Indian Military Aviation

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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by Rahul M »

an absolutely fantastic shot of the WSI dhruv by vishal jolapara.

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php? ... 773&nseq=4
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by Bala Vignesh »

Rahul M wrote:an absolutely fantastic shot of the WSI dhruv by vishal jolapara.

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php? ... 773&nseq=4
Wow... that's a seriously sexy photo... sure as hell looks elegant.. and lethal...
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by Baldev »

Katare wrote:Russians/Mig would take 10 years to complete upgrades and would charge at least 150% of the agreed upon cost. JMO
what is the proof for this :?:

upgraded mig29 will arrive by mid 2010 :)
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by Raveen »

Baldev wrote:
upgraded mig29 will arrive by mid 2010 :)
You mean will BEGIN ARRIVING BY 2010
as per the contract
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by Vipul »

India to order 29 more Mig-29k's.

Struggling Russian design bureau RAC MiG may indeed look forward to a happier ending for 2009 with unconfirmed reports suggesting that India may have cleared the purchase of another batch of 29 MiG-29Ks - a naval version of the MiG-29 - after the India-specific fighter underwent a successful flight-deck trials from Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov in the Barents Sea at the end of September.

According to reports, the fresh order would cost the public exchequer around Rs5,380 crore (approx. $1.12 billion) and would "soon'' be sent to the Cabinet Committee of Security for sanction.

The new order would be in addition to 16 MiG-29Ks already contracted through the initial $1.5-billion Admiral Gorshkov package deal. While 12 of the first 16 fighters will be the single-seat `K' variants, the other four will be twin-seater `KUB' trainer versions.Similarly, four of the next batch of 29 will be `KUB' trainer versions.The first four of the contracted 16 MiG-29Ks will arrive in India sometime between now and November.

Apparently, the fresh order for 29 more MiG-29Ks was cleared by Defence Acquisitions Council, chaired by defence minister AK Antony, quite some time ago, but the decision was kept pending as the fighter was yet to be tested for landings and take-offs from a carrier deck. This took place at the end of last month with a delegation from the Indian Navy in attendance to witness the event. The MiG-29K is now due to complete weapon trials before shipment to India begins.

The MiG-29Ks will operate from both the 44,570-tonne Gorshkov -- rechristened INS Vikramaditya - as well as the 40,000-tonne Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) being built at the Cochin Shipyard, due for induction in the period 2014-2015.The refurbished Adm Gorshkov is not expected to be inducted before 2012.

The MiG-29Ks can carry eight types of air-to-air missiles, including extended range BVR (beyond visual range) missiles, as well as 25 air-to-surface weapons for land-attack missions.

Though not as advanced as the MiG-35, currently in contention for the IAF's 126-aircraft multi-role medium range combat aircraft (MMRCA) tender, the MiG-29K is reputed to be a very close cousin with capabilities more advanced than the IAFs current crop of MiG29s. It will boast of a more advanced radar, as well as special coatings of materials that will reduce its radar cross signature 4-5 times, as compared to the standard version of the MiG-29.

The jets will also be capable of mid-air refuelling from IL-78 tankers.

MiG RAC has battled through tough times over the last decade or so with no domestic military orders as well as well as a well publicised foreign cancellation when Algeria cancelled its order of MiG-29s claiming the aircraft supplied were sub-standard.

Subsequent domestic inquiries have absolved MiG RAC from blame and the cancelled order was adjusted through placements with the Russian Air Force. The design bureau is now coming back into its own with a revived order for MiG-31s from Russia as well as other countries and a hopeful scenario with respect to the IAF's MMRCA tender where it has a re-designated MiG-35 in contention.
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by Bala Vignesh »

Hope this is confirmed as true... The navy needs this capability and in this numbers...
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by Baldev »

Raveen wrote:
Baldev wrote:
upgraded mig29 will arrive by mid 2010 :)
You mean will BEGIN ARRIVING BY 2010
as per the contract
yes,read this
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/news ... wsid=11785
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by karan_mc »

IAF’s Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team to be disbanded?

BY : IANS

As the Indian Air Force’s scintillating Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team (SKAT) takes to the sky during the Air Force Day parade Thursday,

it might well be its last display. Due to the shortage of trainer aircraft the IAF is likely to disband the display team, only the third nine-aircraft formation of its kind in the world.

The IAF’s Surya Kirans painting the sky with the tricolour have captivated audiences wherever they have performed. However, with the entire fleet of the IAF’s basic trainer HPT-32 being grounded following a spate of crashes and engine failures, all the HJT-16 Kiran aircraft that make up the SKAT have to be pulled in for training rookie pilots.

“This (on Oct 8) will most probably be the last display of the Surya Kirans. At the moment, rookie IAF pilots are being trained on the Kirans due to the grounding of the HPT-32 fleet. Due to shortage of trainer aircraft, discussions are on to disband the display team,” a senior IAF official told IANS, requesting anonymity.

The grounding of the HPT-32s has hit the IAF like a “bolt from the blue”. Usually, around 140-150 cadets of the flying branch are trained on the HPT-32 at any given time. They then graduate for intermediate jet and weapons training to the Kiran aircraft.

However, with the HPT-32 being grounded, cadets are now directly being trained on the Kirans. Even the IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal P.V Naik has accepted recently that Surya Kirans had “limited” scope and the present arrangement can be sustained for “an year and a half”.

“The problem is that all the Kirans have been brought in from across the country to continue the training of the pilots. So discussions are on to disband the display team,” the official added.

Formed in 1996, the team has displayed at a number of places across India – from the Dal Lake in Srinagar where the tricolour was proudly streaked, to the sultry beaches of Thiruvananthapuram. The team performed abroad for the first time at Colombo during the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Sri Lankan Air Force in 2001. Last year, the team performed in China for the first time before an enthralled audience and became the ambassadors of IAF’s professionalism.

Painted in a “day-glow orange” and white colour scheme, the Surya Kiran team is based at the Bidar Air Force Station in Karnataka.

The team has a total of 13 pilots of whom only nine fly at any given time. The pilots are selected from the fighter stream of the IAF. Presently there are pilots with experience on the Mirage 2000, Jaguar, MiG-23 and MiG-27 fighter jets.
http://idrw.org/?p=1158#more-1158

it a real shocker if it happens ,HTT-40 will take time to induct and team will remain disbanded for a long time since very few kirans are available and IJT will take time to induct in full force
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by Bala Vignesh »

karan_mc wrote:
IAF’s Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team to be disbanded?

BY : IANS

As the Indian Air Force’s scintillating Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team (SKAT) takes to the sky during the Air Force Day parade Thursday,

it might well be its last display. Due to the shortage of trainer aircraft the IAF is likely to disband the display team, only the third nine-aircraft formation of its kind in the world.

The IAF’s Surya Kirans painting the sky with the tricolour have captivated audiences wherever they have performed. However, with the entire fleet of the IAF’s basic trainer HPT-32 being grounded following a spate of crashes and engine failures, all the HJT-16 Kiran aircraft that make up the SKAT have to be pulled in for training rookie pilots.

“This (on Oct 8) will most probably be the last display of the Surya Kirans. At the moment, rookie IAF pilots are being trained on the Kirans due to the grounding of the HPT-32 fleet. Due to shortage of trainer aircraft, discussions are on to disband the display team,” a senior IAF official told IANS, requesting anonymity.

The grounding of the HPT-32s has hit the IAF like a “bolt from the blue”. Usually, around 140-150 cadets of the flying branch are trained on the HPT-32 at any given time. They then graduate for intermediate jet and weapons training to the Kiran aircraft.

However, with the HPT-32 being grounded, cadets are now directly being trained on the Kirans. Even the IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal P.V Naik has accepted recently that Surya Kirans had “limited” scope and the present arrangement can be sustained for “an year and a half”.

“The problem is that all the Kirans have been brought in from across the country to continue the training of the pilots. So discussions are on to disband the display team,” the official added.

Formed in 1996, the team has displayed at a number of places across India – from the Dal Lake in Srinagar where the tricolour was proudly streaked, to the sultry beaches of Thiruvananthapuram. The team performed abroad for the first time at Colombo during the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Sri Lankan Air Force in 2001. Last year, the team performed in China for the first time before an enthralled audience and became the ambassadors of IAF’s professionalism.

Painted in a “day-glow orange” and white colour scheme, the Surya Kiran team is based at the Bidar Air Force Station in Karnataka.

The team has a total of 13 pilots of whom only nine fly at any given time. The pilots are selected from the fighter stream of the IAF. Presently there are pilots with experience on the Mirage 2000, Jaguar, MiG-23 and MiG-27 fighter jets.
http://idrw.org/?p=1158#more-1158

it a real shocker if it happens ,HTT-40 will take time to induct and team will remain disbanded for a long time since very few kirans are available and IJT will take time to induct in full force
Damn.. that's bad... every major air force in the world has a aerobatics team.. it would be a bad image for the IAF to disband the SKAT for this dumb reason...
BTW isn't bidar the base for the Hawks?? Probably a few hawks could be borrowed for this purpose... till either the sitara are inducted in force or another aircraft is considered for the SKAt...
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by Kartik »

Bala Vignesh wrote: Damn.. that's bad... every major air force in the world has a aerobatics team.. it would be a bad image for the IAF to disband the SKAT for this dumb reason...
BTW isn't bidar the base for the Hawks?? Probably a few hawks could be borrowed for this purpose... till either the sitara are inducted in force or another aircraft is considered for the SKAt...
whats more important ? training young pilots or air show aerobatics ? I don't see any reason for this news to be considered sad at all. the SKAT's job was to perform at air shows to attract new people to the IAF and showcase the skills of its pilots- but in a situation where airframe shortage is there, its more important to address that. the SKAT will be re-formed on the IJT Sitara. a 1-2 year hiatus is SKAT ops will not do anything to the IAF's image. Even Hawks are in short supply, so there are no airframes available for a 9 aircraft SKAT team.
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by Bala Vignesh »

Kartik wrote:
Bala Vignesh wrote: Damn.. that's bad... every major air force in the world has a aerobatics team.. it would be a bad image for the IAF to disband the SKAT for this dumb reason...
BTW isn't bidar the base for the Hawks?? Probably a few hawks could be borrowed for this purpose... till either the sitara are inducted in force or another aircraft is considered for the SKAt...
whats more important ? training young pilots or air show aerobatics ? I don't see any reason for this news to be considered sad at all. the SKAT's job was to perform at air shows to attract new people to the IAF and showcase the skills of its pilots- but in a situation where airframe shortage is there, its more important to address that. the SKAT will be re-formed on the IJT Sitara. a 1-2 year hiatus is SKAT ops will not do anything to the IAF's image. Even Hawks are in short supply, so there are no airframes available for a 9 aircraft SKAT team.
Kartik sir, my point was that we could probably multiplex the training of the cadets and perform SKAT duties on the Hawk... we could even reduce the formation size.. to say 5 aircrafts... But i concede the point that flight training of the cadets is more important than any other thing...
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by srai »

Bala Vignesh wrote:
Kartik wrote:...

... the SKAT will be re-formed on the IJT Sitara. a 1-2 year hiatus is SKAT ops will not do anything to the IAF's image. Even Hawks are in short supply, so there are no airframes available for a 9 aircraft SKAT team.
Kartik sir, my point was that we could probably multiplex the training of the cadets and perform SKAT duties on the Hawk... we could even reduce the formation size.. to say 5 aircrafts... But i concede the point that flight training of the cadets is more important than any other thing...
FYI, if I remember correctly reading news a couple of years ago, the first 12 HJT-36s on order are supposed to go to SKAT. So the wait should only be a couple of years ... unless there is another delay to the IJT program ... in which case IAF may find an alternative aircraft type.
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by shetty »

Induction of upgraded MiG-29 hit by delay at Russian end
The Indian Air Force’s plans to induct upgraded MiG-29 by March next year has been hit due to delay at the Russian end with the first lot of six aircraft likely to come in only by early 2011.

“Originally, the upgraded MiG-29s were to join the IAF squadrons at Adampur airbase in Punjab by March 2010. But now, there will be a delay of another eight to 10 months and hence, we expect it only in early 2011,” a senior IAF officer said on Sunday. Under the US $ 950-million contract signed in March 2008 for upgrading 60-odd MiG-29s operated by IAF’s three squadrons, the IAF planned to fit Series-3 version of RD-33 engine to increase its thrust from 8.3 ton to over 9 ton, apart from improved avionics, modern weapon systems and Beyond Visual Range missiles.

“The idea is to upgrade the MiG-29 from an aerial interceptor, air superiority aircraft to a multi-role fighter-bomber aircraft capable of striking mobile and stationary targets on the ground and at sea with high-precision weapons in all-weather conditions beyond visual range,” the officer said. While the first six aircraft would be upgraded by the original equipment manufacturer, the remaining aircraft would be attended to at the IAF’s Nashik-based 11 Base Repair Depot with kits supplied by RAC-MIG. The upgrading is happening on the basis of the new requirements for the MiG-29s that IAF had indicated to the
OEM, based on an assessment it had made for the future role of the fighter aircraft.

“The upgrade will increase the service life of MiG-29 from the existing 25 years to 40 years. The upgrade of all the aircraft was originally envisaged within three years. But now, it could take another year or more to complete,” he added. This will include replacing existing on-board radars with the advanced multi-functional Zhuk-ME radar and a new weapon control system. The package is also expected to include state-of-the-art avionics and cockpit ergonomics, along with an increase in fuel capacity.

The twin-engine MiG-29s will carry sophisticated air-to-air and high-accuracy air-to-ground missiles such as R-27, R-60Mk and R-73, and ’smart aerial’ bombs. The upgrade programme ran into rough weather after a Russian Air Force MiG-29 crashed in December last forcing the IAF to ground all its aircraft to carry out extensive checks.

With Russia identifying structural faults in the aircraft’s tail fins, the IAF went about checking the tail fins of the MiG-29s in its squadrons.” Half-a-dozen of the MiG-29s in our fleet were found with faults in the tail fin and these had to be replaced. On the MiG-29s from the same batch of aircraft as the Russians, we did further checks to rectify structural faults completely,” an IAF engineer said.
Did not notice the bolded part until now.
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by Surya »

Hmm and why could they not find some pvt companies to handle the basic training with whatever basic trainer.???

while I am not so fussed about SKAT - it seems silly to just jump back the Kirans for basic training.

We tried it some time ago when one batch would go to the HPTs for basic training and another would start directly on Kirans - my friends batch went straight into Kirans.

I didn't think that worked out too well as the IAF reverted back.
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by Jagan »

Surya wrote: it seems silly to just jump back the Kirans for basic training.

We tried it some time ago when one batch would go to the HPTs for basic training and another would start directly on Kirans - my friends batch went straight into Kirans.

I didn't think that worked out too well as the IAF reverted back.
Actually that was when the HT-2s were being phased out and the HPT-32s were to arrive in numbers. This is a replay of the same old situation

There is nothing to say it didnt work well. the only complaint was it was certainly a more expensive way of training .
Surya wrote:Hmm and why could they not find some pvt companies to handle the basic training with whatever basic trainer.???
My guess is that Aerobatic training and Logistics play a role in this decision.

No private player has enough aircraft to train a whole batch of pilots (30-40?), not advisable to farm out your students to multiple locations no advisable to have multiple private players based in dundigal

Similarly aerobatics - not every flying club can teach them (or have aircraft to do so).
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by Surya »

Jagan

The pilots do not have to be sent

The pvt party (indian\foreign) can bring the aircraft in and manage it,

I am sure enough basic trainers can be found in the worlds market to train 40 pilots.

Ok maybe it might take a couple of months to ramp up - but it can be in place by the next batch??
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by Jagan »

Surya wrote:The pvt party (indian\foreign) can bring the aircraft in and manage it, I am sure enough basic trainers can be found in the worlds market to train 40 pilots. Ok maybe it might take a couple of months to ramp up - but it can be in place by the next batch??
Its the trainers + the Instructor pilots . In the past, when the IAF had its pilots sent for basic training with flying clubs, the instructors were from the clubs and not IAF instructors. Makes sense as IAF instructors wont be able to put on the new ac immediately.

I doubt if any indian private party will have the aircraft and the instructors. A foriegn company - probably yes but they will insist on bringing in their instructors. higher costs again for us.

Before these things are put into place, the questions that will be asked will be - Are the HPTs grounded for good? If the answer is a resounding YES from both the IAF and HAL, then yeah, you could probably look into something like this. But I dont think that decision has been made yet.
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by Surya »

Fine with foreign instructors - costs again are relative -

The saga does not end with the HPT 32s coming back or not.

There is the whole push to search for a new basic trainer - this could be part of that analysis

The company gets the plane, provide pilots, curriculum and IAF pays only for the service.


Again I am not against the SKAT disbanding

All I am saying is this is an opportunity for the IAF to think of some other options

If they start now - they could have something in time for next few batches
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by Juggi G »

IAF Upgradation along LAC not against China : Air Chief
IAF Upgradation along LAC not against China : Air Chief
October 07, 2009 20:51 IST

Indian Air Force chief P V Naik said on Tuesday that the upgradation of the air-field infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control with China was not "adversary specific".

"I have been trying to address this particular issue that our capabilities are not adversary specific. We are capability-based. We need to-- upgrade the existing air-field infrastructure in the East, long overdue. It is not adversary specific. It is long overdue. "We should have done it earlier. Now that we have got the go-ahead, we are going ahead with that," Naik told NDTV.

The IAF is strengthening its air defence in Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control with China by putting in place a series of special mountain and light-weight radars. The Air chief also said the IAF is going to strengthen the runways whenever required, strengthen the existing Infrastructure, in Terms of Accommodation and Many Other Things which are required for modern aircraft.

"It also follows that we are going to base modern aircraft like the SU-30s there. That is also long overdue. The Eastern Air Command Keeps Crying-- Give Me SU-30s. So, we have Based the Modern aircraft over There :lol: . "There are Mountain Radars which have been planned for Eastern and Western both sectors. So, all these things are to build a certain set of capabilities," he said.
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by parshuram »

Spectacular Display Of Aerobatics By Dhruv Team at Hindon .

Day to remember for me ....AWACS, Jags and then 4 Dhruvs in Diamond Formation flew atleast for 3 minutes over my car ... spectacular :)

Missed My camera there


Happy Air force Day
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by Bala Vignesh »

parshuram wrote:Spectacular Display Of Aerobatics By Dhruv Team at Hindon .

Day to remember for me ....AWACS, Jags and then 4 Dhruvs in Diamond Formation flew atleast for 3 minutes over my car ... spectacular :)

Missed My camera there


Happy Air force Day
Thank you sir.. Same to you... i caught some of the action in the DD national channel... Didn't quite understand the interception maneuver performed by the escorting Sukhois...
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by Dmurphy »

IAF choppers to fight Maoists: Air Chief

http://www.timesnow.tv/IAF-choppers-to- ... 329176.cms
The Indian Air Force on Thursday (October 8 ) announced that it will deploy its special forces on helicopters operating in Naxal-infested areas to deal with any attacks.

Air Chief Marshall P V Naik said choppers would be swung into action to weed out maoists that take cover in thick jungles. "But IAF will not conduct any 'rambo-style' offensive operation in Naxal-hit areas," Naik added.
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by ASPuar »

The headline is completely misleading.

The IAF chief also strongly stressed that he is "completely against the armed forces being deployed for any internal security operation". The point he is making is that they should be authorised to open fire in self defense, if fired at. That is all.
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by Bala Vignesh »

If the shots fired are to be defensive, why are they emabrking Garud in the choppers??? Can't the local cops or the crew of the chopper take care of it???
And what is the meaning of Rambo style operations???
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by ASPuar »

The garud are being embarked as security for airborne aviation assets. Not as anti naxal troops. The IAF are not authorised to open fire from an aviation platform against naxals as yet. So, they are embarking troops who will provide some sort of security in case of shoot down/heavy AA fire.
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by shyamd »

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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by Dmurphy »

^^^
An observation: The above link mentions the MKI numbers by 2015 to be 238.
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by Dmurphy »

'IAF eyes to meet fighter plane deficit by 2022
The strength (of the fighter squadrons) has to increase. By 2014, it will start increasing. By 2022, we expect to have requisite numbers,' Naik told reporters here.

The current strength of the IAF fighter squadrons is 33.5 well below the sanctioned strength of 39.5. By 2022, the IAF is expected to have 42 squadrons.
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by sum »

The strength (of the fighter squadrons) has to increase. By 2014, it will start increasing. By 2022, we expect to have requisite numbers,' Naik told reporters here.
So, new fighters(MMRCA) are atleast 5 years away ( by optimistic estimates)...
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by nrshah »

Can anyone tell when was the current fighter strength (39.5) squadrons approved?
How often we revisit those figures in light of changing geo political scene?

When this limit was approved, PLAAF had inventory of over 500 planes in Mig 19 /21 class, all of which will be replaced by J 10 and other modern fighters... We always declined their numerical superiority quoting our better quality. Now even that will not be available to satisfy ourselves

-Nitin
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by Bala Vignesh »

sum wrote:
The strength (of the fighter squadrons) has to increase. By 2014, it will start increasing. By 2022, we expect to have requisite numbers,' Naik told reporters here.
So, new fighters(MMRCA) are atleast 5 years away ( by optimistic estimates)...
Sum-ji.. I don't think the CoAS was talking about the MMRCA there.. I think he was talking about the ongoing process of inducting the MKI's... Because the production run for the MKI's from the first deals is expected to finish By 2014-2015... So with approx 240 MKI's we'll have 15 squadrons.. forming more than half the strength of the Combat Fleet... Then there is the first squadron of the LCA... JMHO, Sir..
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by srai »

Dmurphy wrote:'IAF eyes to meet fighter plane deficit by 2022
The strength (of the fighter squadrons) has to increase. By 2014, it will start increasing. By 2022, we expect to have requisite numbers,' Naik told reporters here.

The current strength of the IAF fighter squadrons is 33.5 well below the sanctioned strength of 39.5. By 2022, the IAF is expected to have 42 squadrons.
Let's look at the numbers:

Current Squadron Strength: 33.5
Retirements occurring by around 2014 (or soon after)
4.5 - MiG-21 M/MF sqdns
3.5 - MiG-27 ML sqdns
2 - MiG-21Bis sqdns
-------------------
Total: 10 squadrons upcoming retirements

New Squadrons raised by 2014
6 - Su-30 MKI sqdns
2 - LCA MK.I
1 - MRCA (18 a/cs produced country of origin)
------------------
Total: 9 squadrons raised

So by 2014, IAF will be about even in numbers of squadrons at around 32.5.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

2022 Squadron Strength: 42
Retired by 2022
6.5 - MiG-21 Bison
2 - MiG-27 UPG
-------------------
Total: 8.5 squadrons retired by between 2014 and 2022.

From 2014 to 2022 - known planned induction
6 - MRCA
5 - LCA MK.II
------------------
Total: 11 squadrons raised between 2014 and 2022.

That comes to 35 sqdns [32.5 - (8.5 retired) + (11 raised)]. So that means additional 7 squadrons are being raised more than known at the moment.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Let's look at some probables
3 - Su-30 MKI (as reported recently of 50 additional order being contemplated)
3 - MRCA (60 options exercised)
1 - PAK-FA (new induction taking place w/ IOC)
---------------------
Total: 7 squadrons raised in addition to the known between 2010 and 2022.
Bala Vignesh
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by Bala Vignesh »

Srai Sir,
just 2 squadrons worth of Bhadur's are getting upgraded??? And i thought the Bison could serve up until 2020???
srai
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by srai »

Bala Vignesh wrote:Srai Sir,
just 2 squadrons worth of Bhadur's are getting upgraded??? And i thought the Bison could serve up until 2020???
Please look at the numbers carefully!

So far IAF only has upgraded 40 MiG-27s (2 sqdns No.10 and 29) and shows no intention of upgrading more. As for 6.5 sqdns of Bisons, if you look carefully, I've listed that under "Retired by 2022" heading. There are 2 MiG-21Bis (i.e. not upgraded to Bison standards) sqdns (No.15 and 26) which will likely be retired by 2014.
Cain Marko
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by Cain Marko »

Hmm, another way of looking at the current strength:

105 MKI ~ 6 sqds
60 Baaz ~ 3 sqds
48 M2k ~ 3 sqds
100 Jags? ~ 6 sqds
126 Bison ~ 6.5 sqds
100 MiG-27 ~ 6 sqds (should be more actually - 165 built, 32 accidents what about rest)
MiG-21 Bis ~ 2 sqd
Haven't the MiG-21 Ms been retired already?
~ 550-600 a/c or 30 - 32 sqds

By 2015

230 MKI ~ 11 sqd
126 Bison ~ 6.5 sqd
60 Baaz ~ 3 sqd
50 M2k ~ 3 sqd
100 Jags ~ 6 sqd
40+ floggers ~ 2 sqs
28 LCA ~ 1-2 sqds
18 MRCA ~ 1 sqd
Total 32-34 sqds

If the extra 50 MKI come in, it might mean 35+ sqds.

CM

Edited for corrections
Edited again for corrections!
Last edited by Cain Marko on 09 Oct 2009 04:33, edited 1 time in total.
NRao
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by NRao »

180 MRCA ~ 1 sqd
Cain Marko
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by Cain Marko »

NRao wrote:
180 MRCA ~ 1 sqd
Heh heh! its called a typo :oops:

CM
Vivek K
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Re: Indian Military Aviation

Post by Vivek K »

With that strength we can never take on Chin-Pak. Might as well give up now. The economic miracle has failed to fund military growth. We think in small numbers and slow growth. If national security was a concern, we would have decided on the MRCA and the LCA engine 6 months ago. We should be talking of 60 squadrons to make the Chin-Paks think twice and thrice before looking towards India.

We should induct 5 squadrons of LCA MK 1 in 2-3 tears if we are serious.
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