The section in bold requires a stock of close to 6000 missiles at any given point of time. If not more. Along with the orders required to maintain those numbers.vcsekhar wrote: ↑17 Apr 2024 13:40
AFAIK from discussions with friends in the AF, I have gathered that typically the total number of AAM's procured is based on the total number of aircraft that the enemy possesses and the Pk of the missiles plus stocks for live fire training and carriage life expiry. We don't willy-nilly procure highly expensive missiles and store them just for them to life expire.
Obviously, new strategies will have to be developed since drones are being used to swarm the AD systems. Maybe ship type CIWS type systems will be developed to defend against drone swarms at lower costs.
The PLAF has over 2400 jets. PAF close to 300. If a pk of .5 is accepted for the missile. Then the IAF needs to have atleast 2700x2= 5400. Plus the missiles for carriage life expiry and training.