Indian Military Aviation

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 12 Apr 2011 09:12

Air Chief Marshal La Fontaine RIP

http://www.prokerala.com/news/articles/a213567.html

Hyderabad, April 6

Former chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF), Denis Anthony Lafontaine, died of cardiac arrest Wednesday at his home in Andhra Pradesh's Medak district. He was 82.

The retired air chief marshal, who participated in India-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971, served as the IAF chief between 1985-88.

He was cremated near his farm house in Brahmanapalli village Wednesday evening. Earlier, Medak district collector Suresh Kumar laid the wreath on behalf of the state government.

Born in Chennai September 17, 1929, Lafontaine joined the air force as a fighter pilot in 1947 and rose to become its 13th chief in July 1985 following the sudden death of then Air Chief Marshal L.M. Katre.

Lafontaine was the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Air Command at that time.

He was a recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vayu Sena Medal (VSM) for distinguished service.

After the retirement, he had settled down in Brahmanapally Village.

Andhra Pradesh is honored that he chose to settle after retirement.

Rest in Peace sir.

andy B · Post by **andy B** » 14 Apr 2011 17:42

Aero India 2011 Report:

http://ifile.it/vcw9ftd/Aero%20India%202011.zip

srai · Post by **srai** » 15 Apr 2011 02:13

Vipul wrote:Tatas bag record deal to modernise Air force bases.

The Rs 1,094-crore contract with Tata Power SED involves upgrading 30 airbases to handle next generation fighter aircraft.

...

The 30 IAF airbases that will be modernised under MAFI include eight key airfields along the Sino-Indian border such as Chabua, Tezpur and Hashimara. The IAF has already begun deploying frontline Sukhoi-30MKI fighters to the Tezpur air base in concert with the army’s raising of two new divisions to strengthen defences along the Sino-Indian border.

This will be followed by the MAFI Phase II contract for refurbishing another 28 airbases. The current contract has an option clause, which allows the ministry to invite Tata Power SED to execute the Phase II of MAFI at a pre-determined rate.

...

From the above, it would seem IAF has 58 (30 + 28) key airbases.

In terms of projected need for air defense systems, IAF would need the following:

Point Defense:
* 58 x LLQRM SAM batteries
* 58 x Flak "AD Gun" batteries
* 58 x MANPAD flights

Plus, Area AD:
* ?? x MR SAM squadrons (Akash) ... additional SAM layer for vital airbases & area
* ?? x MR/LR SAM squadrons (Barak-8) ... SAM picket lines, additional layer for vital area & protecting population centers (all together there are 150 VP/VA identified)

karan_mc · Post by **karan_mc** » 17 Apr 2011 12:42

DRDO develops composite oxygen cylinders for IAF, Army pilots

First i though it was related to OBOGS , but its was quite a improvement from 20-25 minutes to 2 hours of oxygen supply

karan_mc · Post by **karan_mc** » 19 Apr 2011 21:15

BAE Systems upgrades Hawk trainer to near-front line status

this means earlier pilots were trained only to fly combat jet ,but not actually learn the tricks of fighting in air with combat jet ?

suryag · Post by **suryag** » 20 Apr 2011 01:00

How did we accept it, given we have very high standards for acquisition we have witnessed these high standards in the NAG trials

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 20 Apr 2011 13:52

karan_mc wrote:BAE Systems upgrades Hawk trainer to near-front line status

this means earlier pilots were trained only to fly combat jet ,but not actually learn the tricks of fighting in air with combat jet ?

karan_mc - the fighter training takes place in stages with different a/c in each stage imparting different skill set. Hawk is the AJT which prepares the pilots in handling a fighter a/c and on which the pilots learn BFM and other aspects of air warfare. They then graduate to their fighter type (say Mirage-2000) and convert to this particular type in their respective squadrons...the training continues on particular a/c type till they become completely familiar with the a/c and are declared fully operational. In crude terms, it is like going from IMA to say, armored corps and then doing YO at Ahmednagar to actually become a tankman.

The benefit of modern AJT is that it resembles the modern fighters to a large extent - glass cockpit, HOTAS and other stuff. So, the transition is that much smoother. What the article implies is that the trainee pilots will now be able to learn more on AJT itself - something they would have learned on their fighter type. Their is a concept of Lead in Fighter Trainder (LIFT) which will be a step in between AJT and final fighter type. LCA has been proposed to IAF in such a role. Basically, it will give such a high level exp. to the trainee fighter pilots that the trg. requirement on final fighter type will be that much reduced. As the LIFT comes at a lower rate, it is economical as well - your front line fighter will be less stressed on non-operational requirement and the pilot is far better trained.

Juggi G · Post by **Juggi G** » 20 Apr 2011 14:14

Rostvertol has resumed production of Mi-26 heavy transports for the air force. The first three aircraft already are in the final stages of completion. According to Slyusar, the procurement will last until 2015. For now the military has ordered the basic Mi-26T version, but the company hopes to entice the customer into acquiring the modernized Mi-26T2.

The Mi-26T2 was developed to take part in the Indian defense ministry’s competition for 15 heavy-lift rotorcraft. It features a new glass cockpit and avionics suite designed to increase commonality with the Mi-28.

Rostvertol officials say an Indian evaluation team visited the facility last week to test the first Mi-26T2 prototype now in factory flight trials. The manufacturer also plans to offer the new modifications to civil operators and hopes to complete all necessary testing within two years.

Russia Renews Military Helicopter Force
Aviation Week

Megh · Post by **Megh** » 20 Apr 2011 15:10

Some Mi-26T2 pics from russian magazine "Взлёт" ("Take off")

And nice photos from Rostov-on-Don spotter
http://russianplanes.net/ID38522
http://russianplanes.net/ID39443

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 20 Apr 2011 18:36

excellent photos, thanx.

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 20 Apr 2011 18:52

For a terrific story I received on email from Air marshal Rajkumar - click below (IAF History thread)

http://forums.bharat-rakshak.com/viewto ... 4#p1073774

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 20 Apr 2011 20:32

I guess its farewell to the Chinook

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 20 Apr 2011 20:50

IAF to deploy two squadrons of Su-30MKI fighters near Pakistan border

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 20 Apr 2011 23:09

Someone is gonna have to write to Shiv Aroor pointing out the factual errors in this article. Apparently his own blog ( http://livefist.blogspot.com/2011/04/he ... 730pm.html ) is going to host the video of the article linked below;

IAF losing edge over PAF
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story ... 35843.html

Quotes from the above article:-

With Pakistan rapidly acquiring early warning aircraft, mid-air refuellers and long-range missiles, the technology gap is at a historic low.

Consider these newly inducted force multiplers that all but kill the Indian air advantage. Pakistan is inducting four Swedish Saab Erieye and four Chinese Y-8 airborne early warning aircraft, while India, currently, has three.

India no longer has the mid-air refueller advantage. Pakistan is inducting four identical IL-78M aircraft.

The Indian Air Force's UAV advantage is also disappearing. Pakistan is acquiring 25 European UAVs, with more in the pipeline.

Juggi G · Post by **Juggi G** » 21 Apr 2011 02:46

India Plans To Hire Weather Recon Aircraft Soon
Aviation Week

srai · Post by **srai** » 21 Apr 2011 02:52

chackojoseph wrote:IAF to deploy two squadrons of Su-30MKI fighters near Pakistan border

The Indian Air Force will deploy two squadrons of Su-30MKI fighters near the Pakistani border said South Western Air Command chief Air Marshal A K Gogoi. AM Gogoi gave a time frame of 2 years for the completion of the deployment. The two air bases are Jodhpur in Rajasthan and Halwara air base in Punjab. Jodhpur is scheduled to be the first Su-30MKI base near the Pakistan border. IAF has also begun regular Su-30 MKI practice flights from Leh air base in Jammu and Kashmir said AM Gogoi. Leh is a high altitude air base.

IAF has deployed SU-30 MKI’s in Lohegaon and Bareilly, which can also cover Pakistan. On the Chinese front, the SU-30 MKI’s have been deployed in Tezpur and Chabua in Assam. Su-30 MKI’s have also been deployed on Andaman and Nicobar Islands...

Looking at these two BR pages, there are currently 7 squadrons of Su-30MKIs.
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Units/Bases/282-Wings.html (needs to be updated)
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Units/Others/281-Fleet.html (lists 7 MKI squadrons - 2, 8, 20, 24, 30, 31, 102)

From this article, IAF inducts second SU-30 MKI squadron in NE India, we can decern the following:

Lohegaon -> 20 Sqdn, 30 Sqdn, 31 Sqdn
Bareilly -> 24 Sqdn, 8 Sqdn
Tezpur -> 2 Sqdn
Chabua -> 102 Sqdn (being re-raised)
Jodhpur -> one Sqdn due by 2013
Halwara -> one Sqdn due by 2014

Jagan, is it possible to add a list of airbases the squadrons are based at in your IAF fleet page?

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 21 Apr 2011 03:01

Rakesh wrote: IAF losing edge over PAF
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story ... 35843.html

Very, very disappointing that they do not mention that the PAF has A'stan or even China to run to. India has no such cushion.

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 21 Apr 2011 05:40

Rakesh wrote:
IAF losing edge over PAF
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story ... 35843.html

This article is reminiscent of newspaper articles I used to read between the 1965 and 1971 wars. The more Pakistanis believe that they are getting strong - the more likely they are to enter into conflict.

But if they are getting relatively stronger - it is thanks in no small measure to unkil - who, between 2001 and 2011 is doing what he did for Pakistan from 1958 to 1965.

Cosmo_R · Post by **Cosmo_R** » 21 Apr 2011 06:03

shiv wrote:
Rakesh wrote:
IAF losing edge over PAF
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story ... 35843.html
But if they are getting relatively stronger - it is thanks in no small measure to unkil - who, between 2001 and 2011 is doing what he did for Pakistan from 1958 to 1965.

Actually no. It is even in greater measure the inability/unwillingness of GoI/MoD to approve MiG 21/23 replacements/upgrades since 2001.

Let's not blame unkil for this. We did it ourselves. Just as we have not fielded a 155MM self propelled or towed artillery piece since Bofors in 1985(?).

I could go on: cold weather boots, LGBs, 155mm shells in 1999...It's a sad tale dating back to .303s that froze in 1962...

"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings."

The overlings don't have the same objectives

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 21 Apr 2011 06:19

Cosmo_R wrote: Let's not blame unkil for this. We did it ourselves

I knew someone would say that ..

I think that is bad practice on the lines of "Doosron ki jai se pehle khud ko jai karein". Even if we are 75% to blame - we put 100% of the blame on others and quietly do what we need to correct ourselves. Indians are such a naive and seedha saadha people that they seriously believe that self criticism is the way everyone works. The world is more devious than that. The sooner we stop flagellating ourselves and start flagellating everyone else (without forgetting the need to do what we need to do) the better it will be.

I would be glad to see where Americans, Chinese and Pakis are flagellating themselves over all the mistakes they have made and demanding that they correct themselves first. It's always the other guy who needs to change. It's also called self respect.

Gurneesh · Post by **Gurneesh** » 21 Apr 2011 07:08

Quote from that article.

It also says that the traditional hi-tech advantage is almost equal now with 9.5:11 squadron ratio.

I guess they are saying that PAF has 9.5 high tech squadrons while IAF has 11.

Wiki tells: PAF 63 F16 + 40 Bandar. Rest are Mirages configured for strike missions plus F-7s. => 103 high tech AC

IAF 142 MKI, 69 Mig29, 61 M2000 => 272 High tech AC

that is more than twice of what PAF has.

So, is the article presenting the worst case scenario where it takes only 142 MKI for IAF and 103 AC for PAF. This looks flawed as if only MKI is considered as high tech then PAF would only have 18 high tech AC.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 21 Apr 2011 07:45

^touche. and when is the bandar high tech when we know nothing of its real FOCed status and its radar , missile, ECM and range/uptime?

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 21 Apr 2011 07:48

But if they are getting relatively stronger - it is thanks in no small measure to unkil - who, between 2001 and 2011 is doing what he did for Pakistan from 1958 to 1965.

Sir,

You forgot that they did not have embedded tracking systems in those days?

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 21 Apr 2011 09:50

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13104363

russian glonass system now covers all of Rus and 80% of earth
first glonass enabled cellphone goes on sale
swedish co signs up for glonass.

with 3 more sats in place the system would cover 100% of the world.

important news for our navigation and targeting plans.

SriSri · Post by **SriSri** » 21 Apr 2011 13:35

Indian Air Force to Deploy Two Squadrons of Sukhoi Su-30 MKI Fighters in South Western Air Command

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 21 Apr 2011 16:41

Army Dhruv chopper with four personnel goes missing in Sikkim

nachiket · Post by **nachiket** » 21 Apr 2011 17:11

Cosmo_R wrote:
Actually no. It is even in greater measure the inability/unwillingness of GoI/MoD to approve MiG 21/23 replacements/upgrades since 2001.

Let's not blame unkil for this. We did it ourselves. Just as we have not fielded a 155MM self propelled or towed artillery piece since Bofors in 1985(?).

I could go on: cold weather boots, LGBs, 155mm shells in 1999...It's a sad tale dating back to .303s that froze in 1962...

"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings."

The overlings don't have the same objectives

You can blame the GOI for not improving our own Armed Forces. How can you blame them for Pakistan's getting stronger? We didn't give them billions of $$$ to buy weapons, Unkil did. So Shiv is right.

Juggi G · Post by **Juggi G** » 21 Apr 2011 18:39

Ground Zero, IAF Losing Edge Over PAF

6 Part TV Programme

Juggi G · Post by **Juggi G** » 21 Apr 2011 18:42

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 21 Apr 2011 19:23

SWAC gets a boost with Su-30MKI squadrons, Akash SAM and radars.

The Indian Air Force's south west air command (SWAC) will have a Su-30MKI squadron permanently based at Jodhpur sometime in the next two years, according to air marshal AK Gogoi, AOC-in-C of SWAC. Speaking here on Wednesday, air marshal Gogoi said the air force was strengthening itself and would be able to deal with any sort of threat especially from Pakistan and China.

Air marshal Gogoi was on a three-day visit to the Jodhpur air base, the headquarters of SWAC, his first after assuming command.

Talking about the deployment of the DRDO-developed medium range, surface-to-air, Akash missile, air marshal Gogoi, two squadrons of these missiles were soon be deployed, of which one will be at Pune, which falls under SWAC's command. The other deployment would be at Gwalior.

"Besides this, six more squadrons will be deployed in the region to check any threat from China," he added.

The air marshal also said the IAF was expecting an increase in the number of fighter squadrons after 2012. The force has been facing shortage of aircraft for a considerable period of time.

"The number of aircraft squadrons is going down so some bases do not have the required squadrons. Only after 2012, when we start to increase the number of squadrons, we can expect permanent basing," Gogoi said.

He was referring to the absence of permanent basing of aircraft squadrons at many air bases.

He also revealed that SWAC was in the process of strengthening its surveillance capabilities by inducting a few state-of-the-art, medium power radars (MPR). The MPR is an AESA system developed for the IAF, which will be able to detect small targets at ranges in excess of 300 km.

"The SWAC will be the first air command to have this modern radar technology," air marshal Gogoi said.

"We have already received it and are in the process of making it functional in Gujarat," he said on the last day of his visit here.

Gogoi further said proposals are on to develop the Deesa airport as a full-fledged air base. "Considering the strategic importance of this base and the development taking place around it, we have mooted a proposal to the defence ministry worth over Rs3,000 crore as first phase to strengthen the infrastructure of this base and we are going to push this proposal during the commanders' conference scheduled shortly," he said.

Deesa like Phalodi air base, is close to the Pakistan border.

Air marshal Gogoi was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force in 1973. He has flown over 3000 hours on various aircraft, and is a qualified flying instructor and a fighter combat leader.

Air marshal Gogoi was director general, air operations, at Air HQ prior to his current appointment.

He is a recipient of Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal.

ranjithnath · Post by **ranjithnath** » 21 Apr 2011 20:26

He also revealed that SWAC was in the process of strengthening its surveillance capabilities by inducting a few state-of-the-art, medium power radars (MPR). The MPR is an AESA system developed for the IAF, which will be able to detect small targets at ranges in excess of 300 km.

which is this radar that AM is referring to??

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 21 Apr 2011 21:00

chackojoseph wrote:IAF to deploy two squadrons of Su-30MKI fighters near Pakistan border

I was wondering if the news of MKI's in A&N s correct or not. Can someone correct me here?

Vivek K · Post by **Vivek K** » 21 Apr 2011 22:50

Aditya_V wrote:Army Dhruv chopper with four personnel goes missing in Sikkim

A lot of issues in areas near China. Coincidence or .....

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 21 Apr 2011 22:57

^^^CJ, which news?

srai · Post by **srai** » 22 Apr 2011 00:05

chackojoseph wrote:
chackojoseph wrote:IAF to deploy two squadrons of Su-30MKI fighters near Pakistan border

I was wondering if the news of MKI's in A&N s correct or not. Can someone correct me here?

From what I can tell from public sources, there are two types of deployment being used by the IAF:

Home/Permanent Base deployment -> one to three squadrons (of a type) can call an AFS its home base. So far for the 7 MKI squadrons, the home bases are Lohegaon (20 Sqdn, 30 Sqdn, 31 Sqdn), Bareilly (24 Sqdn, 8 Sqdn), Tezpur (2 Sqdn), and Chabua (new 102 Sqdn being raised).
Periodic/Temporary deployment -> typically one of a squadron's flight gets deployed routinely to other AFSs and during wartime, full squadrons could get forward deployed to the relevant AFSs. These temporary deployments have taken place at the Car Nicobar (A&N), Halwara, Hindon, Gwalior, etc.

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 22 Apr 2011 00:27

^^^Halwara, Hindon and Gwalior are pretty big bases to be treated as forward deployment bases with Gwalior and Hindon being quite in depth.

srai · Post by **srai** » 22 Apr 2011 03:17

^^^
Please read carefully ... I did not say these bases were "forward bases".

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 22 Apr 2011 03:28

A nice write-up from 2007 on the ANC topic.

Then a 2009 article A&N Command Recommends Sukhoi-30MKI Sqn At Car Nicobar

Then, in 2010, a shift to Andaman and Nicobar to become a major amphibious warfare base (nice article, with a huge sleep-well factor.)

This 2010 article is far as close to it as it gets (unless someone else has more data points) India to setup new airbases in Andaman Island, with no mention of MKIs!!!!!!!

jai · Post by **jai** » 22 Apr 2011 05:41

More likely to be Nal, Bhuj, Uttarlai, Jodhpur, Suratgarh, etc etc .....

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 22 Apr 2011 06:47

Folks Prof Prodyut Das is back with a bang in the latest issue of Vayu. I am still reading the article - but it again offers interesting food for thought. The man has a sense of humaor and I like his lateral thinking and ability to think out of box. Whether his ideas are acceptable or not is a diferent issue - will post more on this in an appropriate thread after reading and digesting the article.