Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

[Rakesh]

Indian Air Force to get advanced indigenous smart anti-airfield weapon for fighter jet fleet
https://aninews.in/news/national/genera ... 617204558/
17 June 2025

[Prem Kumar]

AoN granted in 2020

RM Rajnath Singh presents SAAW to the then AIr Chief in Dec 2021

They are *thinking* about inductions after Pahalgam/Sindoor happens ..... in 2025

All this while busily importing Crystal Maze, Rampage, Spice, Sambar powder etc while SAAW, Rudram, G-series are all languishing

Don't miss this sentence in the report: "DRDO is offering SAAW for emergency procurement". They know that if the don't "offer", the lion's share of the 30K Crore emergency procurement will go to screwdriver imports Joint Venture, Made-in-India, 100% pure Atmanirbhar by Adani

[ernest]

AoN granted in 2020

RM Rajnath Singh presents SAAW to the then AIr Chief in Dec 2021

They are *thinking* about inductions after Pahalgam/Sindoor happens ..... in 2025

All this while busily importing Crystal Maze, Rampage, Spice, Sambar powder etc while SAAW, Rudram, G-series are all languishing

Don't miss this sentence in the report: "DRDO is offering SAAW for emergency procurement". They know that if the don't "offer", the lion's share of the 30K Crore emergency procurement will go to screwdriver imports Joint Venture, Made-in-India, 100% pure Atmanirbhar by Adani

another data point- it was considered for Balakot ops in 2019. We had 2 rounds of emergency imports after that, including Galwan. Still not ordered.

[Rakesh]

Here we go again....

Scouting for 6 mid-air refuellers, IAF begins technical evaluation
https://indianexpress.com/article/india ... -10096665/\
30 June 2025

The IAF currently operates a fleet of six Ilyushin Il-78MKI tankers procured from Uzbekistan in 2003-04.

[Rakesh]

India looking at option of buying more S-400 air defence systems from Russia
https://www.aninews.in/news/national/ge ... 627195741/
27 June 2025

[Rakesh]

What are 'game-changer' Air Lora missiles? Report claims Indian Air Force is planning to procure these from Israel
https://www.theweek.in/news/defence/202 ... srael.html
03 July 2025

Indian Air Force is mulling the procurement of Israel-made Air Lora air-launched ballistic missiles, which offer accurate and survivable attack capabilities

[Cybaru]

Here we go again....

Scouting for 6 mid-air refuellers, IAF begins technical evaluation
https://indianexpress.com/article/india ... -10096665/\
30 June 2025

The IAF currently operates a fleet of six Ilyushin Il-78MKI tankers procured from Uzbekistan in 2003-04.

Turn one of the older transport Il-76 into a flying testbed or get a used 747 please! We have options to help ourselves...

[Jay]

Turn one of the older transport Il-76 into a flying testbed or get a used 747 please! We have options to help ourselves...

We have the options, and the moolah but just not the will to do it or so it seems.

[V_Raman]

What happened to the excess AI Airbus planes that were going to be converted to fuellers?

[putnanja]

Not excess AI airplanes, some AI A320/319 planes were withdrawn from service for AEWS role, not for refuelling platforms. Six Airbus planes were supposed to be used for the next gen AEWS for India. ADE was supposed to work with Airbus to modify these planes for AEWS use. Not sure what the status is.

For refuelling, they wanted to consider Airbus A330MRTT but that fell through. Then they were looking at leasing some Being 767 based refuellers from Japan. Looks like nothing worked out for it

[Prem Kumar]

What are 'game-changer' Air Lora missiles? Report claims Indian Air Force is planning to procure these from Israel
https://www.theweek.in/news/defence/202 ... srael.html
03 July 2025

Indian Air Force is mulling the procurement of Israel-made Air Lora air-launched ballistic missiles, which offer accurate and survivable attack capabilities

While Rudram induction is kept waiting ....

Bonus question: how many summer, winter, hot-n-high, cool-n-low, desert & high-altitude trials of Rampage, Scalp, Hammer or Crystal Maze were conducted before their induction?