Search found 16914 matches

by Karan M
23 Sep 2022 09:58
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Missiles News & Discussions - 30 June 2022
Replies: 1115
Views: 613012

Re: Indian Missiles News & Discussions - 30 June 2022

Pubby has a long history of producing pretty dodgy claims. I'd be very skeptical. The QRSAM issues are Radar related - "the system failed to even detect and engage hovering helicopters at low altitude and minimum range. Depends on the altitude and range. No radar can fight the curvature of the ...
by Karan M
19 Sep 2022 19:16
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Missiles News & Discussions - 30 June 2022
Replies: 1115
Views: 613012

Re: Indian Missiles News & Discussions - 30 June 2022

This is par for the course from Snehesh Philip, one of the usual defence reporters we have. Does little research and just repeats whatever is told to him without an iota of sense. Not his first article full of such rubbish either.

Manik is an in-house effort and is already in trials.
by Karan M
07 Sep 2022 04:28
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Radar - Specs & Discussions
Replies: 1148
Views: 415116

Re: Radar - Specs & Discussions

Extensive and parallel flight-testing & certification needs to happen for Mk1a for both 2052 and Uttam. Double-work, but unavoidable. Given that Uttam has flown on 2 Tejas LSPs for 230 hours already, re-testing them on the Mk1a should not throw up big surprises. So, I am not sure where DDR hear...
by Karan M
04 Sep 2022 04:56
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Naval Aviation
Replies: 2815
Views: 852345

Re: Indian Naval Aviation

TEDBF width with folded wings is 7.6m. So it is an interim issue. Meantime might have to make do with Mig-29Ks. Rafale M won't fit either of the two F-18 will barely fit Vikrant in calm waters. So why not get more Mig 29Ks to tide over? PLAN has nearby threats in East Pacific and Indo-China Sea tha...
by Karan M
03 Sep 2022 08:29
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Tejas Mk2 Medium Weight Fighter: News & Discussion - 23 February 2019
Replies: 2700
Views: 1029557

Re: Tejas Mk2 Medium Weight Fighter: News & Discussion - 23 February 2019

If the AMCA is cleared, that's 21,500 Crores for desi aerospace. Its a significant amount given how much we achieve with far more frugal engineering.
Expect a ton of desi sensors and weapons for the IAF platforms apart.
by Karan M
29 Aug 2022 02:52
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector
Replies: 5239
Views: 1448987

Re: India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector

Yet, they wont increase the R&D Budget substantially. This Govt truly does baffling things at times. Their inability to understand that local technology can't prosper without funding is the most baffling of all. Behaves like a mendicant with outstretched hands whenever conflict looms with purcha...
by Karan M
26 Aug 2022 16:04
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: BR Forum Feedback
Replies: 1178
Views: 294054

Re: BR Forum Feedback

Once again having to defend absurdity how is pointing out that Tu-160 cannot be used for maritime strike ( as it doesn’t exist in such configuration ) or has to be modified to carry Brahmos being Russiaphobic. Chief only mentioned about need for strategic bombers (did not say Tu-160) and he even la...
by Karan M
21 Aug 2022 09:58
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 2225
Views: 778700

Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Karan M, nice :x John, please do take it easy, let us keep “one Ukrie flatulence = 100 Russians” in that other thread. A numerically superior “fleet-in-being” like the one PLAN is building, cannot be out-build even by khan with his vast resources and knowledge base, because it is idiotic. But nulli...
by Karan M
21 Aug 2022 09:28
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 2225
Views: 778700

Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

You do not necessarily need a maritime strike aircraft, specially one supplied by a sanctioned, funding constrained Russian aircraft manufacturing complex and that too obtained in small numbers where maintenance will be an expensive proposition. The original push for the TU-160 in these online arti...
by Karan M
21 Aug 2022 09:19
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 2225
Views: 778700

Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Karan M, nice :x John, please do take it easy, let us keep “one Ukrie flatulence = 100 Russians” in that other thread. A numerically superior “fleet-in-being” like the one PLAN is building, cannot be out-build even by khan with his vast resources and knowledge base, because it is idiotic. But nulli...
by Karan M
21 Aug 2022 09:13
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 2225
Views: 778700

Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

We have to deal with facts with what platform is capable of otherwise we quickly go down the rabbit hole of fantasy wishes. It is currently purely land attack platform that can carry Kh-55/AS-16 with currently only 18 available and only 1 new variant operational. Sure it will be great to have 18 Tu...
by Karan M
20 Aug 2022 12:13
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 2225
Views: 778700

Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

I have over the last 20 years not seen any source which says that the 160 had any anti ship tasking. https://www.weaponsystems.net/system/99-Raduga+Kh-15 The Kh-15 can be fitted to three types of Soviet bomber aircraft. It is mainly used on the supersonic Tu-22M3 (Backfire-C) strategic and maritime...
by Karan M
20 Aug 2022 12:04
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 2225
Views: 778700

Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

I have over the last 20 years not seen any source which says that the 160 had any anti ship tasking. . Did the MiG-29 have any anti-ship tasking with something like the Uran before it actually happened? Why are we still discussing that the 160s are even coming? Because its interesting and a former ...
by Karan M
20 Aug 2022 12:02
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 2225
Views: 778700

Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Given Russia currently has 18 Tu-160 and only 1 of which is M and struggling to build more . Chances of any large Tu-160m order is unlikely, so any deal would be mix of old Tu-160 upgraded to M standards and no more than 6 IMO. So if you procure 6 Tu-160 the chances of having even 4 operational at ...
by Karan M
19 Aug 2022 22:11
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 2225
Views: 778700

Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

I dont think anyone is questioning the impact even a small fleet of cruise missile carriers would add to the IAF. The issue as always, has been about funding. At current levels, it seems very unlikely we are adding them unless the budget is raised substantially. As to how they can be used, a profess...
by Karan M
18 Aug 2022 09:02
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 2225
Views: 778700

Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Not one service has got committed for funds. Neither has DRDO etc.
Where are we getting the money for Tu-160? IMHO more of a future proposition than anything current.
by Karan M
12 Aug 2022 05:22
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 2225
Views: 778700

Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Your proposal is intriguing but mission planning will be a severe challenge. And can we even afford it given we cant even afford MRFA right now.

Add Rafales, and then BGVs/ HGVs, MIRVs to Agni - that's cheaper than 6 white elephants.
by Karan M
08 Aug 2022 11:58
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Russian-Ukrainian War: Combat Tactics & Strategy
Replies: 4031
Views: 1649088

Re: Russian-Ukrainian War: Combat Tactics & Strategy

Missing the forest for the trees... Deliberately or not I can't tell. What's currently happening in Bakhmut, Soleda, Avidivka etc ? Ukr sitting back easy because RuAF is not bombing? What world are you living in man? 20% of Ukrainian territory is gone, their military has suffered 40-50% casualties ...
by Karan M
05 Aug 2022 10:00
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Tejas Mk2 Medium Weight Fighter: News & Discussion - 23 February 2019
Replies: 2700
Views: 1029557

Re: Tejas Mk2 Medium Weight Fighter: News & Discussion - 23 February 2019

The video linked below gives some cost per hour figures for IAF fighters in USD converted at the prevailing exchange rate when the video was made ~@Rs 73 to the USD: SU-30MKI 10,000 Mirage 2000: 2700-3700 Mig 29: 6500 LCA: 4000 (presumably Mk1) Rafale: 16,000 Thanks for sourcing your numbers but TB...
by Karan M
05 Aug 2022 09:31
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 2225
Views: 778700

Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

#5. YES!!! THats what's happened with Arty. Did DRDO/MoD ask OFB to make it happen ? So why would you put the Fox in charge and ask HAL to make it happen ? The SP models were meant to incubate such capabilities WITHOUT putting the Design/R&D burden on them - for that we have DRDO, R&D Teams...
by Karan M
05 Aug 2022 09:09
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 2225
Views: 778700

Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

When HAL A/C Division proves that its not capable of learning and deploying screwdrivergiri at the pace the country needs(just like OFB) its time to give the private sector a chance at the Realization (Building, integration, reverse-engineering, screwdrivergiri) bit.. again independent of Design, R...
by Karan M
05 Aug 2022 08:50
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 2225
Views: 778700

Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

#2. Oh wow ! Umm... bull-shit. You can use a new low-cost manufacturing technique to make the same design and plump up your own margins. A well executed development results in a functionally equivalent part... which will pass your expected end-of-line test/verification. SOP across the world and eve...
by Karan M
05 Aug 2022 08:41
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 2225
Views: 778700

Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Karan - ji, I believe a deeper read of the KF-21 new might show that its actually a counterpoint to what you are trying to prove. This 40+80 is as much a notional plan as the Mk2 numbers... and if anything the 40+80 Mk1/MK1A plan is actually MORE concrete than the KF-21 (as it should be given a gen...
by Karan M
05 Aug 2022 06:04
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Tejas Mk2 Medium Weight Fighter: News & Discussion - 23 February 2019
Replies: 2700
Views: 1029557

Re: Tejas Mk2 Medium Weight Fighter: News & Discussion - 23 February 2019

The engine for the Mk2 should have at the outset been an outsized engine capable of supporting future growth in power hungry systems, besides providing higher payload capacity and better thrust to weight resulting in faster acceleration. Instead of the GE-414 with ~60KN dry thrust and ~ 100KN with ...
by Karan M
05 Aug 2022 02:05
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Neutering & Defanging Chinese Threat (15-11-2017)
Replies: 6236
Views: 1740317

Re: Neutering & Defanging Chinese Threat (15-11-2017)

Far fetched question but I was studying the history of Taiwan and it's relationship to Japan. Unlike other Chinese diaspora, the Taiwanese have some incredible qualities of work ethic, tradition, family, cleanliness and enterprise. They are very similar to the Japanese in a certain regard. Then I r...
by Karan M
05 Aug 2022 01:45
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Tejas Mk2 Medium Weight Fighter: News & Discussion - 23 February 2019
Replies: 2700
Views: 1029557

Re: Tejas Mk2 Medium Weight Fighter: News & Discussion - 23 February 2019

But since Air HQ will not buy in, the PMO needs to step in here. Give Air HQ what they want (114 MRFA i.e. basically Rafale). But the PMO should also categorically state that this 114 MRFA is directly tied into 200 Tejas Mk2s + additional Mk1As. Good god, yes PMO should do this, right right away. B...
by Karan M
05 Aug 2022 01:28
Forum: Mil-Tech Archive
Topic: Light Combat Helicopter: News & Discussion: 10 August 2020
Replies: 531
Views: 569649

Re: Light Combat Helicopter: News & Discussion: 10 August 2020

If you cannot see that its not the product, its the behavior... I can guarantee that kind of behavior in the Western World will see that manufacturer prosecuted. e.g., see even the cloudier recent 737max issues. In the Eastern world (SU, China etc), the response has been much less benign. Was your ...
by Karan M
05 Aug 2022 01:26
Forum: Mil-Tech Archive
Topic: Light Combat Helicopter: News & Discussion: 10 August 2020
Replies: 531
Views: 569649

Re: Light Combat Helicopter: News & Discussion: 10 August 2020

^^^^ So now Ajai Shukla's commentary meet's acceptable standards of objectivity ? Or are standards/reputations a function of what point aligns with something expected ? Please see Gp Capt Nair's comments again about the overall deal. Lets just say several such deals haven't exactly done the nation ...
by Karan M
04 Aug 2022 02:00
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 2225
Views: 778700

Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Please keep an eye out for the usual suspects on social media, including some erstwhile defence forum types who are trying to push the line to cancel the Tejas Mk2 and "go directly" to AMCA. As detailed previously, a cost effective AMCA is only possible thanks to the economies of scale a T...
by Karan M
02 Aug 2022 14:27
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 2225
Views: 778700

Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Its the complete lack of production commitment and a hands off, attitude in terms of tangible orders that bothers me. KF-X - takes a dual engine design based on the proven Ge-414, avoids full stealth in first iteration, already with the following orders. That's around 6-7 squadrons. The KF-X aircraf...
by Karan M
02 Aug 2022 12:20
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 2225
Views: 778700

Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

The Nitin Gokale interview with chief is interesting - the headlines read "fully committed to AtmaNirbhar" but then a less than enthusiastic commitments in the contents. Looks like someone has sent a note to the PM soon after and a counter statement is made. Also mentioned before , IAF is...
by Karan M
02 Aug 2022 08:46
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Understanding the US - Again
Replies: 7463
Views: 1635194

Re: Understanding the US - Again

https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/01/politics/nancy-pelosi-taiwan-visit/index.html Pelosi expected to visit Taiwan, Taiwanese and US officials say Eric Cheung, Kylie Atwood, Alex Rogers and Kevin Liptak, CNN, August 1, 2022 (CNN)US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to visit Taiwan as part of her tou...
by Karan M
02 Aug 2022 07:16
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 2225
Views: 778700

Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

The 21 MiG-29s and 12 Su-30s are victims of the Ukrainian-Russian war. We cant move on them for fear of angering our new best friends. We've already had to endure lots of finger wagging, a visit by his masters voice Dileep Singh, threats on J&K by the euros, and pak's ostensible removal from the...
by Karan M
02 Aug 2022 07:03
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Air Force Tejas Mk1A: News & Discussions: 02 January 2022
Replies: 906
Views: 3327578

Re: Air Force Tejas Mk1A: News & Discussions: 02 January 2022

This govt is not going to sack any chief unnecessarily. Lets be clear about that. It's the gravest of steps taken with a lot of heavy consideration and with wide ramifications. The Govt would prefer an upstanding officer who is competent at his primary task (warfighting), even if he disagrees with t...
by Karan M
02 Aug 2022 00:26
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 2225
Views: 778700

Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Force planning in the IAF is not the directive of the CAS himself. It's staff work, led by a team which gets promoted based on multiple criteria, and some of these folks wouldn't even have served directly under the current CAS. The prior CAS was a test pilot and understood the need for indigenous R&...
by Karan M
01 Aug 2022 23:23
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 2225
Views: 778700

Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Guys - a request, lets not personalize the issue to one individual, the CAS etc. His position deserves respect. This is more of an institutional thing. He is likely pushing for what his planners want. The issue then is institutional, not with one individual. That is a very lame argument. The role o...
by Karan M
01 Aug 2022 22:41
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 2225
Views: 778700

Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Guys - a request, lets not personalize the issue to one individual, the CAS etc. His position deserves respect. This is more of an institutional thing. He is likely pushing for what his planners want. The issue then is institutional, not with one individual.
by Karan M
01 Aug 2022 22:18
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 2225
Views: 778700

Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Neela sir, agree completely. The issue is the IAF thinks of the Tejas as merely one of a smorgasbord of options that can be license assembled locally. It has never been *their* aircraft. Merely one made by ADA, HAL as OEMs whom the IAF doesn't trust to their needs. And then at the end of the day, th...
by Karan M
01 Aug 2022 02:01
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 2225
Views: 778700

Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Sirji, Nobody gets banned for sharing their views in a civil fashion and w/o agenda. IMHO it has taken Modi every bit of political capital to manage the domestic agenda. Defence ideally needed a full time RM with a unique mix of technology and also decision making acumen. We had that person in Parri...
by Karan M
01 Aug 2022 00:32
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 2225
Views: 778700

Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

By starving the Tejas of orders and perforce continuing with Mig-21s, the IAF High Command has been playing with fire to get their much desired foreign MMRCA/MRFA. It is a game plan that went awry in this case. The conspicuous omission of Tejas Mk 2 in the very first speech of the incumbent Air Chi...