Google a threat, says Army chief but Navy, IAF say not to worry

But for IAF chief Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi and Navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash, their forces’ preparedness simply precluded such technology.

The three were reacting to a March 31 report in The Indian Express, accompanied by Google Earth photographs of top Pakistani and Chinese military bases.

Said Gen Singh: ‘‘We concede that these satellite images do compromise our sensitive and strategic sites. This definitely would give advantage to our adversaries.’’

Air Chief Marshal Tyagi, however, does not feel the threat is as big as it is being made out to be. “If our enemies say they can see us, we can see them too, so the score is even. Such pictures are nothing new. Whenever such new technology comes, military leaders have to accept it,” he said.

Admiral Prakash agreed: ‘‘We are not alarmed by this, and we can deal with it. We have always been occupied with how to conceal our bases and ships better, but this is information that has always been available for payment, so it is no real worry for the Navy. It’s also a question of resolution and the fact that the images are dated.’’ Conceding that India was not the only country affected, the Army chief suggested ‘‘a major universal effort’’ to ‘‘get this blocked’’.