New Delhi: The Indian Air Force on Friday
said that its operational capabilities will remain unaffected
in case government did not enter into certain military pacts
with the US.
"Government had asked us about our opinion on these
agreements and we told them that this will not make any
substantial difference to our operational capabilities," Naik
said at a CII event here.
His remarks come at a time when reports suggest that
in absence of the Communication Interoperability and Security
Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) and the Logistics Support
Agreement (LSA), the US would be removing some of the key
equipment on board the military systems being supplied to
India by it.
India is buying a number of weapon systems from the US
including the C-130 J Hercules aircraft, C-17 heavylift
aircraft and the ultra-light howitzers through the foreign
military sales route.
The US has been pressing India to sign these
agreements for developing closer defence ties.
The CISMOA entails the laying down of protocols for
interoperability and assuring the security of
communication between the armed forces of the two countries.
Similarly, the Logistics Support Agreement (LSA)
would allow the armed forces of the two countries to procure
fuel and supplies from each other`s facilities.
Meanwhile, answering another query, Naik said the air
force was getting simulators for all aircraft to be procured
by it in future as they help in reducing the training cost.
PTI
