Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

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

Post by ramana »

yensoy wrote:So we will have another airbase, probably a big one. But where are the aircraft to go with it?
Deesa base was planned in 1983. Yet neither the govt nor IAF felt the need to push for it.
Its cost is about 1000 crores now and would have been much less when planned.

Once you have the base the aircraft will be found.
mody
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by mody »

Additional 1-2 squadrons of Tejas MK1A, to be produced within the current existing timelines only, are badly needed. The Tejas MK2, will enter production only from 2029. With 2 new frontline forward airbases coming up, two additional squadrons of Tejas make imminent sense. Both the airbases are to be within 150 Kms of respective borders and would require aircrafts that can be scrambled at very short notice. Upto now, this role was fulfilled by the Mig-21s.
If the orders are placed and HAL is pushed, they should be able to deliver the additional 36 odd aircrafts within the same timeframe. The Malaysian order also will most likely not materialise.
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by Kersi »

Rakesh wrote:
Kersi wrote: Where ?
Click link for sat imagery ---> https://www.google.com/maps/place/Deesa ... 72.2011322
Sure ?
This has been since past few years. The new Deesa is said to be anew greenfield site
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by Kersi »

mody wrote:Additional 1-2 squadrons of Tejas MK1A, to be produced within the current existing timelines only, are badly needed. The Tejas MK2, will enter production only from 2029. With 2 new frontline forward airbases coming up, two additional squadrons of Tejas make imminent sense. Both the airbases are to be within 150 Kms of respective borders and would require aircrafts that can be scrambled at very short notice. Upto now, this role was fulfilled by the Mig-21s.
If the orders are placed and HAL is pushed, they should be able to deliver the additional 36 odd aircrafts within the same timeframe. The Malaysian order also will most likely not materialise.
2 new frontline airbases ? Deesa ? And ?
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by Rakesh »

https://twitter.com/TheLegateIN/status/ ... 2iIGEUMROw ---> Su-30MKIs being deployed to Jammu AFS for BARCAP sorties and ADA.
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by Haridas »

Deesa is currently barely 1km, so it will be expanded at least 2 km towards north west.
yensoy wrote:So we will have another airbase, probably a big one. But where are the aircraft to go with it?
Not all air bases have air squadrons assigned. They are sometimes called forward airbase, that see temporary flight detachments during high alert period typically before war declaration. Recall last year air excercise where major AF force deployment was relocated 1300km in few tens of hours.

These also serve as recovery bases for some interdiction missions.

Not to mention these forward air bases home nodes of Air Defense Environment Aka radar system networks, I n addition to long legged drones like MALE/HALE.
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by yensoy »

Yes I did think of air defence, radar, missile batteries, drones, transport and the like but when a big runway is being built one expects human carrying aircraft. Repositioning from other bases is certainly a possibility, but I would like to see commensurate growth in squadron strength with the growth in base count.
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by ashthor »

Rakesh wrote:Great news ramana-ji. Prithvi is long in the tooth and due for replacement.
Now we will be missing all those Prithvi tests on the east coast.
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by Haridas »

yensoy wrote:Yes I did think of air defence, radar, missile batteries, drones, transport and the like but when a big runway is being built one expects human carrying aircraft. Repositioning from other bases is certainly a possibility, but I would like to see commensurate growth in squadron strength with the growth in base count.
If wishes had wings ....

Even today IAF has more airbase than sanctioned 42 Sqns :twisted:


Where the Airwings has combat sqn, typically more than one combat sqns are hosted at those Air Wings.
Prem Kumar
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by Prem Kumar »

ramana wrote:From Twitter, IAF is planning to swap its Prithvi missiles with Pralay.

Good news.
Great news! Hope the IA Artillery follows suit. They have nothing to do a tit-for-tat for the BM barrage that the Chinese will let loose in the opening salvo. The IAF cannot be expected to fill that need with their Pralay stocks.
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by Rakesh »

https://twitter.com/PrayanamInd/status/ ... nCVNuaqu-Q ---> We successfully Indigenised/Designed and Developed Blanking and Covers for R-73 and R-27 Missiles for Indian Air Force. We appreciate the support and cooperation shown by Indian Air Force.
ramana
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by ramana »

Article on IAF force structure and doctrine but first part is on Kargil

https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Wild-B ... -doctrine/
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by rohitvats »

Presenting an analysis on the importance of IAF's new air base in Deesa, North Gujarat. Also covered is strategic importance of Phalodi in northern Rajasthan, which has come-up in last decade.

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

Post by mody »

Kersi wrote:
mody wrote:Additional 1-2 squadrons of Tejas MK1A, to be produced within the current existing timelines only, are badly needed. The Tejas MK2, will enter production only from 2029. With 2 new frontline forward airbases coming up, two additional squadrons of Tejas make imminent sense. Both the airbases are to be within 150 Kms of respective borders and would require aircrafts that can be scrambled at very short notice. Upto now, this role was fulfilled by the Mig-21s.
If the orders are placed and HAL is pushed, they should be able to deliver the additional 36 odd aircrafts within the same timeframe. The Malaysian order also will most likely not materialise.
2 new frontline airbases ? Deesa ? And ?
New Airbase approved for Eastern Ladakh. By the way even the airport at Minicoy island in Lakshdweep is being expanded with a 2.5 Kms long runway. Will be able to handle all kinds of aircrafts. A big boost for tourism, along with Navy/CG and IAF also being able to use the airport.
The Taj group is already planning two new hotels in the Lakshadweep.
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by Rakesh »

The new logo at the IAF's official twitter account. Celebrating 90 years, from Westland Wapiti to HAL Tejas.

https://twitter.com/IAF_MCC/status/1578 ... XXXd02Iahw ---> 90 years of Excellence. IAF: Transforming for the Future.

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

Post by Rakesh »

https://twitter.com/InsightGL/status/15 ... tVhgUa42hQ --->

-Finally India wakes up to the importance of Lakshadweep
-Govt is planning a 2500-metre-long airstrip at Minicoy
-Large Indian Navy & Indian Air Force aircraft will be able to operate
-I had suggested 2 airfields with missile, surveillance & MARCOS units

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

Post by chetak »

yensoy wrote:Yes I did think of air defence, radar, missile batteries, drones, transport and the like but when a big runway is being built one expects human carrying aircraft. Repositioning from other bases is certainly a possibility, but I would like to see commensurate growth in squadron strength with the growth in base count.
no talk of augmenting the aerial refuelers numbers.

In any faceoff with the hans, they would be a vital asset
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by Aditya_V »

I think HAL and IAI Isreal have agreed and looking to acquire 6 Boeing 767s and convert them into mid air refuelers.
Tanaji
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by Tanaji »

Why not buy KC-46 then as it is the same thing?
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by fanne »

price/cost
fanne
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by fanne »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDaW8mRi2yY
#UAV #Drone
Distributed Air Power is Bankrupting the West.

Drones, RPVs, UAVs, UCAVs and cruise missiles are opening a serious crisis in the air defences. Not because they are overwhelming them but because they are bankrupting them.
Prem Kumar
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by Prem Kumar »

IAF Chief interview to Business World:

https://www.businessworld.in/article/IA ... 22-455446/
While expressing full support for indigenisation programmes, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari flagged the IAF’s deep concern and scepticism over the ability of the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to deliver on key indigenous fighter aircraft programmes on time.

......

But now, the IAF Chief has advised “prudence” of foreign tie-ups as a back-up for development of “alternative systems and sensors” just in case the indigenous effort slips on deadlines.
The quotes speak for themselves. While there should be a Plan B, no doubt, its very clear that the present chief is deeply skeptical about our ability to indigenously deliver on our fighter programs on time. He is happy to be a hands-off customer, paying lip-service to Atmanirbharta and thinks his job ends with embedding an IAF team with ADA. Not a single word of encouragement.

His signaling from the top is very worrisome, especially expressing such skepticism in public. Imagine how demoralizing it will be for the ADA/HAL/IAF-test team to hear this? His love for MRFA is well known. All in all, a very poor example of leadership.

I am convinced more than ever that Modi Sarkar needs to be extremely careful in who they promote among the ranks of the Armed Forces
Last edited by Prem Kumar on 25 Nov 2022 13:28, edited 1 time in total.
basant
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by basant »

We can simply stipulate that only those firms will be considered that never missed any deadline. That should do it.
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by Bala Vignesh »

basant wrote:We can simply stipulate that only those firms will be considered that never missed any deadline. That should do it.
Don't forget cost overrun..
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by ernest »

Prem Kumar wrote:IAF Chief interview to Business World:

https://www.businessworld.in/article/IA ... 22-455446/
Perhaps, the words of IAF Chief were over-amplified by media to push their own agenda

https://twitter.com/Firezstarter1/statu ... 4937686016
CAS made a debatable but innocuous comment (develop subsystems with JVs). Reporter added "deep skepticism" of HAL and ADA, also added second dose of with "IAF seeking to disassociate itself from". At this rate, CAS might stop giving interviews. Desire for scoops trumps all.
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by Rakesh »

https://twitter.com/yudisupri_454/statu ... OsJMuXbMoQ ---> Integration of the R-73 missile into the Mirage 2000. The integration of the R-73 is intended to replace the obsolote R530 and R550 missiles on India's Mirage 2000 fighter. There are several important things worth noting:

1. This integration process takes place without involving France and Russia.
2. India cooperates with Elbit from Israel to help merge the two defense equipment.
3. Integration is done without access to source code.

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

Post by YashG »

Rakesh wrote: https://twitter.com/yudisupri_454/statu ... OsJMuXbMoQ ---> Integration of the R-73 missile into the Mirage 2000. The integration of the R-73 is intended to replace the obsolote R530 and R550 missiles on India's Mirage 2000 fighter. There are several important things worth noting:

1. This integration process takes place without involving France and Russia.
2. India cooperates with Elbit from Israel to help merge the two defense equipment.
3. Integration is done without access to source code.
Does that mean Astra Mk1 can also go M2K ?
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by fanne »

R-73 is pure heat seeking, short range, mostly visual missile. It does not need any input from the radar or being guided by it. I have heard that R-73 was integrated years ago to M2K (I am sure one can find pictures of it @BR itself). In non complicated way this is what the news says -
M2Ki - upgraded has a new Helmet cueing system (from Israel). We were able to integrate the R-73 with the HMS - so it points to where the pilot sees. Perhaps it also has some visual cue that the missile seeker has latched onto the enemy's infrared. At that point, R-73 is fired and then R-73 does the whole work.
In this you do not need any French or Russian help. The communication is between the Helmet and missile. I guess it was earlier integrated with the legacy helmet.
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by Ashokk »

IAF had also displayed a SAM system based on R-73 which it had developed independently, so it seems that they are familiar with integration of R-73.

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

Post by VinodTK »

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

Post by dkhare »

I heard of a new missile program called "Surya Lanka" mentioned in this program.
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by sum »

I guess that is the IAF/IA firing range in costal Andhra
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by saip »

Today IAF held the combined Graduation parade at Dundigal, Telangana. 175 graduated including 28 women and 3 from Vietnam. Congratulations to all. (My grand nephew too - he is the tallest, I heard and almost did not make it to selection)
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by Rakesh »

https://twitter.com/RealAirPower1/statu ... YGd-SRLuRQ ---> Did you know that fighter jets have an "eye" for aircraft engines? Called Non-Cooperative Target Recognition (NCTR), the technique uses radar returns coming from an aircraft's turbine blades to identify/classify it. Turbine blades produce very strong & unique radar returns. NCTR analyses turbine blade signatures against a database of associated engine types to identify/classify the aircraft. New AESA radars can even identify the aircraft sub-variant.

Photo via @hesyja

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

Post by VinodTK »

Air Force Chief warns shortage of fighter squadrons must be addressed on priority :(
Shame on all the three involved parties (Services / Administration / Bureaucracy) for the current state; 31 Squadrons
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by Manish_P »

...Turbine blades produce very strong & unique radar returns. NCTR analyses turbine blade signatures against a database of associated engine types to identify/classify the aircraft. New AESA radars can even identify the aircraft sub-variant
Kind of like Submarines sonar systems analyse sound emissions from propellers and are able to run them through their threat libraries to identify the ships/subs.. sometimes even to an individual level.
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by NRao »

^^^^^

They use "fan blockers" to reduce radar reflection from the inlet cavity and the engine fan blades. Used in F-18E/F, F-117, Su-57 and X-32.

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For geeks: RF-IR Stealth (Techniques/Benefits)
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by Pratyush »

Cross posting from the arty thread.
Karan M wrote:What people need to understand is the gravity of the situation vs the PRC in particular.
Right now spread across 4 primary & 4-5 secondary AFB, they can muster around 150 aircraft & UAVs across the eastern sector.
Snip...
Add Pak to the mix and it gets worse.
What happens when the PRC adds 300 inflight refueling tankers to the PLAF by 2045. They will no longer be limited to the base infrastructure of Tibet.

The IAF unless it grows significantly will be overwhelmed.
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by isubodh »

Pratyush wrote:Cross posting from the arty thread.

What happens when the PRC adds 300 inflight refueling tankers to the PLAF by 2045. They will no longer be limited to the base infrastructure of Tibet.

The IAF unless it grows significantly will be overwhelmed.
That will require some asymmetrical advantage like DEW to counter the drones and ways to take out tankers.
Like to like match will bleed us to death economically without fighting..
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Re: Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Post by Pratyush »

A successful defence ends in a draw. Leaving the enemy intact to return again.

India needs to have a force that will be able to deal sufficient damage to the enemy that regardless of the result they have to be very careful about attacking again.
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