ks_sachin wrote:Admiral please give me some credit.
I was talking of today. If FOC ac are being diverted for MK1A testing that leaves the second sq short is it not?
MK1A squadrons are still a while away.
I am again not discounting what HVT Sir, Saurav Jha and others have stated on twitter and in this thread.
And the second squadron has not received her full complement of single seaters (16) as of yet. Air Chief VR Chaudhari recently stated (
http://tinyurl.com/46uhwyum) that all 40 IOC/FOC aircraft will be delivered by 2023. That is 32 single seaters and 8 twin seaters in two squadrons --> No 45 and No 18.
Of the 32 single seaters, 31 aircraft have officially flown to date. That can be confirmed from page 1 of the Tejas Mk1 thread. Some twitterati are stating that the 32nd single seater has also had her first flight. I have not seen official confirmation of that. If there is, I have missed it.
Now if "some" FOC aircraft are really being converted to Mk1A variants, what that points to is that No 18 Squadron could eventually have all her 16 single seaters be of the Mk1A variety. It does not make sense for a squadron to operate two different types. It will hamper pilot training and likely even the training of the maintenance crews.
And if "some" FOC aircraft are really being converted to Mk1A variants, the IAF will have five Mk1A squadrons, instead of four. If the first IOC squadron - No 45 - is also converted, then the IAF will then have six squadrons. I believe the plan was to eventually convert the first two Mk1 units into MK1A units eventually.
It was my understanding that it was a pair of LSP-series of aircraft were being converted into Mk1A flying prototypes. If that plan has been changed to convert Mk1s from the FOC unit into Mk1As, then that is a welcome step. But what it does not suggest that the IAF has an under strength Mk1A squadron because there is no Mk1A operational unit in the IAF to begin with. No number plated squadron has been resurrected (as of yet) for that purpose.
P.S. Sulur AFS is perfect for the two units (No 45 and No 18) to iron out their teething issues with the Tejas. All platforms undergo this and Tejas is no different. Let HAL and IAF iron out whatever issues need to be addressed with these two units. Let them pull out platforms from these units - if required - to do whatever is necessary. That is why these two units exist in the first place.
The real deal will be the four Mk1A units. That will be the game changer (AESA, Astra Mk2, etc) for the IAF. When the first Mk1A unit is raised, it will be operational and be ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with any other operational IAF fighter squadron. There are four Bison units left in the IAF and these will be replaced with four Mk1A units as a one to one replacement. My dream and hope is that the defence of Srinagar (currently being performed by No 51 Sword Arms I believe) will be taken over by the Tejas Mk1A.
But what we do not want is when the first operational Mk1A unit is raised (from the 83 order), a variety of issues are raised which will hamper the Mk1A's ability to do an effective job. That is No 18 Squadron's job and if those tweets are true, then that is what is happening.
If my memory is not failing me, I believe the Bison has the fastest response time when on ORP duty. The Bison is a one trick pony and sometimes that one trick is exactly what you need, as displayed so effectively on 27 Feb 2019. That record that the Bison holds, I believe has been beaten by the Tejas. But I will need to confirm. So don't hold me to that