indian_foxhound
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NEW DELHI: China can "throw'' at
least 21 fighter squadrons
against India, from its eight
airbases in Tibet and other
airfields to their north. Even more
Chinese fighters can join forces if they are able to overfly Myanmar.
Similarly, Pakistan can deploy 21
to 25 fighter squadrons against
India. With this hard-nosed assessment
in mind after defence minister AK
Antony himself asked the forces
to be ready for the twin-threat
posed by China and Pakistan, the
largest-ever combat exercise undertaken by IAF tested its capability for a two-
front contingency by deploying "swing forces''
from the western theatre right across to the
eastern one. IAF did "extremely well'' during the 'Live-Wire'
exercise, conducted from March 18 to April 4
with over 8,000 hours of flying sorties, to
maintain the "high-tempo surge operations'' to
"validate its two-front deployment capability''.
Frontline Sukhoi-30MKIs even flew long-range missions from Chabua (Assam) to the western
front, with mid-air refuelling, for bombing
missions, sources said. But the wargames, with over 400 fighters and
200 transport aircraft and helicopters, also
sharply underlined the "criticality'' of soon
finalizing the almost $20 billion MMRCA (medium
multi-role combat aircraft) project to acquire 126
fighters. IAF is grappling with just 34 fighter squadrons
(each with 14 to 18 jets) at present despite the
primacy of airpower in modern-day battles. IAF
itself has held it needs at least 44-45 squadrons
to meet the "possible contingency'' of "a full
conflict'' with Pakistan, while maintaining "a dissuasive posture'' against China. Even as the progressive phasing out of ageing
MiG-21 squadrons is now on hold to retain
combat readiness, IAF is keeping its fingers
crossed that the long-delayed MMRCA contract is
inked with French major Dassault Aviation for its
Rafale fighters before this year ends. "We can then begin getting the new fighters
from early-2017 onwards. Problems in the
contract negotiations between MoD and Dassault
over Hindustan Aeronautics' responsibility (the
first 18 jets will come from France, with HAL
producing the rest 108 with transfer of technology) are being sorted out,'' said a source. IAF does need systematic induction of fighters
and helicopters, mid-air refuellers and transport
planes, spy and combat drones, surface-to-air
missiles and advanced radars, with projections
showing India will spend upwards of $35 billion
over the next 10 years to boost its air combat power. In the interim, IAF banking upon the progressive
induction of the 272 Sukhoi-30MKIs contracted
from Russia for around $12 billion as well as the
mid-life upgrades of 51 Mirage-2000s and 60
MiG-29s. For the long-term, the plan is to induct over 200
5th Gen swing-role fighters from 2022 onwards.
India and Russia are slated to soon ink the $11
billion full design R&D contract for the stealth jets,
with each chipping in with $5.5 billion. India will
eventually spend around $35 billion on this futuristic fighter project over the next 15-20
years, with each jet to be subsequently produced
costing over $100 million.
http://www.timesofindia.com/india/I...k-in-biggest-wargame/articleshow/19563626.cms
least 21 fighter squadrons
against India, from its eight
airbases in Tibet and other
airfields to their north. Even more
Chinese fighters can join forces if they are able to overfly Myanmar.
Similarly, Pakistan can deploy 21
to 25 fighter squadrons against
India. With this hard-nosed assessment
in mind after defence minister AK
Antony himself asked the forces
to be ready for the twin-threat
posed by China and Pakistan, the
largest-ever combat exercise undertaken by IAF tested its capability for a two-
front contingency by deploying "swing forces''
from the western theatre right across to the
eastern one. IAF did "extremely well'' during the 'Live-Wire'
exercise, conducted from March 18 to April 4
with over 8,000 hours of flying sorties, to
maintain the "high-tempo surge operations'' to
"validate its two-front deployment capability''.
Frontline Sukhoi-30MKIs even flew long-range missions from Chabua (Assam) to the western
front, with mid-air refuelling, for bombing
missions, sources said. But the wargames, with over 400 fighters and
200 transport aircraft and helicopters, also
sharply underlined the "criticality'' of soon
finalizing the almost $20 billion MMRCA (medium
multi-role combat aircraft) project to acquire 126
fighters. IAF is grappling with just 34 fighter squadrons
(each with 14 to 18 jets) at present despite the
primacy of airpower in modern-day battles. IAF
itself has held it needs at least 44-45 squadrons
to meet the "possible contingency'' of "a full
conflict'' with Pakistan, while maintaining "a dissuasive posture'' against China. Even as the progressive phasing out of ageing
MiG-21 squadrons is now on hold to retain
combat readiness, IAF is keeping its fingers
crossed that the long-delayed MMRCA contract is
inked with French major Dassault Aviation for its
Rafale fighters before this year ends. "We can then begin getting the new fighters
from early-2017 onwards. Problems in the
contract negotiations between MoD and Dassault
over Hindustan Aeronautics' responsibility (the
first 18 jets will come from France, with HAL
producing the rest 108 with transfer of technology) are being sorted out,'' said a source. IAF does need systematic induction of fighters
and helicopters, mid-air refuellers and transport
planes, spy and combat drones, surface-to-air
missiles and advanced radars, with projections
showing India will spend upwards of $35 billion
over the next 10 years to boost its air combat power. In the interim, IAF banking upon the progressive
induction of the 272 Sukhoi-30MKIs contracted
from Russia for around $12 billion as well as the
mid-life upgrades of 51 Mirage-2000s and 60
MiG-29s. For the long-term, the plan is to induct over 200
5th Gen swing-role fighters from 2022 onwards.
India and Russia are slated to soon ink the $11
billion full design R&D contract for the stealth jets,
with each chipping in with $5.5 billion. India will
eventually spend around $35 billion on this futuristic fighter project over the next 15-20
years, with each jet to be subsequently produced
costing over $100 million.
http://www.timesofindia.com/india/I...k-in-biggest-wargame/articleshow/19563626.cms
