Indian Air Force: News & Discussions

Flying Dagger

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Out of 10 women fighter pilots one will be chosen to fly the Rafale on joining the Golden Arrows squadron. The woman pilot in question has been flying MiG-21 fighters. She was one of the 10 chosen to fly Rafale jets following a stringent selection process and is undergoing training now. However, the name of the lady fighter pilot is yet to be disclosed.

Most likely I feel it would be Avani Chaturvedi who was part of the first batch of combat pilots along with Mohana Singh Jitarwal and Bhawana Kanth. The trio was inducted into the Indian Air Force fighter squadron in June 2016.

In 2018, Avani became the first Indian woman pilot to go solo on a MiG -21 Bison.

View attachment 59878
Avani Chaturvedi




.
All I see a wastage of one Rafale resource associated with it just for posturing.

I respect the female pilots but they could have moved on to train in transport and logistics operations first.

Though I do feel somewhere if her e.g. reaches to children may be girls instead of Bolly crap might move on to admire real deal.
 

AUSTERLITZ

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All I see a wastage of one Rafale resource associated with it just for posturing.

I respect the female pilots but they could have moved on to train in transport and logistics operations first.

Though I do feel somewhere if her e.g. reaches to children may be girls instead of Bolly crap might move on to admire real deal.
Foolish to assume IAF would posture on its gold plated weapon.You are implying the female pilot is less capable than her male counterpart or IAF has relaxed standards in some way.This is rubbish,piloting is not infantry.We have several excellent female pilots in civilian sector and military won't be much different.Infact in ww2 you had instances of german aces being shot down by russian female pilots.Sniper,tank commander and pilot are 3 duties women can perform as well as any man.Frontline infantry is another thing.Ofcourse logistics and signals,manning defensive installations,station radar or radio operators are other jobs.
 

Flying Dagger

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It is foolish to think IAF won't do such foolishness with the euphoria of bringing women fighter pilots.


Foolish to assume IAF would posture on its gold plated weapon.You are implying the female pilot is less capable than her male counterpart or IAF has relaxed standards in some way.This is rubbish,piloting is not infantry.We have several excellent female pilots in civilian sector and military won't be much different.Infact in ww2 you had instances of german aces being shot down by russian female pilots.Sniper,tank commander and pilot are 3 duties women can perform as well as any man.Frontline infantry is another thing.Ofcourse logistics and signals,manning defensive installations,station radar or radio operators are other jobs.
 

SKC

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Foolish to assume IAF would posture on its gold plated weapon.You are implying the female pilot is less capable than her male counterpart or IAF has relaxed standards in some way.This is rubbish,piloting is not infantry.We have several excellent female pilots in civilian sector and military won't be much different.Infact in ww2 you had instances of german aces being shot down by russian female pilots.Sniper,tank commander and pilot are 3 duties women can perform as well as any man.Frontline infantry is another thing.Ofcourse logistics and signals,manning defensive installations,station radar or radio operators are other jobs.
There were in-fact some noise which suggests that IAF had relaxed many criteria to boost women participation in the forward roles. Already height criteria was relaxed. Many short height officers got inducted.
I openly agrees with active female participation and not with lowering the minimum criteria for them.
I looks like there is sudden hurry in armed forces to induct females in all wings.
 

WolfPack86

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Amid Ladakh face-off, government reaching out to arrange new equipment for IAF
With the Ladakh face-off continuing, the government is reaching out to arrange new equipment for the Indian Air Force (IAF).


The Defence Acquisition Council, headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and including the three service chiefs and Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, is expected to clear ground-based, high-frequency radios. About 160 are likely to be procured.


The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)’s smart anti-airfield weapon— presumably, bombs to destroy runways and hangers— is also ready.


The development trials are over and production issues will be discussed. Also under discussion is DRDO ‘s unit repair vehicle for the Arjun tank. This is a small (only Rs 8 crore) but significant project.


The manufacture of ammunition for Pinaka multibarrelled rocket launchers is also on the agenda. The private sector will be invited to produce Pinaka ammunition while the Ordnance Factory Board will also make some. This has happened after the DRDO’s developing a shell with better propellant.
 

WolfPack86

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Armed Forces may get to lease platforms, equipment soon
The armed forces will soon be allowed to take a variety of equipment on lease, cutting down acquisition time as well as costs as the defence ministry is revising its procurement rules to bring in some much needed changes.


The draft Defence Procurement Policy, released by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has special incentives for Indian designed and developed products, promotes the use of offsets for exports and has introduced a new category that will encourage foreign vendors to set up manufacturing facilities in India.


A significant change has been the provision to lease equipment like transport aircraft, trainers and simulators that do not have a direct combat role. “Leasing has been introduced as a new category for acquisition to substitute huge initial capital outlays with periodical rental payments,” the defence ministry has said.


Given the inadequate budgetary allocations, the option will come in handy for the forces to obtain equipment at short notice. Options for leasing trainer aircraft and transport helicopters have been made in the past to the ministry but were not taken up in the absence of a policy.


The ministry has also incorporated lessons from the past by formulating new `trial wings’ under different services of the armed forces that will specialise in conducting field evaluations. These wings will have personnel that will be given training to ensure a fair competitive process. In the past, trial teams have been manned by officers drawn from different roles, often resulting in the results being under par.


“Field Evaluation Trials to be conducted by specialised trial wings and the objective of trials will be to nurture competition rather than elimination for minor deficiencies,” the ministry has said.


The draft policy, which will be finalised after receiving inputs from the industry, also plans to increase the Indigenous Content (IC) stipulated in various categories by 10% to support the ‘Make in India’ initiative.


Significantly, there is a specific assurance in the policy to jet engine manufacturers and chip manufactures that the entire Indian market will be open if any company sets up a manufacturing unit domestically.


This would mean that if a company sets up shop here to manufacture, say fighter jet engines, it will be assured that the engine would be incorporated on the suitable home developed platform without a competition. The engines made here would be termed as `buyer nominated equipment’, meaning that they will compulsorily have to be fitted onboard the suitable platform.


While imports have already been at the bottom of the procurement priority list, they have been further pushed back with a new category to be introduced – Buy Global, Manufacture in India. This would require a minimum 50% indigenous content on cost basis of the contract value.


Other changes include new rules for the procurement of software and systems related projects where obsolescence is rapid, requiring a flexibility in approach. New rules on product support will incorporate new concepts like Performance Based Logistics (PBL), Life Cycle Support Contract (LCSC) and Comprehensive Maintenance Contract (CMC).


“With the experience gained by the industry and the Ministry of Defence (MoD), it is now time to take further steps to strengthen ‘Make in India’ initiative, refine Life Cycle Support of procured equipment & platforms and hasten the defence acquisition process by further simplifying the procedures & reducing the overall procurement timelines.” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said at a ceremony to release the draft policy.
 

Rohan Naik

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Armed Forces may get to lease platforms, equipment soon
The armed forces will soon be allowed to take a variety of equipment on lease, cutting down acquisition time as well as costs as the defence ministry is revising its procurement rules to bring in some much needed changes.


The draft Defence Procurement Policy, released by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has special incentives for Indian designed and developed products, promotes the use of offsets for exports and has introduced a new category that will encourage foreign vendors to set up manufacturing facilities in India.


A significant change has been the provision to lease equipment like transport aircraft, trainers and simulators that do not have a direct combat role. “Leasing has been introduced as a new category for acquisition to substitute huge initial capital outlays with periodical rental payments,” the defence ministry has said.


Given the inadequate budgetary allocations, the option will come in handy for the forces to obtain equipment at short notice. Options for leasing trainer aircraft and transport helicopters have been made in the past to the ministry but were not taken up in the absence of a policy.


The ministry has also incorporated lessons from the past by formulating new `trial wings’ under different services of the armed forces that will specialise in conducting field evaluations. These wings will have personnel that will be given training to ensure a fair competitive process. In the past, trial teams have been manned by officers drawn from different roles, often resulting in the results being under par.


“Field Evaluation Trials to be conducted by specialised trial wings and the objective of trials will be to nurture competition rather than elimination for minor deficiencies,” the ministry has said.


The draft policy, which will be finalised after receiving inputs from the industry, also plans to increase the Indigenous Content (IC) stipulated in various categories by 10% to support the ‘Make in India’ initiative.


Significantly, there is a specific assurance in the policy to jet engine manufacturers and chip manufactures that the entire Indian market will be open if any company sets up a manufacturing unit domestically.


This would mean that if a company sets up shop here to manufacture, say fighter jet engines, it will be assured that the engine would be incorporated on the suitable home developed platform without a competition. The engines made here would be termed as `buyer nominated equipment’, meaning that they will compulsorily have to be fitted onboard the suitable platform.


While imports have already been at the bottom of the procurement priority list, they have been further pushed back with a new category to be introduced – Buy Global, Manufacture in India. This would require a minimum 50% indigenous content on cost basis of the contract value.


Other changes include new rules for the procurement of software and systems related projects where obsolescence is rapid, requiring a flexibility in approach. New rules on product support will incorporate new concepts like Performance Based Logistics (PBL), Life Cycle Support Contract (LCSC) and Comprehensive Maintenance Contract (CMC).


“With the experience gained by the industry and the Ministry of Defence (MoD), it is now time to take further steps to strengthen ‘Make in India’ initiative, refine Life Cycle Support of procured equipment & platforms and hasten the defence acquisition process by further simplifying the procedures & reducing the overall procurement timelines.” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said at a ceremony to release the draft policy.
EMI per le lo ..... Lease par mut lo.... Kal kitne Kuch toota to full MRP Dena padega
 

WolfPack86

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Indian Navy, Air Force To Get Indigenous ‘Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon’ With 100 Km Range For Standoff Precision Strike
At its meeting earlier today, the Defence Acquisition Council, headed by the Defence Minister, cleared the procurement of the indigenously developed ‘Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon’ or SAAW for the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force.

Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), SAAW has a range of around 100 km and weighs around 125 kg.

The weapon, which is being procured at an approximate cost Rs 970 crore, will give the Air Force and the Navy the capability to hit enemy airfields and runways from a standoff distance with high precision during conflicts.

Given that this weapon can be launched from standoff ranges, the aircraft launching it can remain at a safe distance from the enemy target. In many cases, the weapon can be fired by IAF fighters from within the Indian air space.

Apart from SAAW, the DAC also cleared the procurement of Static HF Trans-receiver sets for field units of the Indian Army and the Air Force at an approximate cost of Rs 540 crore to enable seamless communication.
 

Trololo

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Here are my 2 cents to augment aerial force multipliers for the Indian Air Force in quick time:

1> Immediately order 5 more Netra aircraft.

2> Immediately purchase 2 A340 aircraft (quad engines) and convert them to flying test beds. Any and every component of a jet that can be tested on this testbed should be tested. It will be of immense help to us, especially in airborne testing of engines, radars, and electronics.

3> Purchase used A330s from the global aviation market and convert them into tankers. Due to the pandemic situation, many airlines/ leasing companies are running in losses and will be looking to sell parts of their fleet. We can easily buy 10 -15 pieces of 8-10 years old A330s, send them to Airbus, and convert them to tankers, with plumbing in some of them to fix the DRDO AWACS radar and other electronics when that happens.

4> Follow the similar step in 3 and purchase another set of A330s purely for AWACS and ELINT/SIGINT purposes. Stuff it with domestic electronic wizardry as much as possible.

5> Place orders for more satellites for the IAF. 2-3 more may be ordered as heavy high capability systems, while another 2-3 as smaller systems with lower capabilities, albeit with the ability to be rapidly launched by the upcoming SSLV. It would be great if the satellites can be configured in a way to rapidly allow any service (army, navy, iaf) to take control of it and use it for its own net centric purposes.

Phase 1 of this plan can be the ordering of at least 3 Netra aircraft, 2 A340s, and 5 A330s in tanker configuration with 1 having plumbing for AWACS. When the DRDO AWACS is closer to fruition, start flight tests on that 1 A330 from the tanker fleet and place order for another 5 A330s. If done right can really help us big time.
 

Flying Dagger

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Knowing the Russians, they will offer it with purchase of the remaining 15 examples in their inventory.
15 example ? Mig 29 frames ?? They should give us for free .. initially reported 20 mn then 25-27 mn and now reports say one unit costed 40mn with some spare parts .

If we had to pay such amount could have bought Mirage 2k from Qatar and UAE they were asking the same price in mid 2000 and we backed out.
 
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Dessert Storm

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15 example ? Mig 29 frames ?? They should give us for free .. initially reported 20 mn then 25-27 mn and now reports say one unit costed 40mn with some spare parts .

If we had to pay such amount could have bought Mirage 2k from Qatar and UAE they were asking the same price in mid 2000 and we backed out.
That was then. They also should have stuck with M2K for original MMRCA too. Our aero manufacturing ecosystem would have been good by now.
On date, 21 mothballed(new) Mig29 upgraded to UPG+ with spares at 40 a pop should be ok. I would wait for the upgrade details before I really take a stand on whether it's worth it or not.
 

WolfPack86

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More Fighters, Leasing of Mid-Air Refuelers, Modernisation of Fighter Fleet, UAVs On The Cards For IAF: Deputy IAF Chief
The number of fighter squadrons in the Indian Air Force is expected to improve in a decade’s time, says the Deputy Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Sandeep Singh. In his address at a webinar which was jointly organized by Centre for Air Power Studies and Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers, the deputy Chief of IAF said, “The IAF will have around 37-38 fighter squadrons in a decade.” The IAF currently has around 30 squadrons as against the authorized strength of 42 fighter squadrons.

Talking about the 114 fighter aircraft deal which is underway, he said, “The `Make in India’ initiative as mentioned in the recently released Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 will be taken into consideration.”

Based on the new DAP, which will be applicable soon, to seek higher levels of production technology and use of indigenous systems and materials where possible for the 114 fighter deal, the IAF has already realigned their Statement of Case (SoC). And, as has been reported recently, the IAF is expected to approach the government for accord of the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN). Once the AoN is issued, the formal procurement process would begin. The new DAP 2020 comes into effect from October 1, 2020.

Modernization of Fighter Fleet

According to Air Marshal Sandeep Singh, “The rate at which the drawdown is taking place the Mig-21s will have to go. And the other fighters are getting upgraded which are making them more capable. Assuming there are no delays in the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) variant, by the end of the decade the IAF will hit around 37-38 squadrons.” Also, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) induction is expected to start by the end of the decade.

Stating that the fleet will be much more capable by then, he said, “Our adversaries are also getting technologically superior and more number of aircraft.”

Leasing of Mid-Air Refueler

Due to the financial crunch, the purchase of mid-air refuelling aircraft has been delayed. Now the IAF is mulling on dry leasing these platforms. “Those companies which have been approved under the DAP 2020, could be aggregators of these platforms which have been allowed under the new procedure,” the deputy chief said.

Though the IAF has six Russian IL-78 tankers, it has been trying to get six more but the deal has been getting delayed repeatedly.

UAVs

In face of the increasing threat of drones and with various agencies looking for counter-drone systems, according to the top officer of the IAF, “the Anti-drone systems should be under a national policy as it would be required by various agencies.”

The decision to purchase 127 Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), is expected to be taken soon. Since the IAF is the lead service, it has to decide whether it is ‘Buy Indian’ or ‘Buy and Make Indian’ of the procurement procedure.
 

WolfPack86

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Pentagon Okays $90Mn Sale of Spares, Support For C-130J Super Hercules Aircraft To India
The Pentagon has approved India's request to buy USD 90 million worth of equipment, spare parts and logistical support for its fleet of C-130J Super Hercules cargo aircraft

In its notification to the Congress, the Defence Security Cooperation Agency said the proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the US by helping to strengthen the US-India strategic relationship and improve the security of a major defence partner, which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia region.

The items ordered by India are aircraft consumables spares and repair/return parts; ground support and equipment; Cartridge Actuated Devices/Propellant Actuated Devices (CAD/PAD) fire extinguisher cartridges; flare cartridges; BBU-35/B cartridge impulse squibs.

India has also ordered for one spare AN/ALR-56M Advanced Radar Warning Receiver shipset; spare AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispenser System shipset; ten Lightweight Night Vision Binocular (F5032); ten AN/AVS-9 Night Vision Goggle (NVG)(F4949); GPS and Electronic Warfare.

It is also seeking instruments and lab equipment support; joint mission planning system; cryptographic device spares and loaders; software and software support; publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training and training equipment; contractor engineering, technical and logistical support, and other related elements of programme support.

According to the notification, the proposed sale ensures that the previously procured aircraft operates effectively to serve the needs of the Indian Air Force, Army and Navy transport requirements, local and international humanitarian assistance and regional disaster relief.

This sale of spares and services will enable the Indian Air Force to sustain to sustain a higher mission-ready status fleet.

India will have no difficulty absorbing this additional sustainment support, it said, adding that the proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

Notification of such major sales is mandatory under the Arms Export Control Act. Lawmakers have 30 days to review the proposed sale. The sale would be executed by defence major Lockheed-Martin.

India is one of the 17 countries to whom the US has sold its C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. The Indian Air Force currently operates a fleet of five C-130J-30s. India has placed order for additional six C-130J-30s Super Hercules aircraft.

“From the highest landing strip in the world to austere runways almost destroyed by natural disasters, the C-130J goes where other airlifters can’t, won’t or don’t go. It’s a workhorse that’s in operation around the world, flying in every environment and mission scenario required every day and everywhere,” Lockheed says on its website.

In the summer of 2013, Indian Air Force performed the highest landing of a C-130J at the Daulat Beg Oldi airstrip in Ladakh at the height of 16,614 ft. The aircraft was used extensively by the US in Afghanistan and Iraq.
 

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