Previous Year Question
With reference to India’s defence, consider the following pairs:
Aircraft Type | Description |
I. Dornier-228 | Maritime patrol aircraft |
II. IL-76 | Supersonic combat aircraft |
III. C-17 Globemaster III | Military transport aircraft |
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Only one
Only two
All the three
None
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
Pair I is correct. The Dornier-228 is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft. The Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard use it for maritime patrol, coastal surveillance, monitoring of the Exclusive Economic Zone, pollution monitoring and Search and Rescue missions. Its low-speed and low-altitude performance is useful for monitoring ships and suspicious activities on the sea surface.
Maritime variants of the Dornier-228 can carry surveillance radar, electro-optical sensors, communication equipment and mission-management systems. It is not a heavy combat aircraft but a light transport and maritime-surveillance platform.
Pair II is incorrect. The Ilyushin IL-76 is not a supersonic combat aircraft but a four-engine subsonic heavy military transport aircraft. It was developed for the strategic and tactical airlift of troops, heavy military equipment and cargo.
The IL-76 platform also has different variants. The IL-78 aerial-refuelling tanker is based on this aircraft, while India’s Phalcon AWACS uses an IL-76-based airframe. Nevertheless, the basic aircraft is classified as a heavy military transport, not a supersonic fighter.
Pair III is correct. The C-17 Globemaster III is a four-engine heavy military transport aircraft capable of both strategic and tactical airlift missions. It can transport troops, tanks, helicopters, artillery and other oversized military cargo over long distances.