IAF Unvieled Reasons Behind Accidentaly Fire BrahMos into Pakistan in 2022

Defense News ,India :- In March 2022, something unexpected happened involving the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Pakistan. A BrahMos combat missile landed in Pakistan accidentally. For the first time, the IAF has revealed why this occurred.

According to the IAF's explanation submitted to the Delhi High Court, the BrahMos missile fired accidentally because its combat connectors were still attached to the junction box. This happened because the convoy commander, responsible for moving the convoy carrying the missile, failed to ensure that these connectors were disconnected before movement.

The IAF has described this incident as one that strained relations between India and Pakistan. As a result, three officials faced serious consequences. They were removed from their positions under a rarely used clause called the "President's pleasure". This decision was made after considering the seriousness of the situation, which, according to Wing Commander UN Pathak, hasn't been taken in the IAF for 23 years.

The IAF decided not to conduct a court martial for the three officials involved because it would have revealed sensitive information to the public. This information could potentially harm the security interests of the country. Instead, the officials were removed from their positions.

The Court of Inquiry found that the combat crew failed to prevent the accidental firing even though they knew the connectors were still attached. This resulted in a potential threat to both airborne and ground objects, as well as causing damage to the reputation of the Indian Air Force and the nation. Additionally, it led to a financial loss of ₹24,90,85,000.00 to the government.

These actions were deemed violations of the Combat Operational Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) established in March 2021.

The explanation comes as a response to a petition filed by Wing Commander Abhinav Sharma in the Delhi HC. Sharma accused Air Commodore JT Kurien and Squadron Leader of disregarding safety precautions and warnings. However, the IAF denied these accusations, stating that Kurien was not responsible for the operations in question.

The IAF dismissed Sharma's claims as baseless, stating that he was present during all activities and could have intervened if necessary. They further explained that invoking the "Doctrine of President's Pleasure" was necessary due to the seriousness of the situation.

The Court of Inquiry, which examined 16 witnesses, held Group Captain Saurabh Gupta, Squadron Leader Pranjal Singh, and Sharma responsible for various oversights leading to the missile's firing.

The IAF's explanation sheds light on why the BrahMos missile accidentally fired, attributing it to operational oversights and failures to adhere to safety protocols. The repercussions of this incident highlight the importance of strict adherence to procedures in sensitive military operations.