Indias best kept Secrets Indian Airforce unbelievable stories | Telugu Podcast

Indias best kept Secrets Indian Airforce unbelievable stories | Telugu Podcast

https://youtu.be/_yd6QtxHr2k?si=Sbs2R2mDw5evPFq0

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Transcript:

(00:00) lower collective enter automation speed 60 seconds and turn over toward the for landing field give emergency call made cargle was the only time that I faced directly we had a2 full day hiding behind the missile aircraft which is the toughest battlefield to fly in India. The helicopter size is around 13 m. The helipad size is 5 m.

(00:49) post has been totally hit by those guys not 1 minute all three aircraft landed off just 1 minute 2014 I was the disaster management officer 38 hours and I was shocked almost 11,000 people we evacuated out of Chindor has got a lot of firsts 300 km there is a saying plan a good fight a good plan commander Anish sir welcome to in talks thank you very much and thank you vign it's a pleasure sir armed forces people professionals fighters I'll be very excited conversation itself end of the day so I'm very excited so I

(01:41) Air Force a day in your life 3:30. So not so early and what is the routine in the day in this training phases? Air Force Academy you typically take off at sunrise backwards before that you get ready into your flying clothes then you have to travel from your flying squadron. So typically around 2 hours to 2 and a half hours before sunrise is what you get ready for.

(02:35) Um that is in training stages and most of the time automatically body clock is also adjusted to that typically you start up around somewhere around 5:00 or 4:30 5:00 and you get ready reach your squad the first thing that happens is a briefing for the day sunrise sunrise conditions is it going to be windy is it going to be cloudy is it going to And then you have a who who is flying what one of the most interesting parts about the morning briefing is the emergency practice. Okay.

(03:24) So every so all the full squadron will be sitting one instructor will come up and he will give you an emergency he'll give a situation 4000 suddenly. So what are the emergencies? So he will pick out by name. Okay Anish come here and answer. You have to immediately roll out the actions as if engineally ft above the ground. The rate of descent is somewhere 2,000 ft per minute only 20 seconds for you to react and land the aircraft safely.

(04:13) So actions there is no chance of you making it. Reflex. Reflex. It is a it's almost a muscular reflex. It's a body reflex and m >> right. So even after 20 years I mean I started learning this emergency actions in in 1999 right till today the reflex is so strong that I can still rattle out >> lower collective enter autoation speed 60 select and turn towards the landing field give emergency call 25 years.

(04:44) So it becomes a secondary. So that is everybody because then there'll be a debrief on that complexity right then because then you have to understand hydraulic system engine understand that is very interesting part of the day and matter. You go and you fly your sorties. Every sort has got a different thing.

(05:22) Most of the time by 2:00 3:00 your sorties for the day are over. Sometimes you have night flying >> right night flying. You pack up early 11:00 you come back to Scot by around 6:30 7 time then you fly in the night to almost 12:00. But otherwise typically or 2:30 lunch time you come back in the evening and you have PT physical training around 4:30 4:30 to 5:30 6:00 PT or games or some physical activity is planned and then after that you night flying night flying otherwise you come back and you rest in your room have dinner and the

(06:00) same cycle again repeats again etc. So typically this is the schedule for a day. >> Okay. briefing room. So briefing room. Can you explain? >> So um briefing and sorty preparation is one of the most important things. Yeah. sorty and sorry >> sorty every time you take off and land back >> it is called a sorty sort ti >> okay >> right so every time you take off and land back is a very that's called a sorty and m preparation is the most important thing >> right so there is a saying in the air force so plan a good fight a good plan

(06:58) >> oh wow >> right so you always plan a good fight or plan a good sorty >> and then you fight a good plan try to stick to the plan as much as you can because so All plans will go. It keeps deviating because you cannot think of all possibilities. Planning you would have evolved all the situations you would have thought about it.

(07:36) Right? So actual war when it doesn't go as per plan then you already thought about some scenarios you immediately are ready with counter actions >> right so that is one very important thing it generally in terms of you know military because military second chance >> right it is either it's a zero one either you win or you die lose second position right >> second thing is that you have to understand in flying Right? The aircraft is moving at around 1,000 2,000 km/h.

(08:08) Right? You have to be ahead of the aircraft. So there's another saying, right? Your body should never go to a place where your mind has not already been 5 minutes before. Right? So by planning and by design right the training is in such a way that you're always planning you're always strategizing you're always in that uh preparation mode and always.

(08:48) So those briefing rooms and those planning rooms are very very very important part of our life and people train plan for 10 20 years. If you think at it one way 1971 next >> right that is how many years it's almost 27 28 years. So if people would continuously not have been planned and training and flying in those 27 years we wouldn't have won the cargill war.

(09:12) >> Correct. Right. So there is if you look at it another way also operation how many precision weapons do you think are fired to destroy all the enemy airfields and targets >> you'll be shocked only 50 only 50 precision weapons were fired for us to win operation sindur you can imagine the quality and the kind of training planning and flying that would have gone behind experience to be able to achieve that in so less So all of this put together planning strategy briefing it is a repetitive performance.

(09:52) It's a repetitive perform you keep doing it keep doing again again because till it becomes second nature it becomes muscle memory brain work muscle memory. So every morning before you enter the cockpit there's a medical exam every morning. Every morning. Oh wow. briefing compulsory attend everybody has to sign off their fitness >> multiple things.

(10:22) One is if you're he'll come and he will check you visually if there any symptoms cough or anything you're feeling well fever everything he'll check your symptoms. Second, if there is, of course it doesn't happen, but if there is an alcohol consumption, if you had a late night party night, your eyes are swollen, your eyes are sunken, those kind of things.

(10:38) >> If if he has any doubt, check if he has any doubt. So every morning, every pilot is signed off from a medical perspective >> and that happens today also even in civil aation also. >> So that is the kind of precautions that you take to to establish clarity. to the minute. Yeah. Every minute accounted fortal.

(11:16) I got around 2,800 flying. Never in your li nothing. No nothing of that sort. You have to be totally focused. It is total 100% focus. >> Interesting. It is not expected also and you don't also I mean because you don't want to be distracted through India. >> So um I joined I was 16 and a half when I joined India born in fact how I got to a service also is very interesting and >> so um I am a fourth generation.

(12:14) Oh, >> my great grand my grandfather great-grandfather and when the 7 1971 war broke out >> Indoakar >> Indwar both my uncles joined one joined the navy and other joined the army >> and they saw both saw combat my dad stayed back because my dad my grandfather >> so my dad stayed back and then I am from the next generation so I've always seen people in always seen people in uniform Right.

(12:48) So that patriotism is almost maybe by now fourth generation and also we used to stay very close to a place called >> so pilot is something that I want to become. So 16 and a half I wrote NDA and I cleared and I joined India. India is probably one of the finest military establishments in the world. It's not only in India and we have a lot of competitions and things and going out.

(13:16) We are like we are kicking it everywhere right? We are like it actually transforms boys into men >> because when you're entering you're around 16 and a half 17 18 when you're coming out around 21 22 right so the transition boys to men transition it happens there >> uh mentally physically emotionally uh you are uh pushed to the limit.

(13:39) So you you actually discover your limit. You you feel that and most of it is it's almost like studentled campus. Oh no structured to be a studentled campus from I don't know from last 50 years 50 60 years. >> So there is one 17 18 year old right and he controls 1,800 cadets. Oh, >> in India at the age of 20, just imagine the academic credit captain or the academic credit at they control almost 1,800 credits.

(14:19) >> So that is the kind of leadership that you get by the time you come out of >> India >> India. >> The training also is pretty tough. It is 3 years >> and divide into six semesters. 5 months semester then one month break again five month seme >> the first very beautiful the first two semesters is to break you >> right you you explore all the limits of your physical endurance of your mental endurance of your emotional endurance >> uh you can go without sleep for like 2 days you can go without food for like 2 days um you have stamina you're able to

(14:59) shut down your mind and just keep doing whatever you're doing for 2 days. And it's like a range of so they totally they break you down from a civilian and they build you up from a into somebody who's mentally, physically and emotionally very very very strong. That is the first two semesters. First semester and second semester.

(15:17) The third semester and fourth semester is what they teach you management skills. >> How to get stuff done. Yeah. And the last two years, last two semesters are for leadership. How 200, 300, 400 people and academic captain controls like 1,800 credits and you know college students they always find out a way of how to bypass things, how to work around things, how to be smart.

(15:59) >> So he has to right. So he has to just imagine a 20-year-old is managing 1,800 jugadu high energy high potential candidates. >> Correct? >> These candidates every semester they be chosen from six lakh seven lakh people. >> So these guys are inherently mentally sharp right and physically strong and morally straight.

(16:26) That's that the criteria for get chosen. physically strong, mentally strong and morally straight. Right? So these are the kind of right. So by the time you're 20, you you gain that kind of skills and the process if you get into the process you come out like that >> option because we don't know which of this credit is going to be leading your men in war.

(16:56) Uh >> so when you're leading your men in war right any of them how old was he? >> 20 he led hundreds of people into battle. >> Yeah. So you don't know who will be leading men into battle moment you step out of that academy. >> So all of the carrots who come out of there. So I think institutional institution is I think also government is very difficult because the tradition the culture the ethics 50 60 years 70 years so India is built on the model of west stand so there are only three UK law and the only institutions where officers of

(17:59) all three services train together. Okay. So, army, navy and air force cadets train together. But imagine in a time of war army, navy, air. So bonding years it is best utilized in those times of war and adversity. So formed it was formed in 1950. M >> so the Indians had gone and fought in the second world war in Sudan.

(18:46) >> So the government of Sudan gave a fund. >> Okay. >> So was the main India main block was made and then subsequently every state contributed some amount of money for building to donated the money to build that block. M >> so so every government actually gave a lot of money to be able to build out the entire institution.

(19:12) So it was 1950 is what it was built and now I think we're doing 75 years of India right now and it is a nation building institution. So very very interesting and heart touching stories you join as unknown people strangers right and it is as close as one of his standup comed. So one small example there's a lot of physical training punishment whatever

(20:16) you want to call it you know so in that you're supposed to roll sideways right >> right so if you roll over your body or your coursemate you can get up and go okay right we used to roll for the whole night and nobody will out roll his matchm right to Alan Alto you know this all is happening at 2:00 in the 2 hours and all tasks are like group task if you

(21:20) are going for so three camps greenhorn these are physical camps you go and stay in the jungle jungle >> right so our physical camps all task that you do are task a team >> so you have to cross the finish line as a team Right. Very but no man left behind. Last man everybody is on the line. >> So so that bonding that you create because of the tough conditions.

(22:00) So that bonds even 25 years we already constantly in touch. So um one of my batchmates was unwell and >> and we required a huge amount of money to uh get him better for his surgery and hospitalization. In three days amongst our friends only we somebody is in Canada somebody is in US it's not about money it's about the connection and the bonding 25 It is like a brotherhood for yeah fortunate

(23:11) in today's world especially in corporate world especially inhosible Right. So similar kind of friendship friendships. one who one whom I played cricket with whom I played football with >> and I was deep into athletics the concept is very simple absolutely no question right so if you have seen battle and war with So I think part of the exercise

(24:40) trainings India >> multiple first of all you have to understand key human body is not made to fly okay if we wanted to fly God would have given wings okay >> so you are entering into a domain where you're not naturally built for it you're not naturally built for flying so the forces that exert on you are multiple like for example as you keep going up for every thousand ft the temperature drops by 2°h >> right so if you're flying at you know 20,000 ft >> - 40 >> if the ground level is zero >> and if the ground is freezing

(25:18) >> then at 20,000 ft is 40 correct correct >> right so that is one is a temperature variation second is a huge amount of pressure variation >> right because the atmospheric pressure also as you keep going up it keeps reducing reducing reducing constantly so bodies again temperature variation second variable pressure variation, >> right? Third part is now even the sun glare also is very harsh there.

(25:48) >> Right? So you're dealing with multiple and you are not body is not tuned to move in three dimension. >> Right? So then the body is coping with that also. Right? So there are multiple forces which you are not naturally exposed to which happens when you are when you're in flying. M >> so body over a period of time you start getting used to these forces you start getting used to these conditions and now you know what to expect the moment you know what to expect the body already starts to compensate for it >> right uh for example in fighters

(26:21) fighters when we are doing in maneuvers right especially evasive maneuver anagani dog fighter tactical maneuver anagani the stress on the body is very high >> right >> so suppose if somebody there are some maneuvers where you go to around 7.58G >> which means your body actually weighs 7.5 58 times >> more than normal.

(26:42) >> Your body weighs 800 kg. Wow. If you're moving your hand, >> right? Moving 1 kg is equal to moving 8 kgs. So if you have to move your hand, it is almost eight times more effort you have to put to move that hand. Similarly, if you're moving your neck, right? Neck is the most vulnerable. >> Vulnerable, >> right? Right? So if you're moving if you have to move your neck at 8G then it eight times more difficult to move your neck.

(27:09) So obviously there are a lot of physical exercises that you do you do abdominal exercises you do physical exercise you do neck exercise. So at that point of time those muscles are strong enough to make those movements. >> So that's why you will see a lot of fighter pilots a lot pilots in general right they maintain their fitness levels at a high level. No no no no.

(27:41) So that is why exactly why you have to strengthen your muscles around that particular vertebrae or your backbone and things like you do a lot of back exercises. You do a lot of crunches, stomach, abdominal exercises, you do a lot of neck exercises. So the muscle around those sensitive areas get strengthened, right? And normally you're not exposed to those kind of G forces >> and in also those G forces are typically not for not collectively 2 minutes.

(28:09) >> Okay. >> So it is not like constantly that in bits and pieces 30 seconds 40 seconds 50 seconds 2 3 4 minutes right. >> So it is not as bad as you know 30 40 minutes or whatever it is right you normally are flying at how you are flying. So the cockpit also it simulates a as close to earth environment as possible.

(28:32) >> Aa >> it's only that at certain maneuvers when you do certain maneuvers then that is when the g-forces and things start acting. >> So what co like for example in the cockpit you have additional oxygen. >> Oh okay. >> Right. So because as you keep going up the oxygen levels also reduces >> like for example 10,000 ft low the oxygen is half as available as 0tyv right. So you have an oxygen mask.

(28:57) You so you're breathing oxygen, right? The aircraft is temperature controlled. So if you're even if you're going in 20,000 30,000 40,000 ft, still the temperature is maintained at, you know, 22 23 >> degrees centiggrade. So you're not >> exposed to temperatures. >> You're not exposed to pressure because the cockpit also is pressurized.

(29:14) >> Right? So the cockpit itself is as close to ground as possible. Right? But when you're doing these extreme maneuvers up to your body, fitness is required to maintain that body. So for those specific things you train okay so depending upon okay fighter pilot cockpit um is one of the most complex >> Mhm. Mhm.

(29:54) >> Ergonomically working envirment everything is designed as per the keeping the pilot in the center right hand right because then naturally you'll start going in the opposite direction Okay. And the aircraft itself based on it will be just surrounding him everywhere. So it's like a Formula 1 car on air much more complex >> much more 30x more complexity minimum minimum to minimum okay it is so complex we have blindfold >> before you start flying so blindfold

(31:02) okay on the ground is not flying on the ground right blind The instructor will start calling switches instructor will keep calling right and you have to pass the test. Okay? wrong. Instead of switching on something, you switch off something which is working. So electric but I'm saying in an extreme emergency situation, your hands and legs should be so trained that it should go at the

(32:06) right place. >> Reflexes, >> reflexes, everything is into built into your muscle memory by the time you get into the aircraft. >> So aircraft system is all built around the pilot. For example, if you look at Mirage aircraft Mirage 2000, >> Mirage 2000. >> Yeah. Control mechanism, it'll be almost just like two fingers wide, right? The entire aircraft is controlled by pressure almost.

(32:34) Oh, >> right. You don't it'll just be like a like a pressure and after a certain period of time it's almost like your mind thinks and your hand will work as you keep flying flying flying you start getting that coordination helicopter flying it's bearing. Helicopter flying is like that. >> Wow. >> You have to constantly keep adjusting, readjusting, adjusting, readjusting to keep it there.

(33:16) Because we are not built for third dimension. I mean you can like go up and come down and everything is like moving around you. >> So the first experience is like immemorable feeling it is it's a totally different feeling because your body is sensing up and down movement till now you're right back. Now you're moving in the third dimension without any affecting the other dimension and you're controlling it.

(34:10) If you do something, it is actually responding. I was just blown away. So last there is this rare moment. It comes very I'm flying. So like I'm just freedom. This is my >> mu every moment when you're flying is like that actually. But it is definitely a very very freeing moment. You're totally in control of everything that is happening.

(34:56) But flying is very procedural. One way of looking at it is everything is procedure because the equipment is so advanced. uh the stakes are so high >> and the aircraft that you're flying cross in hundreds and thousands of crores right so what is the procedurecess margin of error least it's a process it's like a it's like a surgeon >> doing a surgery process has to be followed.

(35:36) >> Oh no. >> And everything has got a meaning. >> So flying also is like that. Many people think flying is very glamorous but actually flying is very tedious. You actually lose body weight >> because of lack of fluids when you go for a long s and come back. You lose a lot. You you sweat a lot. Especially in helicopters you don't have the ACIC.

(36:02) >> The cabin is open. You can't open form23 crazy I mean you get literally dehydrated you can't touch the aircraft any metallic part you touch your finger get stuck to the metal part same way 20 - 30° degrees you it immediately freezes to this uh >> the uh metallic part of the engine or the airframe is so cooled >> that if you touch it it'll stick quick freeze it'll freeze now skin gets left behind that's why you always wear so to a certain extent it protects you >> okay scenario For example, all of a sudden

(37:10) from you have to go into war like typically it is very rare that you that sudden typically >> unless like cargle was the only time that I faced when suddenly it came because we didn't know that enemy sitting on topical army will keep building up suddenly you'll see that they are getting refueled or they're buying So but only where I can relate to.

(38:13) Yeah. So we were in in fact I was in air station and suddenly we were flying in morning. So APM concept all personal manning. >> So seriousness APM 3, APM 2, APM 1, APM 1. Oh >> right. APM 3 is okay. Be ready everybody. APM2 is a much more serious level. APM1 is war. So directly we had a APM2. So we were real Then said it is not a drill.

(39:18) Mhm. >> My instructor who was there he suddenly his he became very >> and all aircraft and everybody started landing back everybody started landing back we were we didn't understand the seriousness or the importance of that at that point of time we were finishing our training last month. So then when we landed back that is when we realized actually game start.

(39:50) So that is when we realize okay it's happening but otherwise there already war plans in place >> the war plans in place so everybody starts moving people know where do I will move up threat was from the western front all assets will start moving aircraft Army, fighter, everybody will war plan as per their war plan they will move to the designated locations.

(40:26) So the plans for that is already ready and every year these plans get tested out. So everything is in motion. The first time I heard then we had a briefing. We had a mass briefing. All people all pilots in the air force station had come together and we were mass bing. We said okay there seems to be a so there seems to be an incursion.

(41:14) One of our and some of our posts seem to be taken over. It is likely to be conflict was a unknown place. >> So and we got our posting orders saying that this guy has to go here, this guy has to go here, this guy has to go here. So as we kept unfolding then we kept listening then we kept hearing from people. Then when we went to the squadron and we started have when we went to the squadron squad in the front line.

(41:52) Okay, this is serious stuff >> right people are dying on a daily basis >> and then that uh that experience of course was a is a life-changing uh experience that whole cargill war and experience. So total casualties in car law see >> there are official versions and there are unofficial versions but I think the casualties somewhere around 700 600 okay so and for the kind of conditions it is very very actually it is very less yeah >> so typically defender to aggress if an aggressor has to come and take over the position

(42:37) It has to be more but it was mountains. Yeah. And also that guy sitting on top and all of these posts 16,000 17,000 15,000 ft 10,000. So if you're climbing there first of all you don't have understand lungs are not filling right. You start painting. >> Now you have to climb and you have to fight. People climbed the mountain during the night.

(43:38) Half mountain full day. Full day. They're hiding behind that rock again. Mhm. Correct. 10 minutes without phone. Sorry. Right. So those conditions when you operate in those conditions when you see people operating in those conditions the only your perspective on life itself changes >> changes. Absolutely. There are specifics for that.

(44:28) Firstly, weapons training happens in the squad. >> It does not happen in the training. Air Force Academy because weapons training has to be done in a particular flying range. Yeah. >> You can't fight anywhere, right? And Prati squadron will fly type of aircraft. Can can you give us an example? >> For example, after you pass out, you going to transport helicopters and fighters, right? So helicopters and fighters types of weapons and thoseapame separate separate parameters.

(45:40) Very rangit training training aircraft each one. Okay. So already mountain warfare is one of the most difficult

(46:44) warfare because alitudes main problem is your breathing itself is a problem. fundamental breathing problem, right? Aircraft breathing is a problem by the way >> because when you release a weapon, the aircraft the engine has to take a load, >> right? If you engine might flame out and engine might die, right? You have to be really precise guided bombs. Laser guided bombs bombs.

(47:52) target. Bunker precision laser rides the laser. It rides the laser and goes and hits the target. Minaz. >> No, I I you're right. You're right. You cannot say that business not having challenges. They're difficult type of challenges. experiences. So

(49:11) across the world it is the toughest battlefield to fly in >> especially helicoptersicankul. fulfillment. jokingly on your own helicopter flying. I'll tell you why also when we were flying. Okay. Okay. The highest mountain in the world are the Himalayas. Oh no. Right. which is a lower mountain range that will be somewhere close 18,000 19,000 it is cost around 21,000,000 so aircraft for example

(50:18) maximum height they thought that aircraft will go to 21,000 ft okay Yeah. Best. So first shuttleic Max right. So theoretically can carry almost 1,200 kg of weight. Okay.

(51:24) You can carry only 25 kg. You can carry only 25 kg of weight apart from 252.5. Uh right. So that is the kind of margins power margin you're operating on. >> Correct. >> But you look at in different context 25 kgs of medicine, >> 25 kg of letters from home, >> right? 25 kg of emergency ration. then it becomes very very important right or you take fuel less >> right then you can fly more.

(52:28) So, so that is where the C operations margin of error. Second challenge on top. Okay. Aircraft will come and land and aircraft will come and take off. Yeah. Normally helicopter size is around 13 m. The helipad size is 5 m. Damn you able to visualize it. So

(53:38) helipad is just 5 m. Helicopter is 13 m. Soic right. So the precision is to do that every time at 21,300 ft with the minimal power margin because the margin of error is even if the aircraft power margin doesn't kill you the enemy will kill you. Me personally experience >> this is what we did for two years and >> two years >> and this is what pilots have been doing from 198 1984 in C >> is the longest continuous battlefield in the world.

(54:30) >> Uhhuh. No, but so training is very very very very very you have to clearance 8 months. If you're not able to safely clear, then you're not allowed to go as a captain there. So you have you have minor indicators, right? Is it fluttering too fast? Right. And all of this are skill and choose to

(55:34) aircraft. So we had a very interesting thing we'll take you to for flying. We were crossing 20,000,000 21,000 is maximum 2100 daily. >> So we took them for a sort we landed there picked up from Russian and they came back. So they were they were shocked. And when they landed back, they were so

(56:45) taken up. So they wanted to exchange the wings with us. You get a wingsow and you get a pair of wings. Same process. Every pilot will have wings. >> So they exchange their wings with us. Wings. This wings that you have worn. Yeah. >> Is very precious for us because it comes from a pilot who has flown in these conditions.

(57:11) We as French people are not fight are not flying our aircrafts in this kind of conditions. So they exchange their what a moment it's it's a moment of recognition for so many years of pilots. Yeah. So it is actually a tribute for them just perfect. I think they are the true heroes. So, okay. So many stories that you when you

(58:18) fly there. No, I mean like so now he can he can see you flying but he cannot fire immediately. He will try to hit you with his gun. Oh no. So when you're flying when you see the snow is white when we were flying. Wow. and so close to death. But I think the point is the training,

(59:25) the processes and everything are made so strong >> that you cheat death as a process. >> Oh, crazy. There are so many instancies we do by the time around 12:00 2:00 post has been totally hit by Pakistan post has been smashed ground. Okay. And soldiers are alive

(1:00:32) and has been hit by Pakistan. So and the soldiers are all there everything is damaged those guys will not survive the nightus 2:00 winds are heavy so now we had to call we had to take a There are eight javans there in the post. All are hiding in the ice wall ice cave. So mim as a pilot may distend this call. If something goes wrong, we are the ones to blame. Right.

(1:01:30) And we will lo our life. >> Yes. Yes. Right. So we decided let's go. Okay. At around 2:00 we took out and we were very sure because heavy this thing winds very strong winds 5 km 7 km 5 km you cannot control your aircraft to be able to make the precision. Wow. It was like precision. I don't know it was for half an hour. I don't know 1 hour.

(1:02:15) So we had sleeping bags. Sleeping bags are very light. So we had three aircraft. We had sleeping bags. We had basic heating material and some kerosene jerry can some lighting heating material and uh three aircrafts went like precision. Second aircraft went dropped. went drop came weather was clear, weather was fine. 2:00 wind up wind start picking up very very strongly in the I don't know if it is God's providence I don't know what it is I don't know timing luckily I don't know what to call it >> I had tears in my eyes >> it was crazy

(1:03:00) >> crazy >> and that time we realized boss it was worth the risk >> unbelievable >> unbelievable we we came back and said boss what happened what just happened was sural What happened? Just think about the eight guys. Eight guys were sure aviation helicopters were there. We were there and we dropped it and we came back.

(1:03:32) Army also has got his own aviation wing and helicopters. They also do some absolutely spectacular work there. Same conditions. So we expected that. We expected that. Let us give it an attempt. We'll turn back and come back. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. First the formation leader said, "I'll go first.

(1:04:04) Uh if I'm finding something wrong, then you guys turn back. At least we'll try." He said everything is to just continue land. What? Tuck, second tuck, third tuck. In 50 seconds, 50 seconds to 1 minute. All three aircraft landed off to just one minute. One minute. Yeah. He will start running towards the weapon and trying to start shoot you down.

(1:04:30) So you have to go in 30 seconds get out. Next guy goes in 30 seconds get out. Next guy goes in 30 seconds get out. That is the time that you have bang on it. Seriously? Yeah. No, no, but like I'm telling you right that is a kind of professional air force of the Indian air forces. This is the precision that we operate with.

(1:05:00) Sometimes it is required for the country. Just like most of the support multiple kind of support. First is jungle jungle for you to cross a particular duration of uh distance. Right? In jungle, it takes you almost six times more time. >> Ah, >> right. Because you're going through the jungle, you're climbing through the mountain. There's no path.

(1:05:46) You are cutting your own path and walking. So the first kind of support that helicopters typically give is insertion. There's open area. We land them there and rather than from the main road or main place wherever it is right insertion extraction insertion dropping them in extraction >> so so that their time to target is much lesser and the reaction time is better half hour 45 minutes 1 hour right that's the first part second support that you give is you can you have a lot of the UAVs unmanned air vehicles so they establish

(1:06:28) orbit orbit. >> Okay. >> Over the target area. Lots of types of equipment will be there. >> They will have infrared cameras. >> They'll have visual optical cameras. >> They'll we have synthetic aperture radars, radar systems. >> So with that they try and pick out images and transmit it to the ground forces. Oh wow.

(1:06:51) >> And they transmit it to the ground forces. Right. Ground forces. So those guys can see on the m what is the action happening where is where is where are we target location where are we who's moving from what direction they can do a coordinated attack >> that is third part is you have like attack helicopters and you have weapons basically weapon platforms a weapon platform helicopter fight depending on the kind of target that is available there so insert and extraction realtime intelligence and uh weapon support covering support covering

(1:07:24) fire support if required. >> Okay sir. What if this is with navy? >> So two things. One is navy also has got his own naval air. >> They've got a naval air because they have aircraft carriers again there are fighters, helicopters, transport and electronic surveillance aircraft. >> So they have most of it is they has almost self-sufficient in what they are doing. Okay.

(1:08:00) Apart from separate wing it's it's a separate command based out of the western border for example coast guard doesn't have so much of support right but they have they have their own aircraft we gave it from the land Okay. For exampines, they have to follow that airway. They cannot go apart from that airway. Apart from that airway, all the airspace belongs to the air force.

(1:08:56) Right? So passenger is an airway which leads to Hyderabad that's approximately 20 minutes 20 places belongs to the air force. >> Right? Now when it comes to border again that line on the ground is extended into the air sort of a thing. >> Uhhuh. So that becomes a dividing line. But theoretically 1 kilometer from the border you you should not be flying as a normal practice unless there is an exercise. Okay.

(1:09:41) So butterflies are the symbol of orgasm. Okay. Okay. So So first of all there two sides to it and ragging actually in my opinion that is what does to you. >> Yeah. as long as not dangerous >> life dangerous. So uh NDLO there is there are a lot of these activities which go on >> but at the back of the mind they always very conscious to not make it dangerous.

(1:10:46) My first experience with this activade Sum 79,845 79,846. And then I then suddenly I realiz I think how many times I can't tell you but you don't know what to do but it is a

(1:11:53) mental endurance of 8 hours in India again right there were lot of literally we Sleepless nights 10:00. So and the night we had all night activities we used to have and sometimes one and a half two days half an hour 1 hour. >> So but if I fast forward right fast forward to Cargill I fast forward to operat is Jammu Kashmir 2014. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

(1:12:49) >> I don't know if you remember. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Right. Flash flood. Suddenly the floods came. What happened was like a bowl >> surrounding by mountains and was in the bowl. Such a heavy rain was there. Everything was flooded. Sand slush there. Nothing could move anywhere. People are moving in boats and all of that.

(1:13:21) So updu I was the disaster management officer in Jammu around 38 hours continuously I was on my feet organizing for air support relief aid IL76 were coming in was coming there were a lot of supplies rations emergency supplies were coming from every there loading the aircraft seeing is correctly loaded or not correct equipment tundala within 10 place some 550 tons of relief material is what we said almost 11,000 people we evacuated out of right 38 hours and I was sharp sharpness second thing is like you're on top of the game

(1:14:14) mistake Right. Especially aviation. So even the 30th hour, 38th hour, you should be able to catch that mistake. Otherwise, you're not shark. >> Otherwise, you should not be there. Somebody else should be there doing that job. Right? So if I fast forward, I think a lot of my uh I think a lot of my training in the NDA or those extreme boundary checking exercises that we did in NDA helped me in later parts.

(1:15:13) I mean, I don't know. I mean, maybe I'm blessed. My wife is very jealous. Yeah. Most of the time my wife says but it prepares you. It prepares you for very very very challenging conditions. When the challenging condition comes >> you become you become super focused. You try you just ignore all the immaterial things.

(1:15:57) Is it adding to the solution or not? If it's adding to the solution, I will consider it. Otherwise, I will just ignore it. >> I'm just focused on problem solving. >> Capability. Those kind of experiences bring to you bonding relationship. Those are the best of our friends right now. Our >> relationship are the best of relationships.

(1:16:30) So we used to take that type of bed windows. And this is first floor. First floor. Yeah. Right. So and you used to have this something called party. >> Yeah. >> How fast you can change your dress. You can 10 seconds 15 seconds >> because in war that is required. >> You never know when you you need to immediately change and get into action.

(1:17:34) >> Correct. Correct. Mhm. >> So in fact if you look at if you look at it in Patanot incident Pat >> right occurred again the attack by the terrorists were sunrise >> everybody somebody were some people were sleeping somebody were going to work and all of that right so at that point of time people had to immediately get ready react and counter the challenge sir Um exactly.

(1:18:08) So I think in both the cases right I think it was a see you have to understand there is a world of difference. Yeah. >> Right. Um I'll give you a very small example. 2014 I still remember the date very very clearly. It was October 7th of 2014 the um instructions were and fire to deter >> right basically you would fire and they will hear the sound they will stop firing.

(1:18:50) So we used to fire rounds at them. They used to fire around very arbit. So October 7th, October 6th the firing started from Pakistan 2014. >> So you can understand the political change that happened in June. So um firing small we got a call saying that damages. The instructions were fire to right in another I think one or two hours got a response fire for maximum impact.

(1:19:50) Oh, first of all change in policyh. Yeah. Yeah. Correct. Something like that. So we reconfirmed. Recon. No. No. Fire for maximum impact. M time it was somewhere close to time. I think they fired for so every post every monk was hit. We can at any point of time but we had a political backing to go ahead and hit it. >> Your job is to hit right. So much so

(1:20:56) that we started getting that all the posts are damaged because you can't hit him no all the post were gone. So that is the kind of shift that happened. So in Mumbai attack we just we oppose we oppose our opposite right >> then when Patan happened we gave a more stronger reply and we said okay you come and you inspect and you see that actually it happened and >> so first we protested second we told them you come and inspect third time we said boss last time you didn't do anything about it right was a good response Mind

(1:21:58) message and has got a lot of firsts. >> For example, ground to air aircraft destruction S400 300 km. Oh wow. >> Which is the longest recorded ground to air aircraft destruction in history of world 307 km 38 km right. Soapility 450 km. M these are very strong statements weapon 300 km

(1:23:10) cruise missiles are typically hitting on the ground targets ballistic missiles. Huh? >> These are surfaceto-air missiles. >> Surface to air missile. Surface to air guided weapons and surfaceto-air missile. So there are multiple kinds of missile ground to ground missile >> right surface to air missile.

(1:23:32) Surface to surface. Soap right that can be fired from ground also. >> It can be fired from air also. Then becomes from air to ground it just flies around 30 to 50 above the ground. So it evades all radar systems. So cruise miss just nape of the earth and 30 to 50 m on the ground it'll just skim on the ground and go and hit the accuracy they are saying is we hit a ventilator shaft that is the kind of accuracy that we have displayed.

(1:24:32) >> Wow you understand? So that is the kind of accuracies that we talking currently most advanced jets and weapons every role every mission kind of right multiroll multiroll they can do everything surface to air, air to air, >> air to ground, >> they can do all those also. >> Mhm. >> Uh but I think some of the best it's and most of the cases is the man behind the machine which makes a difference.

(1:25:30) M21 is a 50y old 55y old right. >> Yeah. So a lot of credit has to be given to the skill behind the weapon the weapons operator >> or the aircraft flyer. So while your question is very good saying that aircraft are very very advanced the is like a rock solid solid aircrafts those are right MiG are solid aircraft suit are solid aircrafts Rafals are solid aircraft all of them are multiroll aircraft you can do use for whatever you want to use them for right now behind them >> the skill is that of people who are like,

(1:26:36) >> right? >> Yeah. Yeah. Correct. >> Right. And the skill like for example you talked about the skill level that are required to fly in C. >> That same skill level is being displayed by all pilots in the air force because the process makes you so skillful. >> Yeah. So we of course have great advanced equipment right but behind them also we have some really really very skillful >> pilots some of the pilots are the best in the world >> there is a story that I mean that is what we heard to say and nobody will publicly accept it also

(1:27:26) top gun is actually in US for three continuous years Indian pilot stopped it. >> Oh wow. >> So the uh I think this the skill behind the machine also is equally so good. Ah every machine >> the process is so strong is so accurate the procedures are so good by the time the person comes out at the other end. >> Wow. I feel so satisfied today.

(1:28:11) One last question. Air Force. You have a great voice. >> Yeah. I mean, I hope so. >> I don't I love trying. I think it's finished. We finished already. >> Yeah. >> But I like trying new things and a lot of new thing. I think most of my journey has been about >> so even when I joined I always somebody what next >> seventh eth class I wanted to become a pilot.

(1:28:43) >> Yeah >> by time I was 21. >> Oh yeah >> I became a pilot. >> So what next? I said I wanted to fly in the most difficult circumstances that a helicopter can fly. >> Yeah. Right. >> Then what next? So I came to Hakkimit and I became a staff pilot here to teach >> youngsters to fly. Air Force Academy I was again in teach and I said what next? Then the technology came drone technology came.

(1:29:12) >> So I moved to drones >> right then what next? Then somebody told me boss all the skill sets that you have God has given you you're using to to make yourself more successful in life >> meanwah how many families are running and that's when I moved out and say okay then I joined Vij which was kind enough to give me an opportunity in my gate.

(1:29:31) Mhm. >> joined my gate at certain point of time thousand employees we had. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> Then what next? We said okay why only one migate? Can I make an ecosystem which can produce 100 more migates? >> Mhm. >> That's when tub happened. >> Yeah. For me if if there is an opportunity to try out for dubbing trying it out.

(1:29:51) >> Yeah. Seriously sir, next time entrepreneurship is something which I look up to so much which I love doing and also entrepreneurship. Next I'm planning a series of very good podcast around entrepreneurship. I would love to have you along with few other guests detailed discussion. Sure. >> Definitely looking forward to that.

(1:30:20) Anyways, that was lovely talking to you, sir. Thank you so much. Thank you so much for having Thank you so much. Thank you, sir.