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India is working on a spy satellite, says Sareen

India is seriously contemplating using an advanced satellite for gathering intelligence data to be used by the defence services, according to chief of the air staff, Air Chief Marshal S K Sareen.

In an informal chat with reporters in Bombay, he said, ''Qualitative requirements of the three wings of defence services -- army, navy and air force -- has been assessed and the defence ministry is working in close co-ordination with the Indian Space Research Organisation to give the project a final shape''.

Declining to comment further about the satellite and the timing of its launch, Sareen merely said, ''We are working on it,'' and after the satellite is launched it will be used to gather information to be used by the services. The satellite will not be exclusively for the defence services and may be used by other agencies for collecting relevant data, he said.

Air Chief Marshal Sareen was in Bombay to attend the inaugural function of the defence services exhibition -- Trishakti '98. The exhibition, which displays defence equipment like Prithvi missiles, radars, long and medium range guns and other weapon systems, was inaugurated by Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi.

On being asked about India's multi-role tactical fighter, the much-talked Light Combat Aircraft, Sareen stated its maiden flight is scheduled in the next eight months. The LCA is said to be a cost-effective alternative to the ageing fighters and its fighting capabilities match those of state-of-the-art aircraft of advanced countries. Defence Research and Development Organisation chief Dr A P J Abdul Kalam has played a lead role in manufacturing the aircraft in close co-ordination with the Aeronautical Development Agency.

Talking about the induction of surface-to-air missile Akash and its radar component Rajendra, he said two trials have already been done and it will be inducted in the ''near future''.

Informing the media about the capabilities of the Indian Air Force, the officer stated that the recent 'Vayushakti' exercise has shown our defence and striking capabilities. In the exercise 4,500 sorties were made by different aircraft.

Sareen, who received a volley of questions about the reported agitation by air force personnel, stated that only a ''handful of people'' were involved in it which included some senior officers, and added that they were giving out false reports. He also denied ''torture'' of any official.

UNI

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