Now, really speaking, we can achieve standardisation in the planes only when we succeed in setting up the production of planes in our country. That is the ultimate answer for this. As long as we have to depend upon the supply of modern weapons and modern aircrafts on someone else, we are not our own masters as far as organisation and the composition of our own Air Force is concerned. It was thing that was planned years before, and I must say it was a very wise thing.
I said this criticism is becoming more and more realistic. I would take for illustration the criticism about MIGs. I remember two or three years ago, there was lighthearted criticism about them. Today’, everybody has accepted that MIG is the most modern aircraft that we have in our country. Shri Dandekar had some doubts about the schedule of production that we have before us. I can assure him that the schedule of production is as realistic as is possible, as he himself may realise, since he is a seasoned person in matters relating to the process of production.
I can tell him that the production of two types of planes there are two quite different propositions. In the production of HF-24, we have to develop a plane and then produce it. In the case of production of MIGs, no development is involved. We are taking a well-developed plane for production purposes. So, I have no doubt that we will keep up the schedule and produce these planes in the scheduled programme.
The hon. Member then made some fun about three squadrons of MIGs that we have ordered. He was wondering whether we will use bullockcarts to bring them. This is the first time I find he was wrong on facts. He was very weak in respect of that criticism. These three squadrons of MIGs were contracted for during my visit in September or October, 1964. The Russians will fulfil that contract according to which the three squadrons will be received by the end of this year, which is the contracted period. Let him not have that wrong idea only’ because they are Russian planes. Let him not have that idea.
Some criticism was made about the Avro. I can tell him that the Air Force has no longer any doubts of the Avro, because the Air Force has got those for the role of training purposes - the first group. The IAF has accepted them and we have contracted for the other type of planes which is the military freight version. The first prototypes, I think, will reach here for tests sometime next month. I can tell the hon. Member for his information that that plane has been accepted by the RAF. So, has it been accepted by the IAF. I can tell him that from my personal information. So, there should be no doubt about that particular matter.
Again, the hon. Member pointed out five or six types of helicopters. That is not so. We have got some different types of helicopters, but some of them are in the wasting category. Really speaking, we have got two types of helicopters–MI-4 and Alouettes – which are meant for different roles in different regions. They will have to be there, there is nothing wrong in that.