by: Indranil at November 22, 2004 02:20 PMWhat the hell is this talk about US attacking India. First of all both the nations are democratic. Second,Both are the world's largest english speaking nations(Yes, considering india's population of a billion, even 20% makes it 200 million) which is a little less than the popu. of US. So technically India is the second largest eng speaking nation.Third,both the nations are a reflection of each others culture. So if US attacks India,it would be like attacking the same principles which the US has stood for
Posted by: Indranil at November 22, 2004 02:24 PM