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If the IAF insists on 114 MRFA, it'll likely get nothing. But if it is pragmatic and wants another 36 or 48 Rafales OTS, it is possible for a deal to be signed. Navy was smart, and trimmed the number to 26 instead of 54, knowing that 54 would never get approved. Now they'll choose 1 type and...

That's under a two front scenario. And that's the minimum number available at any time. Don't believe the Rafale fleet will remain this small in the coming years.

35 Rafales is not enough to have a discussion? I agree that the IAF needs at least 35 more, ideally 54 more at least, but 35 is still enough to put 24 in the air at any time given 70% availability for the fleet.

Crap? The Astra was used to shoot down a Banshee target drone at almost 100 km range! How big do you think the RCS of a Banshee drone is? And they shot down a highly maneuvering Banshee drone at medium range. The final set of trials for the Astra Mk1 involved 5 firings, all of which were...

no LM hasn't offered the F-35 to India as yet.

There's a large order of 106 HTT-40s that is just around the corner. Will be a big day for HAL and Indian aviation. There was a time, not very long ago, when the serving IAF ACM had remarked that the IAF didn't want or need the HTT-40 and HAL should focus it's efforts on getting the LCA into...

Absolutely. I miss the squadron badges that were painted on the sides of the noses or on the airframe sides. Added a lot of character to the airplanes and made it a joy to see and also try and aero model them.

OTOH, there is the fact that the Russians flew an upgraded new build Tu-160M2 (the first in decades) with plans to build 50 more and upgrade 16 existing Tu-160s to the Tu-160M2 standard. An order for 10 was placed, with a cost estimated to be USD 270 million. Getting new build Tu-160M2s is an...

Fan boy? Bharat Karnad isn't just a "Fan boy", and the man he's quoting is a former IAF ACM. But he does have this long time dream of India getting strategic bombers and it seems that the former ACM has hinted at the possibility of that happening. But this is to be taken with a big pinch of...

No videos, but there is a grainy HUD picture from a MiG-21bis.. firing a short range R-60 Aphid at a PN Atlantique, which was subsequently shot down.

Tejas Mk1 of No.18 Squadron with 3 drop tanks..ferry configuration..love the DASH HMDS. Will be pretty deadly given it's mated to Python V, R-73E and soon, ASRAAM. The ferry range is well in excess of 2000 km, as confirmed by Grp Cpt HV Thakur

It must be the final wind tunnel model sent to CALSPAN as was mentioned by the guy who posted it.

then just imagine an AESA Uttam sized to fit the Su-30MKI's radome. It'll be almost twice the size of the Uttam Mk1 on the Tejas, with a lot more electrical power available as well. It'll be a beast!

HTT-40 flying around the outskirts of Bangalore. Pic credit - Grp Cpt HV Thakur

Tejas Mk1 from No.45 Squadron with a iDerby-ER BVRAAM. Pic taken by Deb Rana, posted by Sanjay Badri Maharaj.

This is definitely going to be on schedule. Tejas Mk1A first flight (SP-25) was earlier than scheduled, in May 2022 itself. A lot of risk reduction activities related to various sub-systems being flight tested on other prototypes has also been done. Tejas Mk1A first production fighter will be...

Unfortunately none. :(

16 single seaters and possibly 4 of the Tejas Mk1 trainers as well. Unless the IAF goes for the LCA LIFT separately, in which case they may just order 18-20 single seaters including reserves per squadron. So in that case it would be anywhere between 108 to 120 Tejas Mk2 fighters. Additional...

So the IAF Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari has confirmed that the IAF has committed for 6 squadrons of the Tejas Mk2, which will be sufficient to replace the Mirage-2000I and MiG-29UPG squadrons (of which there are a total of 6).