NEW DELHI: A NEW No 77 squadron, named Veiled Vipers, became functional on Saturday, after first of its six C-130 Super Hercules, a transporter designed for special tasks, was inducted, marking re-entry of an American military aircraft in Indian Air Force’s inventory after two decades.
More is in store as India is on the verge of giving another mega contract to the US for the purchase of 10 super heavy transporters, C-17 Globemaster-III, that are estimated to cost around $4.1 billion.
The C-17 deal has been pending for sometime because of the differences over price but the Ministry of Defence has now indicated it will go ahead with the contract soon.
The US was eager to seal the deal during President Barack Obama’s visit in 2010. The C-17 contract details were shared by Defence Minister A K Antony on Saturday, after inducting first C-130 Super Hercules, a product of US aviation giant Lockheed Martin.
India had contracted six of these aircraft for around $1.2 billion two years ago. The MoD is upbeat that the first aircraft was delivered two months ahead of schedule, a rarity in defence procurements. The remaining five are also expected to arrive at Hindon by the end of this year. IAF’s fleet of transport was heavily dependent on Russian aircraft, light lift An-32 and heavy lift IL-76. But C-130s are tactical aircraft designed for carrying special tasks like insertion of commandos in the enemy territory or carrying out high speed low flying missions.
Like any other tactical support aircraft, C-130s does not need a paved runway for operations. It can land even at an unprepared surface and can also be refuelled in mid-air, a characteristic missing in IAF’s existing transporters.
Chief of staff of US Air Force General Norton A Schwartz had also flown down along with ambassador Timothy J Roemer for the induction ceremony.
The new squadron also signified the changing face of the IAF which is beginning to get out of the MiG era. IAF had flown some US aircraft more than 20 years ago.