IAF Conducts Poll, Asks If LCA Tejas Will Replace MiG-21 In Time!

Very interesting, and I thought I was the only one who conducted elegantly unscientific polls! The screengrab above is from a poll that the Indian Air Force appears to have conducted on its official website, with the very timely question: Can the LCA replace the ageing MiG-21 fleet of the Indian Air Force in time? Hmmm, oddly worded question. To be sure, the poll doesn’t indicate when it was conducted (or for that matter, whether it was conducted at all!) and for how long it was open. All we have is this mystifying, tantalizing opinion poll results page, with no links to where it actually comes from. But boy is it timely now, with the LCA Tejas aiming to achieve initial operational clearance (IOC) in December this year. The poll appears to have got some pretty decent response too — 2,50,953 votes, with a little over 66 per cent (~1.6 lakh voters) voting that the LCA would indeed replace the MiG-21 fleet in time, though a chunky 21 per cent didn’t think it would.

But what was this poll about? What’s the story? I’m going to try and find out tomorrow, but in the meanwhile, I’d love to know what everyone thinks.

35 thoughts on “IAF Conducts Poll, Asks If LCA Tejas Will Replace MiG-21 In Time!”

  1. LOL.. 2.5 Lakh votes.

    I know part of the story – I was told that it was a battle between two script junkies from BRF – one of them generating the yes votes, the other no votes. finally the yes votes guy won.. surely the IAF site doesnt attract so many visitors do they?

  2. I think that is what Govt. made us believe. right?

    that is what Govt. made tax payer believe that it will develop a fighter aircraft that will replace mig-21.

    Now the funny part is Govt. (IAF included) is asking public should LCA replace Mig-21.

    What kind of hypocrisy is this!

    I browsed active photo gallery of IAF and I found LCA as an active aircraft… Look at picture gallery.

  3. What does that mean; in time? If the Mig-21, as well as the Mirage-2000, remain in service for another 10-15 years, than a redesigned LCA (Tejas-2) could replace them in time.
    If the question is "Can the existing Tejas can enter full-scale production amd service with capabilities at least equal to the Mig-21, and Mirage-2000, in 5 years?", than the answer is "Absolutely not".

  4. Shiv, that's there from a long time. I had voted multiple times in the past. I'm sure even the Pakis must have a dedicated unit to vote for No.:) So just cast your vote (if possible multiple times for a yes;) and forget it) Regarding belief, yes I do believe that the IAF will get all it's Mig-21's replaced by the Tejas. From Dec onwards the IAF will be flying the Tejas. Shiv, What's the status of Air-Air weapon test? Will it get over by December?

  5. LCA 2 may replace Mig 21 fleet , but need to go in fastrack ( HAL), taking too much time for selecting engine itself is dead slow process again, if they follow the same useless method of slow processing in each and every thing like this every one will lose their interest on LCA .

  6. The two things are

    1) what does in time mean
    2) who the heck visits the IAF site.

    I think they were voting among themselves like what jagan said.

  7. looks like a rigged poll. 250k people voted? since when does the IAF site attract so many people? looks dodgy.. like the many polls conducted on BRF.. there too its rigged albeit with fewer votes

  8. typical Indian bashing,"its rigged", "it cannot be", "one porki comes in here and goes, "makes me laugh". These hypocrites will starting singing a different tune if an article written by a foreigner praising LCA Tejas qualities comes out. Here is the thing, a national geographic channel on HAL tejas has brought some credibility into the indians mind. Had that video not been made, critics would have been more harsh, they would have up in arms to say "the money is been looted for these govt agencies".For knowledge sakes (not offending anybody here),for BAe and other European firms, it took them nearly 3 decades to build a typhoon (one in the race for MMRCA). Even Typhoon is optimized for only air to air mission and only recently has it been tweaked for a multipurpose mission. However, Indians primary aim/natural way to debate is say "hahaha, LOL, a BIG no" and really bring down or bilittle our own hard fought achievements. Now, this is not confined to only defense but all other streams. SAD!

  9. anon@10:52 PM

    just because we say the poll is rigged doesnt mean we are pakis.. what is wrong with you? you are behaving like the pakis on pakidef forum. any criticism and you are branded a bhindian.. you are one of those RATshakers, arent you? dont like to hear others opinions.

  10. anon@2:45

    Criticism with an understanding of the technical challenges India is facing is agreeable. Criticism, lets say on our subsequent project is to an extent agreeable. When India is trying every bit to get its FIRST EVER plane (Marut was built by a German) to the sky, give it a slack. What is RATshaker? Understand one thing, its a fighter plane not a scooter that bajaj can assemble and put it into the market, get a life! loser

  11. Jagan has such a fartitious story! Why would only the yes guy win. Codemonkeys and scripts can work such polls comfortably, so unless one gave up, you ain't the same Jagan and the story smells like BS. Web master indeed. Bah.

  12. Heberian aka K-LT

    To Anon @ 8.26 pm

    Spot on mate.

    I thank god that there are some who appreciate the efforts going into the LCA and know what it means for the long term strategic independence of the nation.

    Yep, I totllay second your views 🙂 and hope that some of the other readers have the maturity to understand what you said.

    Good day to you!

  13. anon@8:26 PM

    are you stupid? read the post.. its criticising the poll.. not the aircraft. you appear so foolish when you respond with a reply that has nothing to do with the previous topic.

    and RATshaker is a nickname given to those from bharat-rakshak. they do not like opinions of people who differ from them. hence the insult.

    it has nothing to do with the aircraft whatsoever.

    an example of intolerance of others views can be seen here:
    http://forums.bharat-rakshak.com/viewtopic.php?p=934040#p934040

    see how shiv (from br) takes a dig at mr. aroor just because he posted about this poll? this is what makes them ratshakers.

  14. @last anon: well, actually i'm not criticising the poll at all. it's just that i've never seen an opinion poll of this sort on any of our armed forces websites so far, and was wondering where it had come from. seemed strange for the IAF's official website to have such a poll, that's all.

  15. oh.. mr. aroor, you misunderstood.. when i said the post is criticising the poll, i meant the post by anon@10:52 PM (who criticises one of the above posters as they said it must have been rigged).. not your blog entry.

    Nevertheless, thankyou for your entry.

  16. LF:

    This poll was removed from the IAF Website over three years ago.

    Wonder where you got this screenshot from?

    It is no issue. Surely somebody as astute and aware as you recognizes that. There are a host of issues on which debate is needed; meaningful ones at that.

    We hope you do what you are good at and not fall prey to cheap Service Bashing. In our yet immature nation, films, cricket and politics seem to matter to most. Oh I forgot to add the most important part, which is REAL or IMAGINED DIRT.

    It may win you hits at your blog but respect from the discerning …..?????

    Much regards,

    Air Warrior

  17. It is shame that India who is so advanced in rocket science and technology, has a flag(probe) on moon and still not able to make a competent air fighter plane. If someone says there are technical difficulties then it is hard to digest.In my opinion there can be only two reasons- either so much corruption(all money eaten up by ppl) or they don't want to declare the real status.

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