News Desk |
Indian investigations into the Budgam fiasco reveal that the Indian Air Force had fired a missile at its own Mi17 V5 chopper on 27th February, which led to the deaths of six Indian Air Force (IAF) officers and one Kashmiri civilian on-ground. The crash occurred when the Indian Air Force fired a missile during the ongoing air battle with the Pakistan Air Force on 27nd February, but it ended up claiming their own Mi 17 V5 helicopter.
A report by Indian media outlet Economic Times has confirmed that the Indian missile had led to the crash of its own Mi17 V5 helicopter, and the investigation is underway to reveal the culprits and their inefficient actions that led to the deaths of six Indian Air Force officers. The report by Economic Times noted that the investigation is looking into whether the Identity, Friend or Foe (IFF) systems were activated. It states, “The final moments preceding the crash, including if the IFF (Identity, Friend or Foe) systems were switched on or not, are being carefully looked at to determine what went wrong.”
It states, “Pakistani jets may be trying to breach the border for a strike on Indian military targets and there were concerns that armed UAVs available with that country may also have been deployed.”
Economic Times further claims that the Indian Air Force personnel will not “shy away from initiating court-martial proceedings against personnel if they are found blameworthy in the inquiry”. However, it is important to note that no names have been put forward to bring to light the culprits responsible for the deaths of seven people.
The report further reveals that India is investigating into the matter to examine whether the Indian Air defence forces are well equipped and efficient enough to protect their assets from “friendly fire” and how improvements can be made to “prevent any such incidents in the future”. Economic Times also revealed that the missile, which caused the crash of the Mi17 V5 helicopter, was of “Israeli origin”, and the Indian defence forces have confessed that this incident occurred in the wake of the bafflement that ensued when 25 Pakistani Air Force (PAF) jets began hovering along the Indian Occupied Kashmir border on 27th February.
Read more: Did India shoot down its own helicopter?
ET quotes the “highly placed sources” in the Indian “air force brass” admitting their own incompetence, “Sources said that the missile – believed to be of Israeli origin – was activated after an air defence alert was sounded over Jammu and Kashmir, besides other parts of the border, after over 25 Pakistani air force jets were detected along the border on the morning of February 27”.
The report further suggests that the missile was fired in fear that the Pakistani Air Force jet might enter the Indian air space, or launch its “armed UAVs”. It states, “Pakistani jets may be trying to breach the border for a strike on Indian military targets and there were concerns that armed UAVs available with that country may also have been deployed.” So basically, the fear of an attack from the Pakistani Air Force jets let the Indian air force personnel to mistake their own Mi 17 V5 helicopter for a “low flying armed UAV”.
It has provided the Pakistani air space with an impenetrable cover of security, and time and again proved its mettle against the Indian force, which boasts twice the numbers.
It is important to note here that earlier in February, the Indian officials had officially recognized the crash in Budgam, however, it had not disclosed that the helicopter crash was a result of their own mismanagement. During the official statements on the air battle between the IAF and PAF, Pakistan Army’s spokesperson had also not claimed the Budgam helicopter crash.
The Indian Air Force is conducting a detailed probe into the matter, but they cannot shroud their own incompetence and mismanagement that has been revealed by this blunder. The Pakistan Air Force has a legacy of protecting the country and always being the first in a line of defense. It has provided the Pakistani air space with an impenetrable cover of security, and time and again proved its mettle against the Indian force, which boasts twice the numbers, capacity and is constantly being equipped and refurbished by the defense reserves of the US, Israel, and France amongst other nations.
Read more: Pakistan shoots down two Indian Aircraft: DG ISPR
Senior Defence Analyst Zaid Hamid, in a series of mirth-inducing tweets, has provided a fair estimation of the capabilities of the Indian armed forces. Hamid notes, “Indian armed forces kept a fierce competition within to outperform each other in being more stupid and reckless. While PAF was shooting down their jets, Indian air defence also decided to do the same.”
https://twitter.com/ZaidZamanHamid/status/1111585231553945602
Mina Jahangir with additional input by News Desk.