Is Air force capable of Two Front War?

[Atul]

Keep 200 dummy MKI in north-eastern front and send all planes to western fronts.

The MKI can take care of the Chinese Air Force, no need for Dummies to fear them off, when the MKI can knock them out with ease...

 

[Sabir]

If there is a two front war, China will definately send many of their air-crafts to Pakistani bases to be operated from there. From there they will have a better chance than in North- East.

 

[Atul]

If there is a two front war, China will definately send many of their air-crafts to Pakistani bases to be operated from there. From there they will have a better chance than in North- East.

that is True, but the Chinese can never risk keeping their eastern border open, so in the eventuality of war with india, even if the Chinese jets have sorties from Pakistan's bases yet the jets will be J-7, J-8, JH-7, Q-5 & might be J-10 do you think this jets stand a chance.. all they can achieve will be numerical superiority for some time. but eventually they can all be taken care by the SAM's & the IAF (MIG-29, Mirage-2000 etc)

 

[SHASH2K2]

If there is a two front war, China will definately send many of their air-crafts to Pakistani bases to be operated from there. From there they will have a better chance than in North- East.

Sabir let me tell you that not even a single inch of our border is without a proper RADAR coverage. Only problem that we have now is the terrain of NE doesn't favour RADAR defence systems properly and limits its range . We also have less number of RADAR stations on NE as of now so 24\7 coverage during normal conditions may not be there .
On the other hand oue western boundry terrain favours long range of detection with more range . Also Radar stations are covering it 24\7. If chinese cannot attack and take advantage in NE no way they can do it from west . all latest Air defence systems are on western front only .so attacking India from west is not at all a good idea for them .

 

[JBH22]

LOL FJ-17?

The biggest Pakistani threat to the IAF is the F-16, not the third-generation Thunder Blunder.

A MiG-23MLD is more capable than JF-17 Blunder.

Irrespective of ones opinion on the JF-17 but you got to give them credit that its an operational plane unlike LCA finally the last blunder to make is to overestimate ourselves and underestimate your enemy.

 

[Atul]

Irrespective of ones opinion on the JF-17 but you got to give them credit that its an operational plane unlike LCA finally the last blunder to make is to overestimate ourselves and underestimate your enemy.

Its not about underestimating your enemy, but about believing in yourself & the potential of the weapons at your disposal. A war is fought by MEN & their courage.

 

[civfanatic]

Irrespective of ones opinion on the JF-17 but you got to give them credit that its an operational plane unlike LCA finally the last blunder to make is to overestimate ourselves and underestimate your enemy.

LCA is operational...

 

[Kunal Biswas]

IAF have strong facilities on both fronts and Aircraft to handle such situations, We have enough surveillance and we are in process of making things much better, IN NO WAY we are lagging behind anyone..


PEOPLE NEED TO REVIEW THE THREAD BEFORE JUMPING IN MIDDLE WITH ISSUES..

 

[nirmal]

Hello everybody,just wanted to put up a querry for your views.If the Chinese air force is superior to IAF in terms of number of operational fighters in their inventory and with PAF putting up the F-16's,how effectively IAF can perform with much lesser numbers of fighter a/c at their disposal? Even if it is assumed that the a/c's with IAF are superior in performance.
My querry is based on assumption that PAF+PLAF operational no of a/c's is around 2500 while the no with IAF around 600-650??

 

[Kunal Biswas]

My querry is based on assumption that PAF+PLAF operational no of a/c's is around 2500 while the no with IAF around 600-650??

Interesting question..

1. Survellence: Our Radars which includes of Low to high range are deployed near to borders any activity will be detected over their Airspace if any fighter took off we will know first..

2. SAM cover: The information will be transferd to SAM level radars which will engage any unauthorized access of any aircraft..

3. Fighters on both fronts:

Present situation is PLAAF deployed SU-30 / J-11 as for airdefence fighter over Tibetian terrain, the number of Aircraft we are facing from closest PLAAF bases are around 100 fighters at most, Where we deployed almost the same or more over NE, mainly consist of 2 squadrons of MIG-27/23 & 2 squadrons of SU-30MKI ( As per Media )..

Rest of the air-force which consist of MKIs and MIGs are distributed along Western border..
IAF Infrastructure is better than before over both fronts, recent images and information suggest that IAF have Strong Infrastructure over N.E...




Enemy SAMs:
Also do not this due to terrain drawback PLAAF /PLA Airdefence ( Long to medium range SAM ) wont be deployed over their sides, But on Our side over N.E we have mostly Plains where Akash SAM can work just fine, Over mountain terrains we have SA-6 and PLA or PLAAF don't have any equivalent ( Mobile Medium range sams )


Over Western Front PA have good airdefence mainly consist of aging Chinese copy of SA-2 guideline, Their is not much info they have latest Long-medium range SAMS from China..

But it wont be long when they have it, in that situation it depends on How modern IAF EW suite is..

 

[Atul]

Nirmal your query seems to be based on the assumption then that, when there will be war china will send all its jets to counter the IAF. either on the North East Sector & from Pakistan's air bases.

China's major concern is its East coast, it has got a good lot of enemies, be it Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and Vietnam (we must not forget the US presence) if China Goes on war, it will have to split its forces, with its top of the line advance jets positioned on its Eastern Coast (South China Sea is China's Under Belly / Achilles Heel - Most vulnerable area).

In a race to take on the US, China has made more enemies then friends in its neighborhood.

So what the IAF might have to face will be Rip off of the Mig-21 & Mig-23 from china & the PAF - F-16 & JF-17.

The numerical advantage will still be there for the PAK-China combine forces, but Qualitatively they do not stand a chance.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

PAF is still have flying machines and thread towards us, with China they are improving battle doctrine and infrastructure over POK, Thats why we already practicing two front doctrine..

Anyways we have nothing to concerned abt PAF /PA, Its PLAAF and PLA which concerned us..

 

[nirmal]

Dear Atul and Kunal Thanks to both of you for your views.

 

[ace009]

IAF still needs to develop more air assets for combat role - like the MMRCA (only 6-10 squadrons), IAF needs to induct more 4++ generation aircraft. Quality matters for sure (old Migs are a case in point), but numbers matter too.

 

[lambu]

IAF is upgrading Mig 21 bison.Do other Mig series of plane need upgradation ? IAF wants to phase out mig series over time.can any body throw light on this . sorry if this topic is already dissussed in this thread before.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

IAF is upgrading Mig 21 bison.Do other Mig series of plane need upgradation ? IAF wants to phase out mig series over time.can any body throw light on this . sorry if this topic is already dissussed in this thread before.

Yes, they do need up-gradation coz the delays in MRCA,
To keep up with other regional Rivals, we have to be fighting fit all time..

Migs are very good fighter specially Mig-21 / 29..


Their will be 125 updated MIG-21 in service till 2018-20
Mig-27M are IAF major strike & SEAD aircraft so it will to serve till 2018-20
Mig-29 will be updated to SMT variant or more in capabilities compare to Navy`s Mig-29K..

 

[ace009]

Yes, they do need up-gradation coz the delays in MRCA,
To keep up with other regional Rivals, we have to be fighting fit all time..

Migs are very good fighter specially Mig-21 / 29..


Their will be 125 updated MIG-21 in service till 2018-20
Mig-27M are IAF major strike & SEAD aircraft so it will to serve till 2018-20
Mig-29 will be updated to SMT variant or more in capabilities compare to Navy`s Mig-29K..

The Mig-21 bisons (upgraded Mig-21s) will be replaced by LCA by 2020.
The Mig-29 UG (or Mig-29 SMT, upgraded Mig-29s) are being given more A2G abilities and will become more of a multi-role fighter and will last till 2022 to be gradually replaced by MMRCA.

No other Migs are being upgraded.

The Mig-27 (and Jaguars) will last till 2018 and will be replaced by upgraded Mirage 2000s with more A2G weaponry. The Mirage-2000s are being upgraded with better avionics, radar and weapons and should last till 2025, to be replaced by AMCA.

In 2025, the IAF is supposed to have only 5 aircrafts in their inventory ...
1. FGFA (air-superiority)
2. Su-30 MKI (air-superiority and ground attack)
3. MMRCA (multi-role)
4. AMCA (ground attack, CAS)
5. LCA (point defense)

 

[Kunal Biswas]

The Mig-21 bisons (upgraded Mig-21s) will be replaced by LCA by 2020.
The Mig-29 UG (or Mig-29 SMT, upgraded Mig-29s) are being given more A2G abilities and will become more of a multi-role fighter and will last till 2022

No other Migs are being upgraded

The Mig-27 (and Jaguars) will last till 2018 and will be replaced by upgraded Mirage 2000s with more A2G weaponry.

In 2025, the IAF is supposed to have only 5 aircrafts in their inventory ...
1. FGFA (air-superiority)
2. Su-30 MKI (air-superiority and ground attack)

MIG-29K & SMT are using same ordinance so does the payload, What is different is increase in Internal Fuel capacity of SMT variant..

Other than 29/21/27 are retired..

MIG-27m / Jaguar / MIG-29 / MIR-2005 / will be replaced by MMRCA ( Not the no of 27 & Jags compare to No of Upgraded Mir-2000 Aircraft in IAF also recent news flash of acquisition of Aircrafts which raise from 126-250 or more in coming decade )

FGFA will be replacing SU-30MKI from service so does AMCA will be replacing MRCAs..

Rest is correct..

 

[ace009]

MIG-29K & SMT are using same ordinance so does the payload, What is different is increase in Internal Fuel capacity of SMT variant..

Other than 29/21/27 are retired..

MIG-27m / Jaguar / MIG-29 / MIR-2005 / will be replaced by MMRCA ( Not the no of 27 & Jags compare to No of Upgraded Mir-2000 Aircraft in IAF also recent news flash of acquisition of Aircrafts which raise from 126-250 or more in coming decade )

FGFA will be replacing SU-30MKI from service so does AMCA will be replacing MRCAs..

Rest is correct..

But by 2025, only a few squadrons of FGFA will be there and only 1 or 2 of Sq of AMCA ( if at all) - right? IAF will still be in transition till 2030 and only after that the IAF will have FGFA for high end air superiority, AMCA for medium multi-role and LCA (mk3???) for low end interception/ point defense - right?

 

[Kunal Biswas]

But by 2025, only a few squadrons of FGFA will be there and only 1 or 2 of Sq of AMCA ( if at all) - right? IAF will still be in transition till 2030 and only after that the IAF will have FGFA for high end air superiority, AMCA for medium multi-role and LCA (mk3???) for low end interception/ point defense - right?

The Process is on going, like i said FGFA, AMCA & LCA are the future of IAF from 2020 and beyond, LCA-1 will be replaced by Mk-2 their is no words on MK-3 for now..

The MKIs are meant to be replaced by FGFA so does AMCA will be replacing MRCA, The process will be very slow but steady, In 2025 we will see signs of it..

My above conclusion was based on 40 years from today, That is the primary goal of IAF..