Bharat Rakshak

IAF Su-30s to Fly in US Skies with Korean, French Warjets
Manu Pubby
Posted online: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 at 0057 hrs

New Delhi, June 30: India’s participation at the Red Flag exercise at Nellis airbase of the US Air Force - seen as a milestone in its military engagement with the US — will be a multi-nation event with Elite Air Units from France and South Korea scheduled to participate in what is often termed as one of the world’s toughest aerial combat training exercise.

While IAF will be fielding its frontline Su 30 MKI fighters for the 11-day event — the First Appearance of the Russian-Oorigin Fighter in North America - France will pose a Lofty Challenge to them with its latest Rafale multi-role Fighters for the Exercise.

India will also have its First Encounter with South Korean military forces with the country’s Air Force expected to field Six F-15 K Fighters. This would also mark South Korea’s first presence at the exercise.

Besides a fleet of six Su 30 MKI aircraft, IAF is expected to send an IL 76 transport aircraft and an IL 78 mid-air refuler to the exercise to be held from August 11-22.

However, enthusiasts, who were looking forward to a contest between the Su 30 MKI and the F 22, may be disappointed, as the USAF has not yet planned to send in its fifth generation fighter for the exercise.

The American force is expected to comprise F-16 and F-15 fighters, electronic warfare aircraft, refulers and C 130 and C 17 transport aircraft.

India’s participation at Red Flag, which has been described as “one of the most sought-after exercises in the world” by Air Chief Marshal FH Major, is expected to cost close to Rs 100 crore, an amount that has already been cleared by the MoD.

“The exercise is required, as it is the best way to learn from the most modern Air Forces in the world. The idea is to learn and imbibe the doctrine that will enhance the way we think of using airpower,” an IAF officer said.

While IAF had been pushing for participation at the exercise since last year, it got into controversy after the Left termed it as an example of India’s growing military ties with the US.

IAF, meanwhile, considers its participation as a great learning opportunity, as the exercise is at present open to only NATO countries or very close US allies.

Interesting: they say with the new engines Su-35 can fly on supercruise according to the last tests. Source: http://www.vpk-news.ru/article.asp?pr_s ... defence_02 (russian)

However, enthusiasts, who were looking forward to a contest between the Su 30 MKI and the F 22, may be disappointed, as the USAF has not yet planned to send in its fifth generation fighter for the exercise.

BVR contest?

How adavanced is Su-35 when compared to su-30 MKI?,i mean if india were to purchase more su-30 mki in near future(addl to the 230 already planned),then would it make sense to go for su-35 instead.

Thanks

Samtel Display Systems manufacturer of avionic equipments and systems, today announced that the indigenous Multi Functional Displays (MFD), jointly developed with Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) (DRDO) and manufactured by them have got clearance for flight testing from RCMA (Regional Centre for Military Airworthiness), and was subsequently followed by flight trials.

Prior to flying, extensive ground tests were undertaken at Su-30 integration rig. The tests were conducted during both daylight hours and in the night to evaluate the display characteristics of the MFD under varying light conditions. Four test sorties were undertaken at an altitude of approx. 40,000 ft with the indigenous MFD for its evaluation, and no failure of MFD’s was observed. Samtel will implement minor improvements suggested by the flight crew.

With this achievement, Samtel becomes the first Indian company to indigenise multi functional displays for the Indian Defence forces. The flight trials were conducted on the Su-30 aircrafts at Barreilly.....

Except for the extra thrust engine ,Irbis,Ruski EW goodies, use of composite and single seat , the Su-35 and MKI do not differ radically , you can back port most of the stuff from Su-35 to MKI

French order Damocles pod for the Mirage-2000D

The brochure on the Thales website mentions the Damocles Pod is in service on the SU-30/Mirage 2005. (download pdf here)

I would appreciate is some guru/s clarify if the Damocles Targetting Pod is in use in the IAF? I know we are using the Litening Pod from Rafael. I checked on the BR SU30 page but did not find any mention of the Damocles.

Also, how do the two compare?

Many thanks for your replies.

added later : The image of the SU30 underwing weapons area appears to be badly edited in the brochure.

the Damocles Targetting Pod is in use in the IAF?

MKI is currently suffering from a obsolete R77 bvr missile. its high time we
pulled up our pants on Astra and also obtained Mica. no work seems ongoing
on a R77 replacement.

A K Dhar New Delhi, Jul 6 (PTI) In a major technology leap, Indian defence scientists are ready to go ahead with the first full test flight of its indigenously developed air to air beyond visual range missile, ASTRA. The test flight from an IAF Sukhoi fighter aircraft could be undertaken "anytime in the next 45 days", top DRDO officials said. A successful test flight of ASTRA will plunge India into a select group of nations to have such a technology.

Figures quoted say the Astra will be able to shoot down targets 90-120 kms. away. Good news.

Complete article in link.

The defence scientists are also near breakthrough in test firing the country's first underwater launch ballistic missile, Sagarika.

Sagarika has already been test-fired from a pontoon, but now DRDO is planning a full-fledged test of the missile from a sub-marine and for this purpose may use the services of a Russian Amur class sub-marine.

I think those figures are pure ballistic range of the Missile , a more practical figure for astra i think will be ~ 50 -55 km for head on target and ~ 20-30 km for tail chase

isn't tail chase range taken to be 1/3 rd of head-on range as a thunb rule ?

http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/jul/06astra.htm
Though DRDO scientist refused to give out the range of the ASTRA missile, sources said for extreme high altitude interdiction the initial series of ASTRA missile will have 90-110 km skill range.

But at lower altitudes of up to 30,000 ft the missile will have a range of 44 kms and those launched at sea level of up to 30 km.

Though DRDO scientist refused to give out the range of the ASTRA missile, sources said for extreme high altitude interdiction the initial series of ASTRA missile will have 90-110 km skill range.

But at lower altitudes of up to 30,000 ft the missile will have a range of 44 kms and those launched at sea level of up to 30 km.

nitesh, all these are head-on ranges at different altitudes.
I was asking for the tail chase range.

A successful test flight of ASTRA will plunge India into a select group of nations to have such a technology.

MKI is currently suffering from a obsolete R77 bvr missile. its high time we
pulled up our pants on Astra and also obtained Mica. no work seems ongoing
on a R77 replacement.

in sino-russian nomenclature is regiment == squadron in indian-western ?

1 regiment == 10-16 planes depending on type ... bigger the bird like Tu160,
smaller the units ?

1 regiment is around 60+ IIRC. 180+ Su 35s are being planned to cover 3 regiments or so....