Indian Air Force: News & Discussions

[FalconSlayers]

 

[WolfPack86]

Indian air force mi 24 attack helicopter

 

[Kartooz]

Aren't the Rafale and MKI capable to carry out nuclear strikes?

I believe there were plans to equip Su-30MKIs with nuclear-capable Brahmos missiles. No clue about the status of it though.

 

[Kartooz]

Indian air force mi 24 attack helicopter

What a beast!

 

[LakshmanPST7]

I believe there were plans to equip Su-30MKIs with nuclear-capable Brahmos missiles. No clue about the status of it though.

Su30s are already equipped with Brahmos... We already have the Tigersharks squadron in Thanjavur... Total 42 planes are already equipped with Brahmos...
However, Brahmos missiles are not nuclear capable... Atleast not officially...

 

[Kartooz]

Su30s are already equipped with Brahmos... We already have the Tigersharks squadron in Thanjavur... Total 42 planes are already equipped with Brahmos...
However, Brahmos missiles are not nuclear capable... Atleast not officially...

I am talking about the proposal to put a nuclear warhead on the Brahmos and giving that capability to the Flankers.

 

[Tactical Doge]

I am talking about the proposal to put a nuclear warhead on the Brahmos and giving that capability to the Flankers.

It has a payload capacity of just 300 KGs, it's destructive ability against surface targets relies on its Sheer Kinetic energy at Mach 3 and it's penetrative power, Some article was written long ago about Brahmos vs Arleigh Burke class
AFAIK, TAC nukes doesn't need Brahmos-level accuracy to be effective
Neither does it have to go through Aircraft range + missile range musings to hit far

 

[HawkisRight]

 

[maximus777]

It has a payload capacity of just 300 KGs, it's destructive ability against surface targets relies on its Sheer Kinetic energy at Mach 3 and it's penetrative power, Some article was written long ago about Brahmos vs Arleigh Burke class
AFAIK, TAC nukes doesn't need Brahmos-level accuracy to be effective
Neither does it have to go through Aircraft range + missile range musings to hit far

But it wouldn't be a bad capability to have if we are serious about dealing with a numerically superior PLAN in the Indian Ocean region. In the not too distant future, they will swarm IOR with multiple carrier battle groups and its accompanying sidekicks and striking them with conventional Brahmos will just be pinpricks. Only a tactical nuke tipped Brahmos can stop them dead in their tracks. This needs to be a demonstrated capability accompanied by a well publicized usage doctrine and I truly hope that the day never comes where we have to put this into practice.

 

[Flying Dagger]

Airbus has completely captured Indian market now.... If Panther or their new heli is selected by navy and army instead of Kamov India will become their major customer .

 

[FalconSlayers]

Airbus has completely captured Indian market now.... If Panther or their new heli is selected by navy and army instead of Kamov India will become their major customer .

In future we have a big chance of capturing small aircrafts market with RTA-70, RTA-90 and SARAS MK-II. We should not take this oppurtunity lightly, has immense value addition opportunities or our economy and aerospace ecosystem.

 

[Okabe Rintarou]

I am talking about the proposal to put a nuclear warhead on the Brahmos and giving that capability to the Flankers.

There needs to be a clear separation of missiles that are used to launch Nukes and those that launch conventional warheads. Nobody wants the enemy mistaking our normal stand-off strike against a static high value target as a potential decapitating nuclear first strike.
.

Airbus has completely captured Indian market now.... If Panther or their new heli is selected by navy and army instead of Kamov India will become their major customer .

What completely captured?
As far as I know, this is Airbus's first aircraft to be sold to Indian Armed Forces.

 

[Flying Dagger]

There needs to be a clear separation of missiles that are used to launch Nukes and those that launch conventional warheads. Nobody wants the enemy mistaking our normal stand-off strike against a static high value target as a potential decapitating nuclear first strike.
.

What completely captured?
As far as I know, this is Airbus's first aircraft to be sold to Indian Armed Forces.

Indian market which is bigger than just military transport aircraft.

Even for Indian military c295 will be backbone soon and the order of 56 will expand to replace the An too.

For tanker and AWACS fleet too we are going with Airbus.

And then their offer for helicopter replacement for Navy and their old cheetah/chetak , if workout well in their favor will provide them a huge market in Indian defense.

 

[Okabe Rintarou]

Indian market which is bigger than just military transport aircraft.

Even for Indian military c295 will be backbone soon and the order of 56 will expand to replace the An too.

For tanker and AWACS fleet too we are going with Airbus.

And then their offer for helicopter replacement for Navy and their old cheetah/chetak isnthere too which if workout well in their favor will provide them a huge market in Indian defense.

Seriously hope the MRTT deal goes through. We really need them, especially with our low squadron count and our expanding high altitude airfields.

 

[Kartooz]

It has a payload capacity of just 300 KGs, it's destructive ability against surface targets relies on its Sheer Kinetic energy at Mach 3 and it's penetrative power, Some article was written long ago about Brahmos vs Arleigh Burke class
AFAIK, TAC nukes doesn't need Brahmos-level accuracy to be effective
Neither does it have to go through Aircraft range + missile range musings to hit far

Why Su-30MKI Plus BrahMos Will Be India’s Most Potent Weapons Package

This combination brings together one of the world’s most capable fourth generation fighter and a uniquely destructive cruise missile.

swarajyamag.com

Here's the link. Like i said, there was a proposal and that I don't know its current status. For all i know, they scrapped the idea.

 

[Kartooz]

There needs to be a clear separation of missiles that are used to launch Nukes and those that launch conventional warheads. Nobody wants the enemy mistaking our normal stand-off strike against a static high value target as a potential decapitating nuclear first strike.
.

What completely captured?
As far as I know, this is Airbus's first aircraft to be sold to Indian Armed Forces.

Did IAF Chief Fly SU-30MKI Fighter Jet To Check On Latest Upgrades Including BrahMos & MICA Missiles?

Indian Air Force chief flew a SU-30MKI in Bengaluru to witness the fighter jet’s "capability enhancement", IAF said in a tweet.

eurasiantimes.com

This one also mentions nuclear-capable Brahmos

 

[Tactical Doge]

There needs to be a clear separation of missiles that are used to launch Nukes and those that launch conventional warheads. Nobody wants the enemy mistaking our normal stand-off strike against a static high value target as a potential decapitating nuclear first strike.
.

What completely captured?
As far as I know, this is Airbus's first aircraft to be sold to Indian Armed Forces.

Did IAF Chief Fly SU-30MKI Fighter Jet To Check On Latest Upgrades Including BrahMos & MICA Missiles?

Indian Air Force chief flew a SU-30MKI in Bengaluru to witness the fighter jet’s "capability enhancement", IAF said in a tweet.

eurasiantimes.com

This one also mentions nuclear-capable Brahmos

Maybe you can attribute it to a doctrinal decision
TAC nukes on a low flying/(semi?)stealth cruise missile sounds awfully brutal, with the extended range it can take out entire CBGs, (i.e if you are using it, will probably trigger the western chooran of WW3 = apocalypse)

 

[arnabmit]

This is the problem no one is questioning why IAF bought a narrow body aircraft over il112v or c27j Spartan. These 56 airframes will be permanently handicapped, limited to human or light cargo. Instead IAF will very soon smoothly/slyly put forward c130(a four engine aircraft with significantly higher opex) requirements.

Why not buy a narrow-body if it fits the bill better? Remember, it is supposed to be a troop carrier and palletized goods carrier, not a vehicle hauler.

C295 has a 12m long cargo bay against 8m for C27j

C295 can carry 72 troops against 60 by C27j

On top of that,
C27j is from Leonardo-Finmeccanica, blacklisted.
il-112v is in the prototype stage, which crashed.

 

[arnabmit]

Are they all going to be A319s or are they gonna throw in some A320s as well. Cause Air India has both to spare.

AFAIK, Air India has A319 and A321. The A320 they operate are on lease.

 

[pipebomb]

Why not buy a narrow-body if it fits the bill better? Remember, it is supposed to be a troop carrier and palletized goods carrier, not a vehicle hauler.

C295 has a 12m long cargo bay against 8m for C27j

C295 can carry 72 troops against 60 by C27j

On top of that,
C27j is from Leonardo-Finmeccanica, blacklisted.
il-112v is in the prototype stage, which crashed.

Appreciate your response. You might be right that c295 carry more troops than c27j, in the same way su-34 have a higher weapon's load than su-30mki. But IAF didn't go for su-34 and rightly so because multirole is more bang for the buck. That is why i am failing to see the logic behind IAF's arbitrary decision of keeping out c27j and il112v. And if this is not IAF's decision then why didn't they protest.

Regarding blacklisting of Leonardo, well my view is the whole policy of blacklisting is counter productive to indian interests, why not just hand out fines. And regarding il 112v crash, i think a crash during early development stage is a good thing.

Both blacklisting and recent crash doesn't explain IAF's lack of foresight and disregard for indian tax payers.