As many as 42 aircraft and helicopters of three Services have crashed in the last three financial years and the current one. An identical number of personnel lost their lives in these mishaps. The loss to the exchequer amounted to Rs1,127.37 crore after assessing 26 of these accidents.
Giving these details in response to a question in the lok Sabha on Friday, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said in a written reply 28 aircraft, including 14 MIGs, met with accidents, besides 14 helicopters. He also said phasing out of old aircraft and helicopters and their replacement with new generation aircraft depends upon strategic objectives and operational requirements of the Defence forces.
The year-wise break-up of aircraft crashes of IAF include 12 (five MIGs) in 2011-12, four (two MIGs) in 2012-13, six (four MIGs) in 2013-14 and six (three) in 2014-2015. In all 11 personnel died in these mishaps. As regards helicopters, four helicopters of IAF crashed in last four years while 16 personnel died. Seven helicopters of Army Aviation Corps crashed in the same period killing ten personnel and three Navy helicopters met with mishaps killing five.
Replying to a query about the Government’s plan to procure new helicopters, Parrikar said the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) in August last year had decided to meet the Army and IAF’s requirements by buying the ones required immediately and go for domestic manufacturing as well.
