Lets Me answer you step by step
What Is the Requirement in the long term for India ?
To answer this question We should see IAF Doctrine Which Based on Two front Air threat scenarios
For any counter doctrine we should first see the threat perception Of IAF face by its competition
Two air-forces on which IAF doctrine is based is PAF and PLAAF And there Future procurement's
Future threat perception of IAF faced By 2025
PAF
80 F-16 52/MLU + (Turkish support) Air superiority and SEAD ,DEAD Heavy Category
250 JF-17 Block1,2,3 + Ground Attack, CAS and Interceptor other roles Light To medium Category
1-2 Squadrons of J-31,J-20B (this Still Under procurement)
PLAAF
600 + J-10 and Its variants Medium category
400 + J Flanker series And its Variants Heavy category
70 + Su-30 MKK Heavy category
100+ J-20 And its Variants Heavy Category
- What is the need of air force for India?
To answer This question We should First Shed Some Light on current Inventory Of IAF
240 Su-30 MKI
51 mirage 2K (mandated to retire by 2030)
78 Mig-29 UPG ( mandated to retire by 2030)
134 Sepecat Jaguar (mandated To retire By 2030)
87 + Mig -27 (All Phased out by 2019-20)
245 + Mig -21 (All Phased out by 2025 )
So If We Go by IAF Requirements Currently In Next 12-15 years 595 + Aircrafts of Light and Medium Will be Phased Out By IAF
- What is the minimum requirement of planes in the airforce to completely fulfil its mission? How did you come to this number?
Now Minimum Requirements on Which IAF Can Counter Its threat Effectively Maintaining superiority over Its Enemy
Now People Suggest LCA but Its currently a Project Which Still Not Par With What ASQR Required by IAF
AMCA is Still Far fetched Dreams Which Aspect-ed From DSPU's To deliver Which are Still Struggling With LCA project To Make it Par With IAF ASQR
Based On Current Procurement's Picture of IAF Projected in 2025
272 Su-30 MKI
51 Mirage M2k (bound retire in 2030-32)
78 Mig-29 UPG (retire by 2030-32)
LCA MK1/MK1A 80 +
36 Rafale F3R (36 more If Follow on order goes through )
Jaguars 74+ Mostly Darin-3 upgraded
87Mig-27 retired
245 Mig-21 retired
Short Fall Of IAF Will Around 400 + fighters in various Roles At-least by 2048
To see What minimum required See To what available to us And We should Give Priority To just adding up numbers or Quality aswell
Gripen E is Good Omini role Fighter With higher Payload And EW And Sensors And Better Weapon Integration +longer range
Rafale Will be Another Option Which has same quality And Weapon Integration And longer range
Numbers Required
100 Light To medium Weight fighters (Gripen )
100 To Heavy And medium weight (rafale)
To correct Short Fall Further buying 2 Squadrons of MKI more And rest Con be made up With LCA and it variant
Correct Numbers Should be
300+ Su-30 MKI
100 Rafale
100 Gripen or other option
150 + LCA and Its variants
To Counter 5th Generation Threat of PLAAF We Should Find Options Sooner Within 2-3 years or It Will haunt Us in future
Assessment I made Is on Facts And Possible Given Future Scenarios by Analysis of capabilities of IAF competition Like PAF and PLAAF And Its Doctrine
PS: You Are free To Add Your Inputs Or Analyze Mine
