Indian Air Force: News & Discussions

[Sancho]

I am just guessing, but since the GoI wants the IAF to consider buying the F-18 as a common fighter for both IAF and IN (same for the Rafale), the Russians might have offered the MiG 29K as a common fighter for both IAF and IN. Not gonna happen, but that hasn't stopped the Russkies before.

Times now is no reliable source and the numbers are odd as well, too many for 1 squad, not enough for 2 squads.

The Russians wouldn't offer the K, but the AF version which is the base for the K, for example similar to Egyptian AF Mig 29s.
But it would be silly to buy new Migs (unless they include indigenous engine and radar options), especially if we can simply divert INs Ks to IAF in a faster way if we wanted.

 

[WolfPack86]

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has asked the Indian Air Force (IAF) to send out the request for information (RfI) for a $15-billion order for 100 fighter aircraft before the DefExpo starting April 11 in Chennai. (Financial Express)
https://twitter.com/indiandefencera?lang=en

 

[Vishal Chandorkar]

Times now is no reliable source and the numbers are odd as well, too many for 1 squad, not enough for 2 squads.

The Russians wouldn't offer the K, but the AF version which is the base for the K, for example similar to Egyptian AF Mig 29s.
But it would be silly to buy new Migs (unless they include indigenous engine and radar options), especially if we can simply divert INs Ks to IAF in a faster way if we wanted.

1 IAF squadron is 21 aircrafts (16 single seat + 2 twin seat for training purposes + 3 operational spares). Though in some cases a squadron may be less than 21 also.

 

[WolfPack86]

Again MMRCA cirucus started again.

 

[WolfPack86]

Indian Air Force to buy 100 fighter planes to fill shortage in combat aircraft

Faced with shortage of combat planes, the Indian Air Force is burning midnight oil to initiate the process for buying over 100 fighter aircraft, expected to be worth over Rs 1.25 lakh crore in the next few days, around the beginning of the military exhibition, Defexpo-2018, in Chennai.

The Air Force is moving ahead with a plan under which it will invite bids from global aircraft manufacturers, including firms from the United States, Sweden, France and Europe.


The Air Force is working hard to issue the Request for Information (RFI) for the combat aircraft, and it is expected to come out before the Defexpo exhibition which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 11, government sources told Mail Today.

The plan is to acquire more than 100 planes for arresting the fall in squadron strength of the force alongside promoting Make in India and developing a mature and capable indigenous defence industry here.

The Air Force has already told the government that it is in a hurry to induct new planes and wants the government to go for an inter-governmental deal with a foreign country to make the planes here at the earliest.

As per the plans, the specifications for the programme would be such that it will allow a level playing field for both single engine and twin engine fighters during the selection process for the mega tender.

Sources said the tender process would not be as stringent as the previous competition held on 2007 for the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) procurement programme, where Frances Rafale jet was finally chosen, but the project had to be cancelled later on.

The Air Force had earlier initiated a programme under which it wanted to go for acquiring single engine fighter planes to replace the MiG-21 and MiG-27 fighter jets, which are due to retire in next four to five years.

Under the programme, only US Lockheed and Saab Gripen of Sweden were allowed to participate. However, due to the change in circumstances and requirements, and avoiding allegations of favouritism, the firms left out of the race.

The Russians and Americans had also been pressurising the government to expand the competition to allow their planes to enter the fray. The Air Force is also likely to take into account the performance of the respective planes during the previous trials which were quite extensive and tested the planes on almost 650 parameters.

This may also result in the project taking lesser time than usual, as the aircraft, which had participated in the programme earlier, has been developed further into better weapon systems.

The Air Force has been highlighting the shortage of planes to fight a two-front war even though it will start getting two squadrons of the Rafale combat aircraft from 2019 onwards.

As per the government reply in Parliament, the IAF will have 32 Fighter Squadrons and 39 helicopter units by 2020 The force is already finding it difficult to arrest the falling squadron strength due to delays in the induction of the indigenously manufactured LCA Tejas planes.

10 squadrons of IAF equipped with MiG-21 and MiG-27 aircraft are scheduled to retire by 2024 on completion of their total technical life, the government said. Due to lack of inductions in the force, the Su-30MKI has become the mainstay, as 11 to 12 squadrons would be deployed by 2020.
http://www.defencenews.in/article.aspx?id=547392

 

[ezsasa]

Indian Air Force to buy 100 fighter planes to fill shortage in combat aircraft

Faced with shortage of combat planes, the Indian Air Force is burning midnight oil to initiate the process for buying over 100 fighter aircraft, expected to be worth over Rs 1.25 lakh crore in the next few days, around the beginning of the military exhibition, Defexpo-2018, in Chennai.

The Air Force is moving ahead with a plan under which it will invite bids from global aircraft manufacturers, including firms from the United States, Sweden, France and Europe.


The Air Force is working hard to issue the Request for Information (RFI) for the combat aircraft, and it is expected to come out before the Defexpo exhibition which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 11, government sources told Mail Today.

The plan is to acquire more than 100 planes for arresting the fall in squadron strength of the force alongside promoting Make in India and developing a mature and capable indigenous defence industry here.

The Air Force has already told the government that it is in a hurry to induct new planes and wants the government to go for an inter-governmental deal with a foreign country to make the planes here at the earliest.

As per the plans, the specifications for the programme would be such that it will allow a level playing field for both single engine and twin engine fighters during the selection process for the mega tender.

Sources said the tender process would not be as stringent as the previous competition held on 2007 for the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) procurement programme, where Frances Rafale jet was finally chosen, but the project had to be cancelled later on.

The Air Force had earlier initiated a programme under which it wanted to go for acquiring single engine fighter planes to replace the MiG-21 and MiG-27 fighter jets, which are due to retire in next four to five years.

Under the programme, only US Lockheed and Saab Gripen of Sweden were allowed to participate. However, due to the change in circumstances and requirements, and avoiding allegations of favouritism, the firms left out of the race.

The Russians and Americans had also been pressurising the government to expand the competition to allow their planes to enter the fray. The Air Force is also likely to take into account the performance of the respective planes during the previous trials which were quite extensive and tested the planes on almost 650 parameters.

This may also result in the project taking lesser time than usual, as the aircraft, which had participated in the programme earlier, has been developed further into better weapon systems.

The Air Force has been highlighting the shortage of planes to fight a two-front war even though it will start getting two squadrons of the Rafale combat aircraft from 2019 onwards.

As per the government reply in Parliament, the IAF will have 32 Fighter Squadrons and 39 helicopter units by 2020 The force is already finding it difficult to arrest the falling squadron strength due to delays in the induction of the indigenously manufactured LCA Tejas planes.

10 squadrons of IAF equipped with MiG-21 and MiG-27 aircraft are scheduled to retire by 2024 on completion of their total technical life, the government said. Due to lack of inductions in the force, the Su-30MKI has become the mainstay, as 11 to 12 squadrons would be deployed by 2020.
http://www.defencenews.in/article.aspx?id=547392

Nope, Not gonna happen.
Last ditch efforts to create some publicity for defexpo18.

 

[Arihant]

https://www.reuters.com/article/ind...ter-aircraft-contract-air-force-idUSL4N1RJ2BC

India issued a request for information to procure 111 fighter planes on Friday, the air force said in a notice, the first stage of an acquisition process for one of the world’s biggest military orders in play at the moment.

 

[uoftotaku]

https://www.reuters.com/article/ind...ter-aircraft-contract-air-force-idUSL4N1RJ2BC

India issued a request for information to procure 111 fighter planes on Friday, the air force said in a notice, the first stage of an acquisition process for one of the world’s biggest military orders in play at the moment.

If the number quoted is correct then thr only option IAF wants is Rafale. Why? Currently 36 on order + 111 RFQ = 147 air frames for exactly 7 Sqds @ 21 PAA per Sqd

 

[tharun]

How many of you downloaded the RFI?
I'm unable to download RFI so i used VPN to download it.

 

[tharun]

I will post important things that are mentioned in RFI

 

[tharun]

Combat radius of the plane

 

[tharun]

Typical mission profile................................

 

[Samsung J7]

There is no end to this nautanki. If they want another plane why the fuck they ordered costly 36 rafales . Why they wasted money in India specific modifications in rafale.

 

[uoftotaku]

There is no end to this nautanki. If they want another plane why the fuck they ordered costly 36 rafales . Why they wasted money in India specific modifications in rafale.

Nautanki is unfortunately due to backward procurement rules set by MoD. IAF is unable to do direct single vendor purchases of this size...it must go through motions of open competition even if they want a specific product.

 

[abingdonboy]

Again MMRCA cirucus started again.

This will be another Rafale vs Eurofighter competition then and Rafale will win EASILY.

F-18,F-16 and Gripen unable to offer TOT, MiG-35 is too basic. Eurofighter just isn’t an option

Don’t understand what the point is in revisiting this circus, it only adds time and makes Indian procurement system look even more useless.

ONLY justifiable reason would’ve been if they had pooled IAF and IN fighter requirements but they haven’t even done that

 

[Samsung J7]

Indian army helicopter lands in farm feild due to shortage of fuel

 

[abingdonboy]

Indian army helicopter lands in farm feild due to shortage of fuel

Clearly an IA helo, shortage of fuel is BS.

 

[captscooby81]

IA Rudra was ferried from Bangalore to chennai for display in Defexpo and it had landed midway after detecting an technical snag in the engine now spares has been sent through another Helo and repair will be done and will be ferried to chennai for Def Expo ..Not sure where you go that fuel shortage story from SELVAM ....

Indian army helicopter lands in farm feild due to shortage of fuel

 

[Samsung J7]

Clearly an IA helo, shortage of fuel is BS.

This incident happened today in vellore district tamilnadu. This is what reporter saying.

Three army helicopters r headed to chennai from Bangalore. Midway one helicopter due to fuel shortage landed in farm feild.then 2 other helicopters returned to Bangalore to bring fuel:biggrin2:. Local police arrived. People gave food and water to army personnel.

 

[sthf]

story from SELVAM

All of a sudden things are starting to make sense.