New Delhi: The Comptroller and Audit General has sounded a note of caution over the combat readiness of the Navy's aviation arm as only 26 per cent of its assets are available at any given time, adding to the woes of the force hit by a series of accidents involving its submarines.
In a report, the CAG has also cautioned the Navy over indigenisation efforts, saying while these may be encouraged, the limitations should be clearly recognised and these should not come at the cost of operational preparedness.
Noting that Navy's air combat capability has weakened drastically as the available aircraft carrier, INS Viraat, is almost half a century old and running on "borrowed time", CAG has blamed sluggish acquisition and high number of aircraft undergoing repair and overhaul for its falling strength.
The audit report says attack capability of the already depleted fighter aircraft fleet is "significantly eroded" as they have not been kept in full combat readiness due to lack of a fully functional fitted radar and limited firing of practise missiles.
27/02/14 PTI/Zee News
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In a report, the CAG has also cautioned the Navy over indigenisation efforts, saying while these may be encouraged, the limitations should be clearly recognised and these should not come at the cost of operational preparedness.
Noting that Navy's air combat capability has weakened drastically as the available aircraft carrier, INS Viraat, is almost half a century old and running on "borrowed time", CAG has blamed sluggish acquisition and high number of aircraft undergoing repair and overhaul for its falling strength.
The audit report says attack capability of the already depleted fighter aircraft fleet is "significantly eroded" as they have not been kept in full combat readiness due to lack of a fully functional fitted radar and limited firing of practise missiles.
27/02/14 PTI/Zee News
