🧷 Authentic Classroom Explanation by IAS Monk

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📌 The Question:

With reference to India’s defence, consider the following pairs:

Aircraft type : Description

I. Dornier-228 : Maritime patrol aircraft
II. IL-76 : Supersonic combat aircraft
III. C-17 Globemaster III : Military transport aircraft

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All the three
(d) None

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✅ Answer:

(b) Only two

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🧑‍🏫 Authentic Classroom Explanation:

🔹 Pair I — Dornier-228 : Maritime patrol aircraft ✅

The Dornier-228 is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft used extensively by the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard for:

• Maritime surveillance
• Coastal patrol
• Search and rescue
• Pollution monitoring

It is valued for its Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) capability and multi-mission versatility.
Hence, Pair I is correctly matched.

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🔹 Pair II — IL-76 : Supersonic combat aircraft ❌

This pairing is incorrect.

The Ilyushin IL-76 is:

• A strategic heavy-lift military transport aircraft
• Used for troop movement, cargo transport, disaster relief, and logistics
• Powered by turbofan engines, but not supersonic
• Not a combat aircraft

Therefore, Pair II is wrongly matched.

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🔹 Pair III — C-17 Globemaster III : Military transport aircraft ✅

The C-17 Globemaster III is a strategic military airlifter used by the Indian Air Force for:

• Long-range troop deployment
• Heavy cargo transport
• Rapid disaster response
• Aeromedical evacuation

It combines intercontinental range with the ability to operate from short and semi-prepared runways.

Hence, Pair III is correctly matched.

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📌 Therefore, two pairs (I and III) are correctly matched.

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🔍 Curiosity Raiser:

Why do modern air forces invest more in transport aircraft than combat jets during peacetime?
Because logistics wins wars before weapons are fired.

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🧠 Enrichment Notes (Prelims Edge):

• Dornier-228 → Surveillance | Coastal security | STOL aircraft
• IL-76 → Heavy lift | Logistics | Disaster relief | NOT supersonic
• C-17 Globemaster III → Strategic + Tactical airlift
• Supersonic ≠ Military
  Many military aircraft are subsonic but mission-critical

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🪔 IAS Monk Whisper:

“Strength is not only in striking fast, but in moving silently, steadily, and surely.”