A film to highlight IAF’s prowess in sky

Kolkata: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is all set to screen its latest film in the city on the capabilities of the country’s air defence.

Aakash Yodha, a 45-minute film is the updated version of an earlier film released with the same name in 2003. The film provides an insight into various aircrafts and supporting equipment that the IAF uses under diverse conditions.

More importantly, the film is the first one commissioned by the IAF that includes a glimpse of the indigenously-developed Tejas Light Combat Aircraft.

The Tejas is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and has given rise to much scepticism in the IAF during its development stage. Predictably, the Tejas features at the very end of the film for a short duration as compared to the already-inducted fighter planes like Mirage 2000H, MiG 29 and MiG21bis.

A senior IAF officer said: “We don’t want to be saddled with outdated technology in the name of indigenous development. Developing a world-class fighter aircraft in India is very important and welcome. Importing foreign-made aircraft is hugely expensive, both to the national exchequer as well as the IAF budget. But the Tejas or any other indigenously developed fighter plane must use world-class technology.”

When contacted about the minimal exposure to the Tejas LCA in the film, CPRO (MOD) Kolkata Gp Capt R K Das said that the Tejas had not yet been inducted into the IAF. “Tests are still being conducted. It is in the developmental stage. It’s not a part of the IAF’s fighting force as yet,” Das said.

Also featuring in the film is Russian-made Sukhoi 30, currently based at the Air Force base in Lohegaon, Pune. After a number of episodes on the IAF shot by the National Geographic channel last year, Aakash Yodha hopes to reach out to the youth and educate them on the prowess and progress made by the IAF.

Released selectively, the film has been screened at certain engineering and management colleges in Bengal. The film’s public screening will be organised at the Nicco Park in the coming week, Das said.

The film also touches on the role of the IAF in the Kargil war and the threat of terrorism in the Kashmir valley. In the film, Pakistan has been described as “a devoutly religious state”, which has “encouraged religious fundamentalism”. It goes on to say that India has been “sucked into a proxy war” and that the situation “suits Pakistan”.