Do F-16s have an edge over French Mirages?

The Mirage-2000 and F-16 are among four fighters that will bid for a 126 aircraft tender later this year. A lower frequency of crashes due to human error would broadly, though not always, indicate a fighter that is simpler to operate in the air.

According to information made available by the IAF’s Director General (Inspection & Flight Safety) Air Marshal Padamjit Ahluwalia, 52 per cent of all USAF F-16 crashes were caused by human error, while the worldwide percentage for Mirage-2000s crashes is 59 per cent and a substantially lower 43 per cent for crashes of Mirage-2000H fighters operated by the IAF out of Gwalior.

When asked if he, as the IAF’s chief air safety manager, would recommend a reduction in the number of aircraft types currently in operation, Ahluwalia said, ‘‘I would definitely recommend reducing the number. However, it would still not be prudent to put all your eggs in one basket. We will learn to manage with whatever comes our way’’.

An expert committee, headed by Ahluwalia, that was set up at the end of last year after three Mirage-2000 crashes, will soon submit its report to Air HQ. ‘‘The Mirage-2000 has an exceptionally good track record,’’ Ahluwalia said. While the IAF has arrived at reasons for two of the three Mirage crashes, Ahluwalia said, ‘‘Sometimes there are literally no answers to crashes that take place’’.

In a traditional act of support for the MiG-21, the Air Marshal said the last MiG-21 squadron would operate all the way up to 2016. ‘‘They have a large residual life. 12 Type 75 squadrons are being upgraded to the Bison standard. We will slowly reduce the Type 77 and 96. The upgrade will be dovetailed with the induction of Su-30MKIs and the impending acquisition of medium-range multirole combat aircraft,’’ he said, indicating that the MiG-21 had a better safety record than the MiG-23 and MiG-27 ground strike fighters.

Data he made available indicated there has been a 23 per cent decade-wise reduction in non-fatal crashes since the 1970s, a 51 per cent reduction in technical defect crashes and a 62 per cent drop in MiG-21 crashes over five years.