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Time of India
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Believe it or not! These 5 countries have fighter jets but no pilots to fly them
Fighter jets are often viewed as the pinnacle of military power. Built for speed, strength, and precision, these aircraft are symbols of a nation's defence capabilities. However, not every country that owns a fighter jet has the personnel to operate them. Yes, it's true—some nations possess sophisticated fighter aircraft, yet they lack the most critical component: trained pilots. In this article, we explore five such countries without fighter jet pilots, uncovering the reasons why these expensive war machines remain grounded. 1. Afghanistan: Fighter Jets Left Behind After Withdrawal After the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in 2021, several fighter aircraft, including A-29 Super Tucanos and Mi-17 helicopters, were left behind. Now under Taliban control, these fighter jets are mostly unusable. The main issue? A complete lack of trained pilots. Earlier, the U.S. had trained Afghan forces and provided maintenance support. But in the absence of this expertise, the fighter jets are nothing more than military showpieces. Afghanistan neither has the budget nor the technical know-how to maintain or operate them effectively. 2. Chad: Fighter Jets Grounded by Budget Limitations In 2014, Chad purchased MiG-29 fighter jets from Ukraine, aiming to strengthen its air force. However, the country faces severe financial constraints and an ongoing shortage of trained fighter jet pilots. On occasion, Chad has hired foreign pilots or military contractors to operate its aircraft, but this approach is unsustainable and costly. Today, the jets are rarely flown and mostly serve as a symbol of military status rather than functional defence tools. 3. Libya: Once a Strong Air Force, Now in Ruins Libya once possessed a formidable air force featuring aircraft such as the MiG-21, MiG-23, and Mirage F1. These fighter jets played a central role during Muammar Gaddafi's reign. However, years of civil war have devastated the nation's military infrastructure. Airbases have been bombed, skilled pilots have either perished or fled, and training facilities have been dismantled. Libya is now one of the leading countries without fighter jet pilots. The remaining jets are either rusting away or being stripped for spare parts. 4. Somalia: Fighter Jets with No One to Fly Them Somalia once had Soviet-supplied MiG jets decades ago. However, years of political unrest and internal conflict have rendered the country's air force inactive. Due to a complete breakdown in training programmes and aviation infrastructure, Somalia's fighter jets are now just museum pieces. The government currently has no plans to revive its air force, meaning these aircraft will remain permanently grounded. 5. Yemen: A Military Force Crippled by War Yemen's air force formerly operated jets like the Su-22 and MiG-29. But the country has been battered by years of civil war, air raids, and political instability. Most airstrips and training centres have been destroyed. Pilots have either been lost in the conflict or are no longer active. Yemen simply lacks the resources to train new fighter jet pilots, and as a result, the jets remain parked and powerless. Why Keep Fighter Jets That Can't Be Flown? You might wonder why these nations continue to keep fighter jets they can't operate. The answer lies in perception and power. Fighter jets are often seen as symbols of sovereignty and military strength. They are showcased during national parades, displayed at diplomatic events, and even used in political negotiations. Despite not being combat-ready, these aircraft serve as status symbols on the global stage. Some nations hope that they'll be able to train pilots in the future or receive assistance from allies. Others keep these jets for prestige, even if they never take flight. The High Price of Training Fighter Jet Pilots Becoming a fighter pilot isn't easy—or cheap. It typically takes 2 to 3 years of intense training and millions of dollars in investment per pilot. Nations also need advanced simulators, expert instructors, maintenance crews, and consistent access to fuel and spare parts. For war-torn or underdeveloped countries, these requirements are often out of reach. And without trained pilots, even the most advanced fighter jet is reduced to a grounded piece of machinery. Fighter Jets Alone Don't Define Military Strength In today's world, owning a fighter jet does not automatically equate to military power. Countries like Libya, Afghanistan, Chad, Somalia, and Yemen remind us that real defence strength comes from people, infrastructure, and long-term investment, not just machines. These are some of the few countries without fighter jet pilots, where impressive aircraft remain grounded due to conflict, poverty, or lack of training. This unusual reality shows that national power is more than just hardware—it's about the ability to use it effectively. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
Barnama
19-06-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Fire Dept Keen To Learn From Russia's Use Of AI, Robotics In Firefighting
PUTRAJAYA, June 19 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) has expressed interest in deepening its collaboration with Russia's Ministry of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters (EMERCOM) to explore the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics in emergency response and firefighting operations. Its director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad commended Russia's technological advancements, particularly EMERCOM's innovative use of AI in incident prediction incidents, resource management, and risk analysis. 'We are very keen to learn from Russia's advancements in deploying AI and robotics in fire and rescue work. EMERCOM's use of AI to predict incidents, allocate resources efficiently, and analyse risks is especially relevant and inspiring to us. 'As we move forward with our digital transformation, beginning with our pioneering C4I - Command, Control, Communications,Computers and Intelligence - we are now looking into how we can make the most of smart systems, unmanned aerial vehicle, predictive modelling, and AI-powered surveillance for real-time monitoring in firefighting and disaster risk reduction,' he said. Nor Hisham said this in his welcoming speech during a courtesy call by Russia's EMERCOM Minister Colonel General Alexander Kurenkov at the JBPM headquarters here today. Nor Hisham also highlighted the department's interest in exploring advanced fire safety systems, particularly the potential application of Russian fire safety systems in Malaysia. 'One well-known brand already available is Pyrogen, which offers aerosol-based solutions such as the EXA Aerosol Fire Suppression System and the IPEX Impulse Powder Suppression System. 'We believe there is significant potential to explore in this area, especially when it comes to introducing new technologies and products that could help improve fire suppression systems and safety installations across the country,' he said. Nor Hisham also reflected on the longstanding partnership between JBPM and Russia, which began in 1998 with the establishment of JBPM's Air Division and the acquisition of two Russian-made Mi-17 helicopters.
MTV Lebanon
09-06-2025
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
Watch: Attempts to smuggle helicopter aviation equipment
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) confirmed that attempts to obtain weapons and military equipment from Russia in favor of Kyiv are being managed by foreign intelligence agencies and are being planned on a large scale. This statement came after the FSB successfully foiled a plot by an international network specializing in smuggling helicopter aviation equipment out of the country, including to Ukraine. The statement explained that "the number of attempts by unfriendly countries to acquire weapons and military equipment in Russia for Kyiv has reached an unprecedented level." It added: "Losses worth over one billion rubles were prevented as a result of thwarting the illegal export of aircraft spare parts from Russia to Kyiv. We have information indicating that the Ukrainian Air Force is suffering from a severe shortage of Russian components." The FSB emphasized that "Kyiv tried to establish a sustainable smuggling channel for Russian aviation products to fulfill its government defense orders." The statement continued: "Kyiv is in urgent need of spare parts to repair its aerial equipment, which was damaged during Russian military operations as part of the special military operation." It also added: "Since October 1, 2023, 236 illegal export attempts from Russia have been foiled, involving drones, optical equipment, and other gear." This comes after the FSB thwarted a smuggling network working on behalf of foreign entities to purchase new spare parts for Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters. A statement from the FSB clarified that the criminal group consisted of six individuals of various nationalities, including Russians, Ukrainians, and citizens from Middle Eastern countries. The statement added: "The activities of the international group were uncovered and their illegal operations halted. They had been planning to smuggle military technical equipment abroad, including to Ukraine." It also noted that the network's operations were coordinated by a foreign woman residing outside Russia.
Saba Yemen
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Russian FSB announced thwarting of group attempting to smuggle helicopter equipment into Ukraine
Moscow - Saba: The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Monday the thwarting of an international group involved in preparing to smuggle helicopter equipment out of Russia, including into Ukraine. Sputnik quoted the FSB as saying in a statement that "the smugglers' group was commissioned by foreign organizations to purchase new components for Russian-made Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters. The estimated cost of these components is more than 400 million rubles ($5 million)." The FSB reported that "the group, which was preparing to smuggle helicopter equipment, included six citizens from Russia, Ukraine, and countries in the Middle East." The FSB revealed that "the number of attempts by unfriendly countries to obtain weapons and military equipment for Kyiv from Russia is unprecedented." The service stated that "since October 1, 236 attempts to smuggle drones, optical equipment, and other materials from Russia have been thwarted." It added that "in light of the growing external threats resulting from the coordinated activities of hostile states to provide material and technical assistance to Ukrainian armed groups, the security services have encountered an unprecedented number of attempts to obtain weapons and military equipment essential to the Kyiv regime's maintenance of its combat capabilities. This activity has been shown to be controlled by foreign special services on a large scale and manifests itself in the pursuit of a wide range of products from the Russian military-industrial complex." The service stated that "Kyiv has attempted to establish a stable channel for smuggling Russian aviation products to compensate for the shortfall in Ukrainian Ministry of Defense orders." Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
India Gazette
08-06-2025
- Climate
- India Gazette
IAF aircraft airlifts critically 'ill' army personnel from Kargil
New Delhi [India], June 8 (ANI): An Indian Air Force aircraft successfully airlifted a critically ill Indian Army personnel from the high-altitude region of Kargil to Command Hospital Chandimandir on Saturday morning, authorities said. 'An IAF An-32 aircraft successfully airlifted a critically ill IA personnel from Kargil to CH Chandimandir this altitude and extreme temperatures make Kargil a formidable challenge for transport operations during summers. This mission was executed at first light, using the aircraft at the edge of its performance envelope,' posted IAF on X a day earlier. On June 4, In the wake of heavy rains and devastating landslides in North Sikkim, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday carried out urgent rescue and relief operations in the remote region of Chaten and evacuated 33 stranded people, including two US nationals, from the remote and rain-battered Chaten region of North Sikkim. In a statement, the Indian Air Force earlier said, 'In response to the devastating landslides in Sikkim, Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopters rapidly launched Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Ops -- dropping relief supplies, inserting NDRF teams, and evacuating 33 stranded individuals, including two US nationals, from the remote Chaten region.' However, a prior operation to evacuate 113 stranded tourists from Lachen during the early hours had to be called off due to bad weather. An Mi-17 helicopter carrying nine National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel took off from Pakyong Airport , but was forced to return mid-air because of poor visibility near Mangan and Chaten. (ANI)
