Lok Sabha Question No. 3963 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-09
Subject: Missing IAF Aircraft
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: PONNUSAMY VENUGOPAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3963

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9 TH  DECEMBER, 2016

## MISSING IAF AIRCRAFT

3963.  DR. P. VENUGOPAL:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

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- (a) whether the Indian Air Force AN-32 aircraft went missing in July this year;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  searching  and  locating missing  Indian  Air  Force  (IAF)  transport  aircraft  AN-32  along  with  the  results  and findings obtained therefrom;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  taken  help  of  foreign  countries  /  agencies  for searching the missing IAF transport aircraft AN-32;
- (d) if  so,  the details and present status thereof and the precautionary measures taken by the Government to avert such mishappenings in the future; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to phase out AN-32 aircraft from IAF and if so, the details thereof?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)

र  ा रा य मं ी

( डा . सुभाष भामरे )

(a) & (b): An Indian Air Force (IAF) AN-32 aircraft on a routine sortie from IAF  Station  Tambaram  to  Port  Blair  went  missing  at  1225  hours  on 22.07.2016 approximately 150 nm East of Chennai.

A massive search operation 'Op Talash' was launched for search of the missing aircraft.  A total of 18 Indian Naval ships, 01 submarine and 08

Indian  Coast  Guard  ships  were  deployed  for  search  of  the  missing  IAF aircraft.  A total of 301 ship days of search were undertaken by these ships. In addition 14 Indian Navy (IN) aircraft, 06 Indian Coast Guard aircraft and 10  IAF  aircraft  were  deployed  for  the  search  wherein  290  sorties  were flown, totaling approximately 1280 flying hours.  Geological Survey of India vessel  Samudra  Ratnakar  was  also  deployed  to  undertake  sub-bottom profiling in the area and National Institute of Oceanography and Technology vessel Sagar Nidhi was deployed to carry out sea bed search using Remotely Operated Vehicle to a depth of 3000m.

National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad was requested for  high-resolution  satellite  image  of  area  around  datum.  Indigenous satellite such as CARTOSAT 2A & 2B which have a resolution of 0.8m were also  used  for  satellite  imagery.    However,  no  concrete  evidence  with respect to missing IAF AN-32 aircraft has emerged.

(c) & (d): Assistance  of  the  United  States  and  the  Russian  Federation Navy was taken for the search of the missing IAF AN-32 transport aircraft. However, no results correlating to the missing IAF aircraft were reported.

All  transport  aircraft  and  helicopters  of  IAF  undertaking  maritime operations  have  now  been  equipped  with  Underwater  Locating  Beacon (ULB).

(e) Phasing  out  of  aircraft  and  their  replacement  with  new  generation aircraft  depends  upon  the  national  security  /  strategic  objectives  and operational  requirements  of  the  defence  forces  and  is  reviewed  by  the Government from time to time.  This is a continuous process.

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