The Indian Air Force (IAF) has publicly disclosed the reasons behind the accidental firing of a BrahMos combat missile into Pakistan in March 2022. According to a response submitted to the Delhi High Court, the IAF attributed the incident to the combat connectors of the BrahMos missile remaining connected to the junction box, leading to the unintended firing.
Sharing key findings from the Court of Inquiry conducted to investigate the incident, the IAF explained that the convoy commander overseeing the movement of a road convoy failed to ensure the safe transit by not disconnecting the combat connectors of all loaded missiles on the mobile autonomous launcher before the movement commenced.
Describing the incident as having a significant impact on India-Pakistan relations, the IAF informed the court that a decision was made to invoke the "President's pleasure" clause to terminate the services of three officials involved. This decision, unprecedented in the IAF for 23 years, was deemed necessary considering the sensitive nature of the case and its potential repercussions on national security.
The IAF clarified that conducting a court martial trial for the three officers was deemed impractical, as it would divulge sensitive information to the public domain, potentially compromising security interests. Similarly, initiating action under Section 19 of the Air Force Act, 1950, was considered unsuitable, as it could expose sensitive issues detrimental to the state's security.
The Court of Inquiry concluded that the combat crew, despite being aware of the connected combat connectors, failed to intervene to prevent the unsafe act of launching the combat missile, resulting in its inadvertent firing into a neighboring nation. This incident not only posed a potential threat to airborne and ground assets but also damaged the reputation of the Indian Air Force and the nation, incurring a financial loss to the government exchequer.
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