Narmdeshwar Tiwari

Vision without execution is hallucination. Military Aviator, Test Pilot, interest in geopolitics and matters military.

[Vishnu Som @VishnuNDTV]

➡️Almost exactly 27 years ago, I flew three sorties on Mirage 2000s with the IAF out of Adampur Airbase. The 1999 Kargil war was winding down but tensions remained high.
➡️Back then - I had been sworn to secrecy - never show the Israeli Litening airborne targeting and surveillance pods slung off the fuselage of IAF Mirages. And never talk about them.
➡️Integrated under wartime conditions, these pods had been instrumental in guiding IAF laser guided bombs onto targets, including Tiger Hill.
➡️The video of the hit on Tiger Hill - which I broke on Star News - of an enemy position being taken out on in June 1999 is now legendary. Little did I know at the time that I would be flying on the same Mirages with the same pilots who had struck these targets within a month!
➡️Eventually, the laser guided hits from IAF jets went on to break the back of the Pakistan Army - their logistics chains were shattered.
➡️It's fantastic to now see interviews of two of the Israeli experts who were part of the effort to integrate the Litening with the French Mirage. Remember, at the time, it had been just 7 years since India had established full-fledged diplomatic relations with Israel.
➡️Eventually, a full decade later, and with permission, I wrote this story on how the integration of the Litening with the Mirages happened - there is a fair bit of detail here:

https://t.co/g3kLv1qZ6G

➡️There are other incredible details of the IAF's Mirages - including this one on how IAF Mirages had locked onto Pakistan's precious F-16s. Back in the day, the PAF had no beyond visual range missiles and were completely outclassed by the IAF's R-530D missiles.

https://t.co/eVkB5xzrvH

➡️This programme - on the 25th anniversary of Kargil - featured many of the IAF pilots who helped win us the war - A lot of the footage here - had never been broadcast before - again footage from the Litening pods.

https://t.co/7Qx404vBpp

➡️But this was hardly the only occasion that the Indian Air Force had integrated `unusual' weapons onto its built Mirages. We integrated Russian R-73 air to air missiles onto French Mirages with Israeli help as well:

https://t.co/cBbRVtI92V

➡️Many of the pilots who flew the attack missions in Kargil ended up become some of the IAF's most distinguished officers - Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari (retired), who features extensively in my book The Sky Warriors: Op Sindoor Unveiled (Amazon link: https://t.co/maL3tVotZW) and Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar (retired) ended up becoming IAF Vice Chiefs. Air Marshal Dilip Patnaik (retired) was Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command.
➡️Let me end with this: There are other fantastic stories of IAF Mirage 2000s during the Kargil period which will probably remain unreported - Its been 27 years since the war. I may need to wait another 27 to report these! 🫡

[Narmdeshwar Tiwari @tiwitiger1]

On Kargil Vijay Diwas, hear for the first time on camera how we ensured that the Litening Laser Pod was made available for operations. Tune in if interested.

[News18 @CNNnews18]

From the Kargil War to OP Sindoor, former Air Force Vice Chief Air Marshal Narmdeshwar reveals how Israeli Litening Pods transformed the IAF's precision strike capability. He explains how thermal imaging, high-resolution sensors and laser-guided bombs helped neutralise Pakistani positions, disrupt supply lines and pave the way for victories at Tiger Hill and Muntho Dhalo.

Only on CNN News18 with @shawansen

#India #Kargil #Israel #IAF #Bombs #KargilDivas

[Narmdeshwar Tiwari @tiwitiger1]

@zone5aviation Hell, hope our journalists do due diligence before doing podcasts with ‘subject matter experts’. Their credibility is on the line too.

[Narmdeshwar Tiwari @tiwitiger1]

Very soon we will be commemorating the Kargil Diwas. If you are interested in knowing how we integrated the Litening Pod, please listen to this podcast. This is a first person account with many interesting nuggets, not shared before.

https://t.co/sUR9eaGLpj

[Narmdeshwar Tiwari @tiwitiger1]

@SkyrootA @ItsShubhangi Congratulations to the Skyroot team. Having been in the business of test flying, I know that first flights are never easy. My best wishes, as you build on this success, for many more safe flights ahead as you look to conquer the Final Frontier.

[Narmdeshwar Tiwari @tiwitiger1]

As Skyroot launches Vikram 1, here’s wishing them the very best. As a test pilot used to ‘First Flights’, I can vouch for the butterflies in the stomach. For those conquering the Final Frontier, the mission is never easy, success is never certain but failure is never final.

[Narmdeshwar Tiwari @tiwitiger1]

Since ‘Swarajya Staff’ has been pandering to all kinds of innuendoes regarding my bias against a Rocket Force; here is my take on it and it is not an institutional bias. I am arguing on merits.
@shiv_cybersurg

https://t.co/uiCzs1lAXN

[Narmdeshwar Tiwari @tiwitiger1]

A wonderful flight yesterday on AI2899. The flight was on time, crew professional and food outstanding. When basics are sorted out and the people are focused, magic happens. As an Indian would love to see Air India restored to its old glory.
@airindia

[BRADDY @braddy_Codie05]

Congratulations Sir. From Leading the Complex Process of Integration of Laser Guidance kit and Integration of LDP on Mirage-2000, flying Mirage-2000 and bombing those Heights in Kargil, to Commanding No.1 Squadron ‘Tigers’ (Mirage-2000) leading the Flight Testing and validation process of LCA Tejas, Integration of BrahMos ALCM (Air Launched Cruise Missiles) on Su-30mki and Operationalising it and Finally Leading the #OperationSindoor as the Vice Chief of Air Staff. Your Journey as a Fighter Pilot and Experimental Test has been Truly Inspiring and will remain a Great Source of Motivation.

[Narmdeshwar Tiwari @tiwitiger1]

@braddy_Codie05 Thank you for the compliments. 🙏🙏

[Narmdeshwar Tiwari @tiwitiger1]

It was an honour to don the uniform one last time, to receive the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal from the honourable President of India.

[Narmdeshwar Tiwari @tiwitiger1]

@MattJones2401 It should be possible to bypass weight on wheel micro switches and replicate flight conditions on ground, with aircraft being stationary. The expected failure can then be injected and the outcome checked.

[Narmdeshwar Tiwari @tiwitiger1]

It has been over an year since the crash of AI 171. Yesterday FIP reported that the tests on simulator do not follow the pattern indicated in the preliminary report of the AAIB. Unfortunately, tests of such nature in a simulator are not entirely representative.

[Narmdeshwar Tiwari @tiwitiger1]

It should be possible to create those conditions on ground, giving forward speed through the pitot system, etc. Hope that is being done.
@VishnuNDTV @ShivAroor @zone5aviation @SandeepUnnithan

[Narmdeshwar Tiwari @tiwitiger1]

Simulators are largely software models and are designed to most accurately replicate flying qualities and usual emergency handling. Most other systems are software modelled. A better way would be to try and replicate the conditions on an actual aircraft creating the conditions.

[Narmdeshwar Tiwari @tiwitiger1]

@VinodDX9 Easier said than done. With enough experience at all levels in aerospace R&D, I can tell you, we need to work from ground up on fixing issues. I have spoken on the same issue recently. https://t.co/6b7LorpxFd

[Narmdeshwar Tiwari @tiwitiger1]

@idrwalerts If this is true, it is truly a tragedy. That’s why I have said that we must do away with the L1 culture in aerospace R&D. A trusted supplier is more important, as you are playing with people’s lives. I have spoken on this issue https://t.co/6b7LorpxFd
https://t.co/6b7LorpxFd

[BS Blueprint @BSBlueprint]

India’s military aerospace future needs more than scattered efforts — it needs a unified, empowered vision. Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari (Retired) @tiwitiger1 highlights the urgent need for an overarching, professional body to guide long-term aerospace strategy and drive critical defence projects forward. Watch this video podcast hosted by @AniketBS by clicking on the link below.
https://t.co/Vyi0fK2SN5

#Aerospace #DefenceIndia #MilitaryAviation #AirPower #StrategicAffairs #DefenceModernisation #IndiaDefence #Podcast #FutureWarfare #AerospaceVision

[Narmdeshwar Tiwari @tiwitiger1]

To all those who worry about the slow pace of aerospace R&D, I have brought forth the issues and also some solutions. I think the time has come to bite the bullet. Do go through this podcast I did with Business Standard.

[BS Blueprint @BSBlueprint]

India’s military aerospace future needs more than scattered efforts — it needs a unified, empowered vision. Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari (Retired) @tiwitiger1 highlights the urgent need for an overarching, professional body to guide long-term aerospace strategy and drive critical defence projects forward. Watch this video podcast hosted by @AniketBS by clicking on the link below.
https://t.co/Vyi0fK2SN5

#Aerospace #DefenceIndia #MilitaryAviation #AirPower #StrategicAffairs #DefenceModernisation #IndiaDefence #Podcast #FutureWarfare #AerospaceVision