Indian Air Force: IAF Guns for 42 operational fighter squadrons by 2022

[Kunal Biswas]

Some More

 

[hitenray09]

so it seems iaf's mki are having the upper hand

 

[RAM]

Gwalior Gets Parallel Runway

A new runway at the Indian Air Force (IAF) Station in Gwalior went live on Oct. 20, making it the service's only operational base with two parallel runways operating topline fighters.
The base also formally inducted the Sukhoi Su-30MKI on the same day.A Su-30MKI belonging to the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) that took off from the Bareilly Air Base was the first to touch down on the new runway. A Mirage-2000 and MiG-21 Bison were taxied out.

"An additional runway at Gwalior was a specific requirement of the IAF as we have our peacetime training centre at TACDE," IAF Vice Chief Air Marshal P.K. Barbora tells AVIATION WEEK. "As part of various exercises we undertake, we felt that an additional runway would help us in saving time and cost, and increasing the efficiency of [our] mission."


The IAF is upgrading infrastructure to meet growing demands. The new runway was conceived in 2006 and work began in 2009. An engineering effort involving more than 200 engineers, supervisors and workers took place despite record-breaking rains at Gwalior.The parallel runways will allow the flexibility to launch and recover multiple aircraft simultaneously, supporting large operational missions and also enhancing existing air traffic handling. "This will result in considerable savings due to reduced fuel consumption as aircraft will be able to launch and recover at a faster rate," an IAF spokesperson says.

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=13650

 

[neo29]

Maharajpura Air Station to get three more Sukhoi-30 planes

The Maharajpura Air Station near here has been upgraded with the addition of three Sukhoi-30 planes, official sources said on Thursday.

The Sukhoi planes came to the air station on Wednesday in the presence of GOC-in-C of Central Air Command, G F Kochar, they said.

Later, the planes, alongwith Mirage and Mig 21, took part in a flypast at which Kochar took the salute.

Meanwhile, a new airstrip has been built at the Maharapura Air Station to enable fighter planes to arrive and depart from it, the sources added.

idrw.org

 

[neo29]

IAF order worth Rs 250 cr to Indian industry

Samtel to build cockpit displays for Sukhoi-30s, more orders ahead.

Delhi-based Samtel Display Systems has vaulted a giant hurdle on the way to its declared goal of becoming a major supplier to the armed forces. After a year of rigorous flight trials in the Indian Air Force's frontline Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, Samtel's home-built cockpit displays have been certified as suitable for introduction into frontline service.

Multi-Function Displays (MFD), as these cockpit displays are termed, are ranged in front of the Su-30MKI pilots. They get digital signals from dozens of sensors on various aircraft systems and display these to the pilot on an easy-to-read screen. A quick glance across his MFDs tells the pilot how his aircraft is flying and fighting.

So far, a French company, Thales, has provided the Sukhoi-30's high-tech MFDs. But Samtel has aggressively targeted this market, even choosing to go it alone rather than work through its joint venture with Thales. With Samtel's price significantly cheaper than Thales', Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), which builds the Sukhoi-30 at its Nashik facility, has placed orders on Samtel.

Just the start
Puneet Kaura, executive director of Samtel, anticipates MFD orders for at least Rs 250 crore. So far, HAL has placed only a modest order on Samtel but Kaura says that is normal. In a programme like the Su-30, which involves building 280 fighters over a decade, the aircraft's internal systems are ordered in small batches.

"The Su-30 MFDs are just the beginning," says Kaura. "Samtel and HAL have set up a joint venture, Samtel HAL Display Systems (Samtel, 60 per cent; HAL, 40 per cent), to design and build MFDs for all HAL-built aircraft, including transport aircraft. With offsets applicable on all aircraft sales to India, Samtel will be offering them the capability to indigenously build MFDs for their aircraft."

Samtel's success with Su-30 MFDs seems likely to bring in another set of orders. When Samtel HAL Display Systems had offered to supply cockpit displays for the HAL-built Sitara Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT), at a price significantly cheaper than the current foreign suppliers, HAL had responded with Yes, if your MFDs for the Su-30MKI pass the test.

Down the line
Samtel is also eyeing a major role in developing advanced cockpit displays for the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA), which India and Russia are building collaboratively. Cockpit systems and avionics, which can amount to 30-35 per cent of the cost of a modern fighter, fall within India's work share in the FGFA's Preliminary Design Contract, likely to be signed during Russian President Medvedev's visit later this year.

Meanwhile, Samtel has partnered the Defence research and Development Organisation laboratory, Defence Avionics Research Establishment, and the IAF, in developing 'Smart MFDs', a new generation of cockpit displays for the IAF's Jaguar fighters. In these, embedded software cards allow the display to do its own symbology, doing away with the need for a separate display processor. Puneet Kaura says Samtel Display Systems will produce a fully indigenous engineering prototype of the Smart MFD by March 2011.

Unsurprisingly, all six aerospace giants competing in the IAF's tender for 126 medium multi-role fighters have signed memoranda of understanding with Samtel Display Systems for manufacturing cockpit displays in case their fighter is selected. While these are pure 'Build to Print' arrangements, aimed at meeting offset obligations, those foreign vendors, too, would consider designing in India and sourcing globally from here, provided offset benefits are clearly attractive.

idrw.org

 

[neo29]

IAF Guns for 42 operational fighter squadrons by 2022

As per latest IAF's Force level projections , Indian air force is trying to have 42 operational fighter squadrons by 2022 , up from current level of 32 squadrons .

IAF will be able to induct full 270 + Sukhoi Su 30MKI which will get its due Mid-life upgrade program, which will include major changes to it avionics package and RCS reduction to the airframe , further 40 MKI aircraft's will be made capable enough to carry air launched BrahMos along with DRDO developed Long-Range Cruise Missile (LRCM) .

IAF will also induct 126 M-MRCAs in this period, results of which will announced by march 2011 and first aircraft will be delivered to India by 2014 period . while 40 Tejas MK-1 will join IAF by 2016 time frame and further 70 to 80 Tejas MK-2 by 2022 .

FGFA will be inducted into IAF by 2020 and IAF will have small batch (20 nos ) of 5th gen aircraft by 2022 , Jaguar fleet along with Mirage -2000 and Mid-29 will have gone through Major up-gradation in avionics and engine change .

Engine change will be only done on Jaguars and Mig-29SMT , while IAF plans to put more then half of its current Mig-27 fleet in reserved / storage , while a small fleet of upgraded Mig-27 will be operational even at this period .

AMCA will be replacing Jaguars and Mig-27 by 2025 period onwards when the AMCA will be in full Production , if the whole project stays in course , as per sources M-MRCA will have clause of purchase of additional aircraft if Tejas MK-2 is delayed due to any reason .

idrw.org

 

[Armand2REP]

By 2022 there will be nothing left of MiG-27s and Jaguars. MiG-29s and Mirages will be 35 years old, when those aircraft hit retirement, that 42 goal falls short by 120 aircraft. If there is any delay in PAK FGFA it falls even further. I wouldn't hold my breath for AMCA by 2025 after seeing the procedure for LCA. Not to mention the first Russian batches of MKIs will be going on their way out. With all the BS procurement delays, I see holding on to 32 a big enough challenge.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

If MKIs are picking off Eurofighters, I doubt IAF will be impressed by that. MKI didn't have such luck against Rafale. I am really surprised by how poorly RAF Typhoon pilots always perform. In two French exercises they were raped by Rafales, now they are getting dusted by MKI. It is "supposed" to be the best dogfighter in the world.

KOLKATA: After having successfully staved off an attack by the Red raiders and charting two successful kills, the pilot of the Indian Air Force's Su-30 MKI turned to the Royal Air Force's VC-10 mid-air refueller.

"Permission denied, Blue Two. Raiders still at large," a clipped English accent from the cockpit of the VC-10 responded. The Sukhoi pilot broke away and started a climb in a bid to conserve fuel. He would return to the refueller later. In the meantime, he would try and nail an Eurofighter Typhoon from the Red force.

Actual flying missions of Ex-Indradhanush 2010 started on Wednesday at Air Force Station Kalaikunda after two days of elaborate briefings on standard operating procedures, rules of exercise and familiarisation of the local flying area.

While the RAF has sent in Typhoons, an E3D Sentry and a VC-10, the IAF has fielded Su-30 MKIs, Mirage-2000s, Mig-27s and one of its Phalcon AWACS. This is the first time that the Israeli-made Phalcon is participating in a joint exercise.

"The assets have been combined and divided into the Blue and Red forces. The Red forces are the agressors while the Blue forces are the defending side. The roles of the participants are interchanged throughout the exercise. Both teams consist of RAF and IAF aircraft. The degree of difficulty is being increased by random denial of mid-air refuelling and radar silence. The major highlight of the exercise is the large number of aircraft operating together in limited time and space, putting the skills of pilots and fighter controllers to the test. This is known as Large Force Engagement (LFE) operations," a senior officer said.

He, however, made it clear that the purpose of the exercise is not to pit Indian aircraft against British ones or to evaluate personal skills by encouraging pilots to show-off'.

"Apart from the pilots flying these missions, it is an excellent opportunity for the controllers who would be either controlling these missions or be on board AWACS aircraft as observers. On the technical side too, there will be a number of areas where both the sides can learn from each others maintainance practices, procedures and management of resources with a view to support flying operations," Air Marshal L K Malhotra of the Eastern Air Command said while meeting the participants.

Air Commodore D K Vashist, commander of AFS Kalaikunda said that the aim of the exercise is to enhance mutual understanding and refine procedures.

"During this exercise, specific emphasis will be laid on exposing the controllers (ATC & AWACS) to large force engagements and protection of high-value aerial assets. Another area of emphasis would be the management of logistical needs to move large forces from one part of the world to another," he said.

Read more: War games over Maoist badlands - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...#ixzz10hv2U1xw


After learning that EF-2000 flight-hours costs are disturbing German AF, also the recent crash and now dusted by MKIs..
Not really good news for EF-2000 in MMRCA..

 

[vikramrana_1812]

France, India Eye Joint Military Operations: Report

NEW DELHI - France hopes to forge closer military ties with India through arms co-production and joint field operations, Defense Minister Herve Morin said in comments published Oct. 18.

"We could intensify our cooperation at the theatres of operation where both our armed forces are deployed - piracy in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden being such a case," Morin said in an interview with Indian Defence Review magazine.

Related Topics
Europe
Asia & Pacific Rim
Air Warfare
"We could also develop more armament programs that are efficient and adapted to the needs of both armed forces," he added.

Morin also sought to promote the French-built Rafale aircraft, which Dassault hopes to sell to India as part of a deal for 126 fighter jets worth $12 billion.

"I am sure that the field trials, completed in spring 2010, would have enabled the Indian air force and the ministry of defense to gauge fully the quality of this aircraft," he said.

Besides Dassault, five other global aeronautical firms are in the race for the jet deal.

U.S.-based Lockheed Martin's F-16, and Boeing's F-18 Super Hornet emerged as the front-runners after the grueling trials.

Dassault is however poised to pick up a $1.2-billion contract to revamp 56 Mirage-2000 aircraft that France sold India nearly two decades ago.

The deal is expected to be finalized during French President Nicholas Sarkozy's scheduled visit to India in December.

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4924435&c=AIR&s=ASI

 

[p2prada]

If MKIs are picking off Eurofighters, I doubt IAF will be impressed by that. MKI didn't have such luck against Rafale. I am really suprised by how poorly RAF Typhoon pilots always perform. In two French exercises they were raped by Rafales, now they are getting dusted by MKI. It is "supposed" to be the best dogfighter in the world.

This seems to be the first time that IAF MKIs are fighting with a clear picture from the air.

 

[wild goose]

IAF-Royal Air Force joint exercise resumes

After a two-day break, fliers of the Indian Air Force and the Royal Air Force were back in the skies on Monday as part of Indradhanush, the joint exercise between the two countries that started in the Kalaikunda Air Force Station in West Bengal's Paschim Medinipur district last week.

"Progressing well"

"The exercise has been progressing very well so far. None of the sorties was stopped despite bad weather conditions that were seen last week as a result of cyclonic circulations in the head bay, in northern Bay of Bengal," said Mahesh Upasani, Chief Public Relations Office, Ministry of Defence.

The pilots continued on their respective missions saying that the weather conditions only added to the challenge, he added.

While pilots would continue with missions related to Large Force Engagements for now, the next phase of the exercise will begin on October 27, which includes RADAR denial, he said.

Focus on air defence

The missions in this exercise are focussed on air defence.

The first phase, 'Large Force Engagement,' deals with the deployment of a large number of aircraft within a limited air-space, a situation that can be a nightmare for air traffic controllers, but commonly faced in combat situations, sources said.

Since the attack and defence aircraft come in waves, planes come into close proximity in the skies and the skills of both the fighter pilots and fighter-controller (the person manning the RADAR) are tested, they added.

The second phase of the exercise, RADAR denial, deals with a situation when due to unforeseen circumstances, the RADAR stops functioning.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article849136.ece

 

[Armand2REP]

This seems to be the first time that IAF MKIs are fighting with a clear picture from the air.

I am sure that Israeli radar is making a huge difference. RAF has their own up, so IAF pilots > RAF. UK defence has really gone down hill.

 

[The Messiah]

I am sure that Israeli radar is making a huge difference. RAF has their own up, so IAF pilots > RAF. UK defence has really gone down hill.

Aren't there talks of uk and france having a joint military ? sharing of subs, aircraft carriers (without aircrafts lol) etc

 

[Armand2REP]

Aren't there talks of uk and france having a joint military ? sharing of subs, aircraft carriers (without aircrafts lol) etc

Nope... only sharing that will be are leasing of logistics aircraft A400M and MRRT. Also will try to agree on joint purchases of equipment so we can lower cost. There may be purchase agreement for the 2nd CVF hull since the UK will not be able to afford to equip it with catapults or aircraft. lol

 

[vikramrana_1812]

EADS May Offer A330 MRTT at Competitive Price to India

The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) has said that it will offer its new advanced A330 MRTT at a competitive price to India for the reopened multibillion-dollar contract.

India will buy six additional air-to-air refuellers to strengthen its fleet of six Russian IL-78 tankers, according to the Hindu.

The company said the A330 MRTT will be equipped with the aerial refuelling boom system (ARBS), technology that will enable refuelling in adverse weather, day or night.

The A330 MRTT will also use the stereoscopic vision and laser-based infrared lighting system.

Airbus Military defence capability marketing vice-president Peter Scoffham said the new technology on offer to India would bridge the gap between strategic and tactical tankers.

India has issued a fresh request for proposals (RFP) for six in-flight refuelling aircraft, reviving the tender worth Rs60bn ($1.3bn) that was cancelled in January.

http://www.airforce-technology.com/news/news99404.html

 

[nitesh]

Air Force Commanders Conference Gets Underway, Plans to Counter Threats Reviewed

 

[neo29]

US to hand over first C-130J plane to India in December

The US will hand over the first of the six C-130Js ordered by India to its Air Force in December and it is expected to reach its base near here by February next year. The C-130J made for India by American aerospace major Lockheed Martin at its Marietta facility had recently carried out its first flight successfully after it was painted in IAF colours. "The first of the six C-130Js ordered by India will be handed over in December this year in Georgia and it will reach its Indian base by February next year," American government officials told reporters here ahead of their President Barack Obama's visit here beginning November six. India had bought the C-130Js from the US through an agreement signed in 2007 for USD 950 million. The officials said the US company had executed the deal "on time and on budget". On the USD 2.1-billion deal for eight P-8I maritime patrol aircraft deal, the officials said it was interesting that both India and US navies would get the platform at the same time sometime next year, providing "an opportunity" to learn together." "It is a brand new platform for both US and India," they added. The officials said India was keen on buying 145 M777 howitzers from the US for which the guns were put on trial in India last week. With India's artillery procurements getting delayed, New Delhi had expressed its interest to the US to buy the guns for which US Congress approval had been sought. "We are now moving towards more military sales," they added. The officials also noted that the Indo-US military relationship was "matured and well evolved," and not based on one transaction. "It is based on exchanges. This is not a relationship, it is partnership," they said, pointing out that US' military exercises with India was the "biggest" the Americans held. India's Army, Navy, Air Force and Special Forces hold frequent exercises with the US counterparts.

idrw.org

 

[Patriot]

IAF Meet Analyses Readiness For War

http://theasiandefence.blogspot.com/2010/10/iaf-meet-analyses-readiness-for-war.html

 

[mayfair]

Did China hoot down Indian Phalcon AWACS in Arunachal Pradesh?

Here's the link to a Chinese blog which quotes sources from US and Russia to claim that Chinese HQ9 shot down IAF Phalcon (spelled here as Falcon) AWACS in Arunachal Pradesh and the incident was downplayed by Indian government and reported an AN-32 crash

http://www.comhaha.com/blog/565944-hq9-shot-indias-phalcon-down-in-southern-tibet/

The rediff commentary on this

http://news.rediff.com/slide-show/2...re-is-why-chinese-blogs-must-be-monitored.htm

Here's the news report of the AN-32 crash

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...Arunachal-AN-32-crash/articleshow/4646298.cms

Anyone has any idea about this?

 

[hitenray09]

had this been the news then the press and tv reporters would have killed the politicians with their queries.
apart from it awacs are for early warning against ny ac or weapons and not to fall by these cheap metty weapons of china. its utter rubbish