265 MiG aircraft crashed in two decades

Government on Wednesday said the Indian Air Force has lost 265 MiG series fighter aircraft in the past two decades in crashes which claimed lives of 96 personnel and 44 civilians.

New Delhi: Government on Wednesday said the Indian
Air Force has lost 265 MiG series fighter aircraft in the past
two decades in crashes which claimed lives of 96 personnel and
44 civilians.

"In the last two decades since April 1989 and up to
November 26 2009, 265 MiG fighter aircraft of the IAF have
crashed and a total of 96 services personnel and 44 civilians
were killed," Defence Minister A K Antony said in a written
reply to a Rajya Sabha query.

The IAF has lost three each MiG 21s and 27s in different
accidents along with two Russian-origin Su-30MKIs air
superiority aircraft in the last eight months of 2009.

Antony said that each of these accidents was investigated
through a Court of Inquiry and remedial measures were taken.

Replying to another query, the Defence Minister said
DRDO has initiated a project to develop an indigenous engine
for the indigenously-built MBT Arjun tank in partnership with
Indian industry.

The Arjun tank is currently powered by a German-made
engine.

PTI

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