IAF now capable of meeting twin challenge from China and Pakistan

[Daredevil]

These capabilities were tested successfully for the first time during the recent three-week war games 'Livewire' in which over 400 fighter jets participated, IAF sources said in New Delhi today.

In the exercise, which commenced on March 18, the IAF created a simulated scenario of a challenge from both eastern and western fronts simultaneously.

Testing its capabilities to meet the challenge, the IAF swiftly mobilised its frontline fighter and transport aircraft from Pakistan border to the eastern front, particularly the recently-developed Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) in the Northeast, the sources said.

All the major aircraft of the IAF including the Su-30MKI, Mirage 2000, Jaguars, MiG 29, MiG 27s and the MiG 21s took part in the war games.

They said the force kept the required number of aircraft in the western front while mobilising the majority of its assets including the mid-air refuelling aircraft towards the eastern front, they said.

All the air-fields in the northeast including the eight Advanced Landing Grounds at Along, Walong, Tuting, Ziro, Pasighat, Vijay Nagar and Tawang were activated and were manned for operations of all types of fighter and transport aircraft operations.

This was the first time that such an exercise was conducted by the IAF where it tested its capabilities on both the possible war fronts, sources said.

During the exercise, the biggest aerial mobilisation of assets in the IAF was carried out with more than 2,000 tonnes of load being shifted in around 100 sorties, the sources said.

The IAF also practised special operations involving its recently-inducted C-130J Super Hercules aircraft from the US, which were used to paradrop Army Special Forces, national Security Guard commandos and its Garud security guards.

Heliborne operations were also carried out using the new Mi-17V5 choppers from Russia which allowed the force to practise internal security operations.

The IAF planes flew around 8,000 hours in the three weeks to validate its war-fighting concepts.

Barring two incidents of a mix-up with the commercial airliners, the whole exercise was hassle free, they said.

The IAF is in the process of increasing its operational strength from 34 squadrons to 42 squadrons and once that level is reached, the need for such an asset shift would not be required to a large extent, the sources said.

The IAF, which has a traditional edge over Pakistan, has been increasing its presence and strength in the Northeastern areas by deploying squadrons of its frontline aircraft Su-30MKI at Tezpur, Chabua and other bases there.

It has also upgraded the infrastructure for operations of its fighter and transport aircraft at the ALGs and air bases in the region along the China border after the Chinese side created a big infrastructure for its military on its side of the boundary.

-PTI

 

[nimo_cn]

---------------------------- Infraction Handed -----------------------------


Indian posters shall feel relieved after reading such a good news. wish you all have a dream tonight!

Sent from my HUAWEI T8951 using Tapatalk 2

 

[W.G.Ewald]

IAF now capable of meeting twin challenge from China, Pakistan - India - DNA

 

[Kunal Biswas]

It is not about the efficiency of IAF not its fire power and precision ..

But the inability to keep up fighting with growing loses..

Also Airfield protection from Incoming enemy raids, let it be cruise missiles or Aircraft..

 

[ashdoc]

cant believe the IAFs tall claims

 

[Daredevil]

IAF practices for twin-front contingency against China, Pak in biggest wargame

NEW DELHI: China can "throw'' at least 21 fighter squadrons against India, from its eight airbases in Tibet and other airfields to their north. Even more Chinese fighters can join forces if they are able to overfly Myanmar. Similarly, Pakistan can deploy 21 to 25 fighter squadrons against India.

With this hard-nosed assessment in mind after defence minister AK Antony himself asked the forces to be ready for the twin-threat posed by China and Pakistan, the largest-ever combat exercise undertaken by IAF tested its capability for a two-front contingency by deploying "swing forces'' from the western theatre right across to the eastern one.

IAF did "extremely well'' during the 'Live-Wire' exercise, conducted from March 18 to April 4 with over 8,000 hours of flying sorties, to maintain the "high-tempo surge operations'' to "validate its two-front deployment capability''. Frontline Sukhoi-30MKIs even flew long-range missions from Chabua (Assam) to the western front, with mid-air refuelling, for bombing missions, sources said.

But the wargames, with over 400 fighters and 200 transport aircraft and helicopters, also sharply underlined the "criticality'' of soon finalizing the almost $20 billion MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) project to acquire 126 fighters.

IAF is grappling with just 34 fighter squadrons (each with 14 to 18 jets) at present despite the primacy of airpower in modern-day battles. IAF itself has held it needs at least 44-45 squadrons to meet the "possible contingency'' of "a full conflict'' with Pakistan, while maintaining "a dissuasive posture'' against China.

Even as the progressive phasing out of ageing MiG-21 squadrons is now on hold to retain combat readiness, IAF is keeping its fingers crossed that the long-delayed MMRCA contract is inked with French major Dassault Aviation for its Rafale fighters before this year ends.

"We can then begin getting the new fighters from early-2017 onwards. Problems in the contract negotiations between MoD and Dassault over Hindustan Aeronautics' responsibility (the first 18 jets will come from France, with HAL producing the rest 108 with transfer of technology) are being sorted out,'' said a source.

IAF does need systematic induction of fighters and helicopters, mid-air refuellers and transport planes, spy and combat drones, surface-to-air missiles and advanced radars, with projections showing India will spend upwards of $35 billion over the next 10 years to boost its air combat power.

In the interim, IAF banking upon the progressive induction of the 272 Sukhoi-30MKIs contracted from Russia for around $12 billion as well as the mid-life upgrades of 51 Mirage-2000s and 60 MiG-29s.

For the long-term, the plan is to induct over 200 5th Gen swing-role fighters from 2022 onwards. India and Russia are slated to soon ink the $11 billion full design R&D contract for the stealth jets, with each chipping in with $5.5 billion. India will eventually spend around $35 billion on this futuristic fighter project over the next 15-20 years, with each jet to be subsequently produced costing over $100 million.

IAF practices for twin-front contingency against China, Pak in biggest wargame - The Times of India

 

[p2prada]

China can "throw'' at least 21 fighter squadrons against India, from its eight airbases in Tibet and other airfields to their north. Even more Chinese fighters can join forces if they are able to overfly Myanmar. Similarly, Pakistan can deploy 21 to 25 fighter squadrons against India.

The author is overestimating PLAAF presence.

They currently have 350 - 400 Flankers (mix of old and new) and ~200 J-10s. At roughly 24 aircraft per squadron they come up to 22 - 25 squadrons, including all the trainers and reserves, compared to our figure of 18 - 21 per squadron. Other aircraft may not be used against IAF in offensive roles, but J-7s and J-8s are available. Beyond that 3 squadrons make a Regiment and 2 Regiments and sometimes 3 Regiments make a Division.

If they place 21 squadrons against IAF alone, then they will have to keep a mixed package of the remaining 1 - 3 squadrons against much larger forces of Japan, USN, VVS and Taiwan. Not happening. At best during wartime, they can probably maintain 15 squadrons against an equal number of "better" IAF jets while maintaining 10 squadrons in other areas.

In the low tech segment, PLAAF can overwhelm us with their J-7s and J-8s. But the Himalayas will be punishing for such aircraft to operate from Tibetan airbases. Also, the requirement in operating low tech birds will deny airbase space for other high tech jets from other squadrons based on the east coast. The low tech jets can make up another 25 squadrons or so, with many of them nearing the end of their service lives, similar to around 10 - 12 squadrons of Mig-21s and Mig-27s that we have in service today.

As for PAF, current F-16s are outdated, their Mirage-III/Vs (3 or 4 squadrons worth) are actually better aircraft and they have only one squadron of F-16s which can be termed high tech. Their JF-17 squadrons are merely training and conversion squadrons. Overall, their 21 - 26 squadrons pose a significantly smaller threat compared to the PLAAF. More than half the fleet is composed of older versions of F-7s and some vintage jets which should be in storage. Overall, 8 - 10 good squadrons with around 15 obsolete squadrons, at the same level as the old Mig-21s and Mig-27s (not the 6 Bison squadrons or the two Mig-27UPG squadrons). They are severely outmatched by just one or two MKI squadrons.

Better the aircraft we have, the better will be IAF's flexibility is moving assets between borders in a very short time, like the example of MKIs from Assam running strike missions in Pakistan.