Indian Air Force -- News Folder -- February 2003

[Kakkaji]

India, French Air Forces carry out 'Garuda'
[The Hindu, 12 February 2002]

Gwalior, Feb. 12: The first-ever fighter exercise with a foreign Air Force, now in progress here, is pitting Indian pilots against the pick of NATO's ace fliers enabling them to hone skills in futuristic air-to-air refuelling and 'Beyond Visual Range' combat tactics. Besides giving IAF its first exposure to air-to-air refuelling, the eight-day joint exercises, codenamed Garuda, are also proving a boon for the country to upgrade its tactics on delivery of the precision-guided munitions, used with resounding success by the allied forces in the Gulf war and in Operation Endurance in Afghanistan. "We have gained a lot from the first-ever joint fighter operations," said Air Marshal Ajit Bhavnani, senior Air Staff Officer Commanding, Central Air Command.

He hinted that IAF would like continuation of fighter exercises with France on regular basis and also to be open to similar exercises with other friendly Air Forces. Four French Air Force Mirage 2000 are in the exercises interacting with IAF Mirages from the Battle Axes and Tiger Squadrons in interception and strike escort role in turns for MiG-27 and deep penetration strike aircraft Jaguars. Though there are no live missiles and ammunitions being used, 'Kills' and 'lock on' in the mock aerial battles are being computer analysed during the exercises and sources said the IAF Mirages were found wanting in the 'Beyond Visual Range' engagements.

[Amitabh]

NYT: Arms Makers See Great Potential in India Market

[member_201]

A new chapter in defence cooperation
(The Pioneer, 13 February 2003)

Gwalior: An oil tanker takes to the sky and thunders past across the horizon at nearly supersonic speed. Three other fighter jets appear from nowhere, follow the tanker, and within minutes of maneuvering, they gently docks themselves with the flying tanker - one each at its and at the ends of its two wings. For five to seven minutes, the jets suck fuel from the tanker like cubs sucking its mothers' breast. With refuelling of fighter jet over, they disentangle themselves and fly away to take on the enemy. No, it's not a scene out of a hi-tech war movie. Our own ace fighter pilots of the Indian Air Force are currently busy honing the skill of air-to-air refuelling, with help from their French counterparts, thanks to the ongoing 11-day-long joint Indo-French Air Force Exercise at Gwalior Air Force base. While holding this joint Air Force exercise, nicknamed Ex Garuda, the two countries are adding a new chapter to its long history of defence cooperation, dating back to the era of Tipu Sultan and Napolean, said Air Commodore J S Panesar, the Air Officer Commanding of the Gwalipor Air Force Station.

The ongoing exercise is the first ever of its kind involving fighter planes from India and France. The earlier exercises with other friendly countries primarily involved operations by transport planes and fighter helicopters, Air Commodore Panesar told reporters. Besides exposing the fighter pilots of each country to the fighter planes of others, giving them an opportunity to understand each others' basic fighting operation concepts and helping each countries' ground crew to learn maintenance procedures, the Ex Garuda appears to be primarily helping the IAF aircrew to air-to-air refuelling, a warfare skill long neglected by the Indian authorities. The exercise is pitting Indian pilots against the pick of NATO's ace flyers enabling them to hone skills in futuristic air-to-air refuelling and "beyond visual range" combat tactics. Besides giving the IAF its first exposure to air-to-air refuelling, the joint exercises are proving a boon for the country to upgrade its tactics on delivery of the precision-guided munitions, used with resounding success by the allied forces in the Gulf War and in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

"We have gained a lot from the exercise," said Air Marshal Ajit Bhavnani, senior Air Staff Officer Commanding, Central Air Command. He also said the IAF would like to undertake such fighter exercises on regular basis with France and other friendly air forces. Four French Mirage 2000 are in the exercise interacting with the IAF Mirages from the Battle Axe and Tiger Squadrons in interception and strike escort role in turns for MiG-27 and deep penetration strike aircraft Jaguars. Though there are no live missiles and ammunitions being used, "kills" and "lock on" in the mock aerial battles are being computer analysed during the exercise and IAF officials said its Mirages were found wanting in the "beyond visual range" engagements. Sources attributed the Indian flyers' problems with "beyond visual range" combat to French Mirages having more upgraded radars. Air Commodore Panesar said, "It is time that the IAF goes in for upgradation of its Mirage 2000 fleet, specially in combat radars." The remarks assume significance as the joint exercise is being undertaken in the background of moves by New Delhi to phase out its ageing MiG-21 fleet.

[Shishir]

Indo-French air exercise pictures

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030212/170/398sk.html

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030212/170/398rk.html

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030212/170/398sg.html

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030212/170/398tf.html

A Mirage 2000 of the French Air Force takes off from Gwalior AFS on 13 Feb 2003

A pair of MiG-23s of the Indian Air Force takes off from Gwalior AFS on 13 Feb 2003

Indian & French pilots during the first ever joint air exercise in Gwalior on 13 Feb 2003

[member_201]

IAF shops for French Mirage

Indo-French military ties soar to new heights

[JTull]

Indian, French Mirage 2000s fight it out in Gwalior

[Kakkaji]

IAF hones combat skills during Indo-French exercise

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=37296595

[Kakkaji]

IAF breaks ground, uses fighters in joint exercise with France

http://www.hinduonnet.com/stories/2003021302931200.htm

[Kakkaji]

Indian, French pilots in skill show

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1030213/asp/nation/story_1667062.asp

[Anurag]

There is also a video link on the Indo-French Air Force joint exercise.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5810_0,0033.htm#

[Amitabh]

India gets military partner in Central Asia

[Kakkaji]

IAF’s first brush with NATO air doctrines

http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=18348

[JTull]

French pilots hunting Indian Jaguars in Gwalior

[JTull]

Proposal to monitor entire Indian airspace gathering dust

[JTull]

French air force chief visits Indian Himalayas

[SSSahota]

http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=18229

IAF shops for French Mirage

[Rangudu]

French air force chief visits Ladakh

[Kakkaji]

IAF adds Kargil on air-map
(The Hindu, 15 Feb 2003)

Kargil has been put on the air-map of the country. The Indian Air Force (IAF) yesterday inaugurated its air journey from Kargil to Srinagar and Jammu for the civilian population of Jammu & Kashmir. An IAF spokesman said the flight was part of the government's commitment to peace in the state. "The flight is a unique collaboration between the Jammu and Kashmir Government, the Defence ministry, the IAF and the Airport Authority of India (AAI)," he added. The plane used for the inaugural flight was an AN-32 from the Chandigarh airbase. The aircraft, with 18 civilian passengers on board, took off from Kargil for Srinagar at 1200 hrs, covering the journey in about 40 minutes. The spokesman said the frequency of the flight would depend on the demand. IAF is already taking passengers from Chandigarh to Leh on its courier flight.

[Rangudu]

Indian Air Force’s projected budget for the 10th Five Year Plan may cross the Rs 100,000-crore mark

[JTull]

Saras to Usher In Civilian Aircraft Industry In India

[JTull]

IAF lost 31 pilots, 68 planes in three years: Fernandes

[JTull]

Procurement of AJTs, Development of Jet Trainer

[Vick]

Air Force helicopters rescue 40 armymen

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_183952,0008.htm

[saint]

http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb22/n5.asp

Awacs will take time to get airborne

http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb22/n6.asp

ALH to be inducted in Siachen: Air Chief

[jarugn]

Air Chief mourns courtpart's death.

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/02212001.htm

[saint]

http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb22/s3.asp

Advanced jet trainers will replace MiG 21

[saint]

Bureaucrats treat military differently: Air Chief

[JTull]

Pak UAV intrudes twice in Kashmir

[Maneesh]

India likely to receive first lot of Ilyushin-78

[Kakkaji]

IAF to get mid-air refuel planes
(The Hindu, 26 Feb 2003)

New Delhi, Feb.26. (PTI): India will receive the first two of the six IL-78 Mid Air Refuellers from Uzbekistan on Saturday at a formal function in Tashkent which would be attended by Defence Minister George Fernandes. Heading a high-powered Defence delegation, Fernandes left for Uzbekistan to personally take delivery of the Mid Air Refuellers which would give the Indian Air Force capability to enhance its strike capacity up to 5,000 kms. The IAF, which early this month had their first air to air refuelling experience with French Air Force KC135 tankers during joint fighter exercises over Gwalior, had already sent pilots and crew for taking delivery of the tankers. According to IAF officials, the tankers would be initially based in Agra and later moved to Nagpur after the full complement of a squadron of six is formed. The officials said IAF pilots and aircrews had received their initial training on refuelling and operation of the huge tankers in Uzbekistan from Russian experts and later these experts would fly to India to give training and expertise to others.

[Kakkaji]

IAF War On Corp Defaulters

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=28969

[Amitabh]

India fields night combat upgrade for Mi-35 helicopters
Jane's Defence Upgrades, March 1, 2003

The Indian Air Force (IAF) now has a fully-fledged upgrade programme underway to give its Mil Mi-35 'Hind' attack helicopter fleet a day/night and adverse weather combat capability. One of the first aircraft to be modified was exhibited at the Aero India 2003 event, held 5-9 February at Bangalore's Yelahanka air base.

IAF sources have confirmed that the enhanced 'Hinds' are in front-line squadron service, but were reticent to provide details on where their new avionics systems have been sourced. However, Jane's sources confirm that the programme is being led by Israeli industry - which had a substantial presence at the Aero India show.

India has an active fleet of eight Mi-25 'Hind-Ds' and 15 Mi-35 'Hind-Es' (according to Jane's World Air Forces). Following their combat experience in Sri Lanka during 1990, the 'Hinds' were fitted with side-mounted ASO-2V chaff/flare dispensers and the L-006 RHAW (Radar Homing And Warning) system. The Mi-35s are now undergoing an avionics and cockpit upgrade to give them a night combat capability that was previously lacking. Hand-in-hand with this move has come a new overall grey low-visibility colour scheme, replacing the previous two-tone green and tan camouflage.

The modified aircraft have been fitted with night-vision goggle- (NVG-) compatible cockpit displays, while a new forward-looking infrared sensor turret has been mounted on the starboard nose section. It is believed that this system is an IAI-Tamam MOSP (Multi-mission Optronic Stabilised Payload). According to IAF personnel, there are currently three upgraded Mi-35s in service with No.104 Helicopter Unit, based at Pathankot, in the far north of India. It is expected that all the squadron's Mi-35s will be modified and redelivered during 2003.

The Indian 'Hind' upgrade appears limited to avionic/optronic systems only and does not entail any wider changes to the weapons systems or engines. The helicopters retain their baseline armament of a nose-mounted YakB 12.7mm machine gun, rocket pods (typically the 80mm B8V20A) and 9M114 Shturm-V (AT-6 'Spiral') anti-tank missiles. Indian 'Hinds' also have the distinction of operating as bombers, using FAB-250 or FAB-500 general purpose bombs.