ghostrider883

Looks good Hinch. BTW, the INS Viraat(Ex-HMS Hermes) will be completing 50 years of service. On May 12 this year, INS Viraat would complete 23 years of its service with the Indian Navy. Taking into account its British Royal Navy service in its earlier avatar as HMS Hermes, the warship will complete 50 years on November 18. Its currently undergoing repair and re-fit in Cochin.

No, the Navy does have a strong(compared to our neighbouring countries) but ageing ASW a/c fleet IL-38SD Aircraft delivered to date: IN301 (1977) - upgraded to 'SD' standard ...................................IN303 (1977) - upgraded to 'SD' standard ...................................IN305 (1983) - upgraded to 'SD' standard ...................................IN306 - upgraded to 'SD' standard ...................................IN307 - upgraded to 'SD' standard IN302 & 304 were lost in a MAC over Goa in 2002 Tu-142M Aircraft Serial Numbers: IN-311 ................................IN-312 ................................IN-313 ................................IN-314 ................................IN-315 ................................IN-316 ................................IN-317 ................................IN-318 Do-228 Aircraft in service : Unknown Besides these , there are ASW helos such as Ka-25, 28 , Chetak(Alouette III) and Sea King Mk.42B http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/aviatio...ier-do-228.html I have bad memories of lying in this aircraft when I was a kid. It was operated by an Indian arline called "Vayudoot" and used to fly between Mumbai & a place called Diu. It was a pretty scary experience flying in rough weather. India already had a fleet of IL-38s. Russia donated two IL-38s fom its reserve after two IL-38s were lost in 2002 in a Mid Air Collision killing all its crew. You mean "Khukri" ? The Gurkha knife? The hindi word for Sword in "Talwar".

Many of Navy's HAL/Dornier Do-228s have been modernized, weaponized and fitted with new sensors for maritime patrol ops. Many new airframes have been ordered by the Navy & Coast guard. It however has a very short range and is used for "localised" maritime patrol. I see them regularly from my house flying near the shore. The Navy now has a three tier maritime patrol plan for the future. 1. Long range MPA : P-8I/Tu-142, IL-38SD 2. Medium range MPA : proposed Embraer 145 platform 3. Short Range MPA : Do-228

Florian's Mirage 2000D & A-Team's HF-24 Marut.

Deal confirmed, India orders Eight Boeing P-8Is

Happy New Year. All the best for the new year guys.

Indian Navy to purchase Boeing P-8Is to replace Tu-142s

It seems all this military movement just a like a tactic to nullify the diplomatic pressure that Pakistan is being put under by the whole world. They find themselves alone. Even Saudi Arabia and China, their closest allies, are criticising Pakistan. They are busy boasting If India attack, there will be hell to pay Meanwhile they tried to blame a "supposed Indian national" for Lahore bomb blast and were trying to prove India's hand in Lahore blasts. It backfired, as usual. A Pakistan based terror group forward and claimed responsibility

Thank you. All this war talk is only because they want to some how wriggle out of the hole that they find themselves in. They have been cornered as the whole world is putting pressure on them to act against terrorists. They want to divert the attention of the from the real issue of acting against terrorists, by war talk against India. They are openly denying that the captured terrorist is Pakistani. Even the FBI is convinced some elements from Pakistan were involved. Instead of investigating them, Pakistan keeps on saying "no evidence" has been provided. How much more evidence do they want? Take the case of Kargil war, Pakistan for three years denied that their army was involved in Kargil. Yet the soldiers caught by the army were from Pakistan army. Yet, in 2002, a soldier was decorated for shooting down an IAF MiG-21 in the war. They even refused to take back dead bodies of their own soldiers. What sort of army does that? Funny, isn't it? Now the latest round of denial is of Qasab.

Merry Christmas guys

Indian Border Security Force Units on border posts reporting heavy movement of Pakistan Army Infantry & Armour at border posts. Though no force build up has been made by the Indian Army. Meanwhile the PAF has moved 3 sqdns each of F-16s & Mirage IIIs to its forward airbases. In a related event, a suicide squad of three Pakistanis were caught in Kashmir. They planned to carry out a suicide bombing of an big hotel in Srinagar. One of them is a serving Pakistan Army soldier.

FBI winds up Mumbai probe, unearths Pak role LeT is a monster that ISI created Taliban pledges to support Pak in war against India This inspite of the supposed great "anti-terror" operations against Taliban by Pakistani forces . IMO, it tells a lot about the nexus between Pakistan & Taliban that India has been claiming, which the world chose to ignore. The Pakistani govt is openly denying that the captured terrorist is a Pakistani claiming that there is no "record" of his existence in their "database" ,inspite of the guy's father accepting on Pakistani tele-media that the guy is his son. Former Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif too accepted that the guy is a Pakistani.

Defence meet keeps option of strikes on Pakistan US unhappy with Pakistani response after 26/11 Kasab belongs to Pakistan,says Nawaz Sharif. Slams Zardari for denial

FBI interrogates Kasab

Thanks Florian

The captured terrorist is a 21-year old youngster. They were made to believe that they would successfully get away after carrying out the attacks(at least some of them, some were to hold hostages and negotiate for release of captured terrorists in Indian jails) and that they would be paid money on their return. So getting captured was a rude shock for him. When he was captured and being treated at the hosptial, he was pleading that he be allowed to live.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajmal_Qasab STORY OF AJMAL Statement of accused Mohd Ajmal Amir Qasab; Age 21 yrs. Occupation: Labour, R/O - Faridkot, Tehsil -Dipalpur, Dist -Ukada, State - Suba Punjab , Pakistan I am as above and reside at the above given address since my birth. I have studied up to 4th standard from Government Primary School . After leaving school in 2000, I went to Lahore . My brother Afzal stays at galli No. 54, R.No. 12, Mohalla Tohit Abad, near Yadgar Minar, Lahore . I did labour jobs at different places till 2005. During that period I used to visit my native place. In the year 2005, I had a quarrel with my father. Therefore, I left my house and went to Ali Hajveri Darbar at Lahore . At the said place, the boys who had run away from their houses are kept. From there, the boys are sent to different places for employment. One day when I was there, a person by name Shafiq came there and took me with him. He was in the catering business. He was from Zhelam. I started working with him on daily wages. I was given Rs 120 per day. After some days my salary was increased up to Rs 200 per day. I worked with him till 2007. While I was working with Shafiq, I came in contact with one Muzaffar Lal Khan, aged 22 years, r/o Village -Romiya, Tehsil & Dist -Atak, State - Sarhad , Pakistan . As we were not getting enough money, we decided to carry out robbery / dacoity at some place so that we will get a large amount. As such we left the job. Thereafter we went to Rawalpindi . We hired a flat at Bangash Colony, Rawalpindi , and started residing in it. Afzal had located a house where he thought we would get a large amount. He had surveyed the said place and drawn a map of the said place. We required some fire-arms for our purpose. Afzal told me that he could get some fire-arms at his native place, but it was very risky, as there was frequent checking at his native place. While we were in search of fire-arms we saw some LeT stalls at Raja bazaar, Rawalpindi , on the day of Bakri-id. We thought that, even if we procured fire-arms, we could not operate them. Therefore, we decided to join LeT for weapon training. After making enquiries we reached LeT office. In the LeT office we met a person. We told him that we wanted to join LeT. He made some enquiry with us, noted our names and address and told us to come on next day. On the next day, we went to LeT office and met the same man. One more person was present with him. He gave us Rs 200 and some receipt. Then he gave us the address of a place called Marqas Taiyyaaba, Muridke, and told us to go to the said place where LeT is having their training camp. As directed, we went to the said place by bus. We showed the receipt given to us at the gate of the camp. We were allowed inside. At the entry gate, our details were filled up on two forms. Then we were taken to the actual camp area. At the said place, initially we were selected for 21 days training called Daura-Sufa. From the next day, we started attending training. The daily programme was as mentioned below. 04.15: Wake up call and thereafter namaz 08.00: Breakfast 08.30-10.00: Lecture on Hadis and Quran by Mufti Sayyed 10.00-12.00: Rest 12.00-13.00: Lunch Break 13.00-14.00: Namaz 14.00-16.00: Rest 16.00-18.00: PT and Game Instructor Fadulla 18.00-20.00: Namaz and other work 20.00-21.00: Dinner After completion of the above said training, we were selected for another training called Daura-Ama. The said training was also for 21 days. We were then taken in a vehicle to a place called Mansera, Buttal Village . At the said place, we were given training of all weapons for 21 days. The daily programme was as mentioned below. 04.15 - 05.00: Wake up call and thereafter namaz 05.00-6.00: PT Instructor abu Anas 08.00: Breakfast 08.30-11.30: Weapons training. Trainer Abdul Rehman, Weapons AK-47, Green-O, SKS, Uzi gun, pistol, revolver 11.30-12.00: Rest 12.00-13.00: Lunch break 13.00-14.00: Namaz 14.00-16.00: Rest 16.00-18.00: PT 18.00-20.00: Namaz and other work 20.00-21.00: Dinner After completing the said training, we were told that, we will be given the next advance training, but for that purpose we have to do some Khidmat for two months (Khidmat is a sort of service in the said camp as per the trainees' liking). We agreed to do the Khidmat for two months. After two months, I was allowed to go to meet my parents. I stayed with my parents for one month. Thereafter, I went to LeT camp situated at Shaiwainala, Muzzafarabad, for further advanced training. At that place, they took my photographs and filled up some forms. Then we were taken to Chelabandi pahadi area for training called Duara-khas. The said training was for 3 months. The training included PT, handling of all weapons and firing practice of the said weapons, training of handling of hand grenade, rocket launchers and mortars. The daily programme was as mentioned below. 04.15-05.00: Wake up call and thereafter namaz 05.00-06.00: PT Instructor Abu Mawiya 08.00: Breakfast 08.30-11.30: Weapons training handling of all weapons and firing practices of the said weapons, training of handling of hand grenade, rocket launchers and mortars, Green-O, SKS, Uzi gun, pistol, revolver, Hand grenade, rocket launchers. Trainer Abu Mawiya 11.30-12.00: Rest 12.00-13.00: Lunch Break 13.00-14.00: Namaz 14.00-16.00: Weapon training and firing practice. Lecture on Indian security agencies 16.00-18.00: PT 18.00-20.00: Namaz and other work 20.00-21.00: Dinner At the said place 32 persons were present for training. Out of these 32 trainees, 16 were selected for some confidential operation by one Zaqi-ur-Rehman Chacha. Out of these 16 trainees 3 trainees ran away from the camp. The above said chacha then sent the remaining 13 of us along with a person called Kafa to the above said earlier camp at Muridke. At Muridke, we were taught swimming and getting acquainted with the environment experienced by a fisherman on a sea. We did some experimental tours by launches on the sea. During the said training, we were given lectures on working of Indian security agencies. We were shown the clippings highlighting the atrocities on Muslims in India . After completing the said training, we were allowed to go to our native places. For seven days, I stayed with my family members. After seven days I went to the LeT camp at Muzzafarabad. The above said 13 of us were present for training. Thereafter, as per the instructions of Zaki-ur-Rehman, the above said Kafa took us to camp at Muridke. At the said camp again we underwent the training of swimming and getting acquainted with the environment and experience on sea. The training continued for one month. During the said training, we were given the lectures on India and its security agencies, including RAW. We were also given the training on how to evade the chase by security personnel. We were strictly instructed not to make phone calls to Pakistan after reaching India . The names of the persons present for the said training are as mentioned below. Mohd Azmal aka Abu Muzahid Ismail aka Abu Umar Abu Ali Abu Aksha Abu Umer Abu Shoeb Abdul Rehman (Bada) Abdul Rehman (Chhota) Afadulla Abu Umar After completion of training, Zaki-ur-Rehman aka Chacha selected 10 of us and formed 5 teams each having two persons on 15 Sept 2008. My team included myself and Ismail. Our code name was VTS team. We were then shown the site 'Google Earth' on Internet. On the same site, we were shown the information about Azad Maidan, Mumbai, how and where to get down at Mumbai. We were shown the film on VT railway station and the film showing the commuters moving around at rush hours at VT railway station. We were instructed to carry out the firing at rush hours in the morning between 7 to 11 hours and between 7 to 11 hours in the evening. Then kidnap some persons, take them to the roof of some nearby building. After reaching at the roof top, we were to contact chacha. After that, chacha would give the telephone or mobile no of electronic media. We were then to contact the media persons on the same phone. And as per the instructions received from chacha, we would make demands for releasing the hostages. This was the general strategy decided by our trainers. The date fixed for the said operation was 27th Sept 2008. However, the operation was cancelled for some reason. We stayed at Karachi . Again we made practice of travelling by speed boats on the sea. We stayed there upto 23rd Nov 2008. The other teams were as mentioned below. 2nd Team 1) Abu Aksha 2) Abu Umar 3rd Team 1) Bada Abdul Rehman 2) Abu Ali 4th Team 1) Chhota Abdul Rehman 2) Afadulla 5th Team 1) Shoeb 2) Abu Umer On 23rd Nov 2008, the above said teams including our team left from Azizabad, Karachi along with Zaki-ur-Rehman aka Chacha and Kafa. We were taken to the nearby sea shore. At 04.15 hours we reached the sea shore. At the sea shore we boarded a launch. After traveling for 22 to 25 nautical miles we met a bigger launch in the sea. We boarded the said launch and after journey of 1 hour we boarded a bigger ship by name Al-Huseini in the deep sea. While boarding the said ship, each of us was given a sack containing 8 grenades, one AK-47 rifle, 200 cartridges, 2 magazines and one cell phone for communication. Then we started towards Indian coast. When we reached Indian waters, the crew members of Al-Huseini ship hijacked one Indian launch. The seamen from the said launch were shifted to Al-Huseini ship. We were then boarded the hijacked Indian ship. One Indian seaman was kept along with us. At the gun point, he took us towards the Indian coast. After journey of about 3 days, we reached near sea shore of Mumbai . While we were at some distance from the shore, Ismail and Afadulla killed the Indian seaman, (Tandel) at the basement of the said Indian launch. Then we boarded floatable dinghi and reached Budwar Park Jetty as per the instructions received earlier. After getting down at Budwar Park , I went along with Ismail to VT railway stn by taxi. After reaching the hall of VT railway stn. We, i.e. Ismail and myself, went to the common toilet, took out the weapons from our sacks, loaded them, came out of toilet and started firing indiscriminately towards the passengers. Suddenly one police officer in uniform came towards us and opened fire. In retaliation, we threw hand grenades towards him and also opened fire towards him. Then we went inside the railway stn threatening the commuters and randomly firing at them. Then we came out of the railway stn and started searching for a building with roof top. But we did not find a suitable building. Therefore, we entered a lane. Then we entered a building and went upstarts. On 3rd or 4th floor we searched for hostages but we found that the said building was a hospital and not a residential building. Therefore we started coming down. At that time policemen started firing at us. As such we threw some grenades towards them. When we were coming out of the hospital premises, we suddenly saw one police vehicle passing in front of us. Therefore, we took shelter behind a bush. Another vehicle passed in front of us and stopped at some distance. One police officer got down from the said vehicle and started firing at us. One bullet hit my hand and my AK-47 dropped down. I bent to pick it up when second bullet hit me on the same hand. I got injured. Ismail opened fire at the officers who were in said vehicle. They got injured and firing from their side stopped. We waited for some time and then went towards the said vehicle. Three bodies lying there. Ismail removed the three bodies and drove the said vehicle. I sat next to him. While we were moving in the said vehicle, some police men tried to stop us. Ismail opened fire towards them while we were on the move; our vehicle got punctured near a big ground by the side of road. Ismail got down from the driver seat, stopped a car at the gun point and removed the three lady occupants from the said car. Then Ismail carried me to the car and sat me inside as I was injured. Then he drove the said car. While we were moving in the said car, we were stopped on the road near sea shore. Ismail fired towards them. Some policemen got injured. Police also opened fire towards us. Due to the police firing Ismail got injured. Then police removed us to some hospital. In the hospital I came to know that Ismail succumbed to the injuries he has sustained.

An airbase outside New Delhi has been re-activated in a hurry. A detachment of MiG-29s have been stationed there. Just goes on to show, unlike previous terror attacks which had roots in a foreign country , India may not keep quiet this time.

My friend, Mirage III , yes but not certainly not LCA. The LCA Tejas will be inducted in the IAF from 2010 onwards. I think you meant replacement of IAF's MiG-21 fleet. PAF is is no hurry to retire its Mirage IIIs either. Some of them have been fitted with refuelling probes and PAF has reportedly acquired two IL-78 tankers from Ukraine.

See? This is exactly what I meant. If they were really sincere and open minded and had nothing to hide, they would have been more transparent in their investigations.

So did the innocent civilians in Mumbai and all over the country before and on 26-11-2008. For what were reason were they shot & executed? Just because someone does not like the freedom that we enjoy and the way we live?? Now that its proven that the terrorists were of particular foreign nationality, they had support and training from terrorist organisations & that nation's Intelligence Organisation( which by the way has now become a government within a government). These particular people, and i am emphasizing the word "particular", not the whole nation, to be caught and given the severest possible punishment. The terror camps, terrorists & infrastructure must be shut down permanently( and not temporarily). And no one's taking of killing people of a particular nationality, just probable strikes on terror camps and its supporting infrastructure. Killing innocent civilians is wrong, so was the massacre in Mumbai. Musn't the people responsible be punished and put through the same pain that the people who lost loved ones in these attacks are going through? Who knows if no action is taken, how long before another 26/11 happens again in Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata or another major Indian city???? The people want answers and concrete action against terrorists and these responsible for the attacks in the past and present. May be they don't realise it, If that country takes concrete action and punishes the ones responsible severely, that would go a long long way in cementing indo-Pak friendly ties. Ball is their court.

US : Indian's air force 'on alert' after Mumbai attacks The question how many innocent Indians must die and how many times our country must be attacked before some sort of concrete action is taken against the terrorists? None of my countrymen have forgotten attacks on India's parliament, Jaipur, Delhi bombings and the Mumbai train bombings, all of which had................. I mean look at Israel for an example or look at what President Bush did with Musharaff after 9/11 -"either you are with us or against us. if you are against us, prepare to face the consequences". Events in the past couple of days haven't helped things either. Sparko, You think its a joke? Its easy to sit in your home and say what you want and place bets. But what if your country faced continuous attacks of these sorts from a neighbour and what if you had concrete evidence of of your neighbour's involvement just because they don't like the way you live?

I urge you people to read about the events that preceded the 1947, 65 ,71 & 99 wars. One can easily draw parallels to events from those wars. History is witness to the fact that the indian armed forces have acted in self-defence in all the wars. The IAF does not want a repeat of the supposed "israel like pre-emptive strikes" on indian airfields by our adversary. That they failed miserably in the previous wars is another matter. This time, their allies are not with them. Besides, india has an openly declared non-first use of nukes policy. As for pakistan doing more against terrorism, i consider it no longer appropriate to comment on this forum. Eventhough the whole world knows how sincerely that country is acting against terror!!!!