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Indian Airforce news updates
IAF Set To Grow in Size, Capability: Air Chief
BANGALORE - The Indian Air Force is to boost its conventional combat edge, said Air Chief Marshal Fali Major.
Addressing a news conference at Aero India 2009 on Feb. 12, Major said the fleet strength of the IAF will increase from the current level of 34 squadrons (18 aircraft to one squadron) to 39.5 squadrons by 2017-20.
Major also announced that the IAF will have a dedicated satellite capability by 2010.
The possession of a dedicated satellite capacity will give a boost to the Aerospace Command concept of the IAF, and speed up the introduction C4ISR capabilities.
The IAF chief said there will be a structural shift in terms of quality of platforms, saying the current 23 types of platforms are too cumbersome to maintain and the IAF needs to reduce the number of combat aircraft and helicopters types in the fleet.
The IAF is already on a global hunt for the purchase of 126 Medium Range Multiple Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) and has international competitions underway since last year for the purchase of replacements of its existing Cheetah and Chetak helicopters.
Admitting that there are gaps in its low-level radar defenses, Major said efforts are underway to rectify the problem.
The IAF is close to signing a contract for the procurement of 20 Low Level Transportable Radars (LLTRs) worth $ 100 million from Thales of France.
Under the deal, the LLTR will be made by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
Major also said the IAF will procure more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Currently the IAF has Israeli supplied Searcher I, Searcher-II, Heron UAVs.
Sources in the IAF said a UAV procurement of attack UAVs was possible in the near future.
IAF Set To Grow in Size, Capability: Air Chief - Aero India - 2009
IAF Set To Grow in Size, Capability: Air Chief
BANGALORE - The Indian Air Force is to boost its conventional combat edge, said Air Chief Marshal Fali Major.
Addressing a news conference at Aero India 2009 on Feb. 12, Major said the fleet strength of the IAF will increase from the current level of 34 squadrons (18 aircraft to one squadron) to 39.5 squadrons by 2017-20.
Major also announced that the IAF will have a dedicated satellite capability by 2010.
The possession of a dedicated satellite capacity will give a boost to the Aerospace Command concept of the IAF, and speed up the introduction C4ISR capabilities.
The IAF chief said there will be a structural shift in terms of quality of platforms, saying the current 23 types of platforms are too cumbersome to maintain and the IAF needs to reduce the number of combat aircraft and helicopters types in the fleet.
The IAF is already on a global hunt for the purchase of 126 Medium Range Multiple Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) and has international competitions underway since last year for the purchase of replacements of its existing Cheetah and Chetak helicopters.
Admitting that there are gaps in its low-level radar defenses, Major said efforts are underway to rectify the problem.
The IAF is close to signing a contract for the procurement of 20 Low Level Transportable Radars (LLTRs) worth $ 100 million from Thales of France.
Under the deal, the LLTR will be made by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
Major also said the IAF will procure more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Currently the IAF has Israeli supplied Searcher I, Searcher-II, Heron UAVs.
Sources in the IAF said a UAV procurement of attack UAVs was possible in the near future.
IAF Set To Grow in Size, Capability: Air Chief - Aero India - 2009