anup
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It’s pretty much clear now that future modernization and acquisition plans of Indian air force is heavy depended on imported aircrafts and in next decade or so Indian air force is likely to be less Indigenous than in past decade and local content is unlikely to go up in next two decade of future plans .
In Trainer aircrafts, IAF has a 3 Stage Pilot training programme, decade back it depended on Two Indian made aircrafts for pilot training. HAL made HPT-32 Deepak Basic trainer was used for Stage-I and Kiran MK-1 and MK-2 were used for Stage-II and Stage-III training program, but recently IAF has issued Global RFI for purchase of Stage-II trainers to replace Kiran MK-2, which means that all three stages of pilots training will be covered by Imported aircrafts in near future, Stage-1 currently are covered by Swiss-made Pilatus PC-7MK-II, Stage-3 is covered by British made BAE Hawks 132.
IAF already has rejected HAL’s Proposal to build HTT-40 for Stage-1 and with delays in IJT-36 for Stage-2 and Issue of global RFI for limited purchase of Stage-2 trainers from abroad, it highly likely that IAF if succeeded in purchase of new aircraft for Stage-II aircrafts will likely go for follow on orders and will drop plans to purchase HAL developed IJT-36 . IAF in past have declined DRDO’s offer of developing a trimmed down variant of LCA for Stage-III training roles by simply saying it doesn’t want two aircrafts for Stage-III training program, which expert suspects will lead to same repeat argument if IAF is allowed to purchase Stage-II trainers from abroad and IAF later will stick to Imported aircraft dumping IJT-36.
While in Fighter aircraft fleet only Tejas developed by DRDO’s ADA will see some orders but limited orders for Tejas MK-1 and Tejas MK-2 is yet to have it first flight and it will take another decade or so for Tejas to make a mark in Indian air force, While Purchase of Highly Expensive French made Rafale is likely to take place and future inventory will revolve around development of FGFA based on Pak-fa which already has seen delays due to disagreements on work share between Indian and Russia . India’s development of AMCA is unlikely to enter service by 2030 so for next 2 decades IAF’s fleet will be mixture of Russian and French fighters.
Only Positive and brighter side for Indian Aerospace aviation is that locally developed Helicopters will see a rise in Indian Armed forces and Indian Army is likely to field largest fleet of locally developed helicopters . At present ALH Dhruv is lone indigenously made Helicopter in IAF fleet but in near future will see steady rise in fleet of locally developed helicopters, HAL is currently developing LUH (Light Utility Helicopter) to replace older Cheetah/Cheetal helicopters which are mostly in service with Indian Army. IAF also plans to operate LCH (Light combat Helicopter) currently in development by HAL, which also will see larger fleet in Indian Army. HAL also plans to develop a 20 tonne Helicopter to replace Russian made Mi-8/17 helicopters for which it is currently looking out for a partner.
Other than Inducting a small fleet of Saras aircraft developed by NAL , which IAF will Exclusive use for Training role , Transport fleet will have mostly imported aircrafts and it is unlikely see rise of Indigenous programs since they are no local programs in pipeline . IAF 20 years down the line will still have 80 % of fleet of imported aircrafts which is a worrying trend since Indian Navy 20 years down the line will have 80 % of Indigenously developed Ships and submarines in its Inventory , which will be complete reversal of approach in Indigenization taken by two vitals arms of Indian armed force. IAF needs long term planning and higher user participation in various projects to bring higher Indigenization.
Source:- Indian air force (IAF) turning into Imported air force (IAF) | idrw.org
In Trainer aircrafts, IAF has a 3 Stage Pilot training programme, decade back it depended on Two Indian made aircrafts for pilot training. HAL made HPT-32 Deepak Basic trainer was used for Stage-I and Kiran MK-1 and MK-2 were used for Stage-II and Stage-III training program, but recently IAF has issued Global RFI for purchase of Stage-II trainers to replace Kiran MK-2, which means that all three stages of pilots training will be covered by Imported aircrafts in near future, Stage-1 currently are covered by Swiss-made Pilatus PC-7MK-II, Stage-3 is covered by British made BAE Hawks 132.
IAF already has rejected HAL’s Proposal to build HTT-40 for Stage-1 and with delays in IJT-36 for Stage-2 and Issue of global RFI for limited purchase of Stage-2 trainers from abroad, it highly likely that IAF if succeeded in purchase of new aircraft for Stage-II aircrafts will likely go for follow on orders and will drop plans to purchase HAL developed IJT-36 . IAF in past have declined DRDO’s offer of developing a trimmed down variant of LCA for Stage-III training roles by simply saying it doesn’t want two aircrafts for Stage-III training program, which expert suspects will lead to same repeat argument if IAF is allowed to purchase Stage-II trainers from abroad and IAF later will stick to Imported aircraft dumping IJT-36.
While in Fighter aircraft fleet only Tejas developed by DRDO’s ADA will see some orders but limited orders for Tejas MK-1 and Tejas MK-2 is yet to have it first flight and it will take another decade or so for Tejas to make a mark in Indian air force, While Purchase of Highly Expensive French made Rafale is likely to take place and future inventory will revolve around development of FGFA based on Pak-fa which already has seen delays due to disagreements on work share between Indian and Russia . India’s development of AMCA is unlikely to enter service by 2030 so for next 2 decades IAF’s fleet will be mixture of Russian and French fighters.
Only Positive and brighter side for Indian Aerospace aviation is that locally developed Helicopters will see a rise in Indian Armed forces and Indian Army is likely to field largest fleet of locally developed helicopters . At present ALH Dhruv is lone indigenously made Helicopter in IAF fleet but in near future will see steady rise in fleet of locally developed helicopters, HAL is currently developing LUH (Light Utility Helicopter) to replace older Cheetah/Cheetal helicopters which are mostly in service with Indian Army. IAF also plans to operate LCH (Light combat Helicopter) currently in development by HAL, which also will see larger fleet in Indian Army. HAL also plans to develop a 20 tonne Helicopter to replace Russian made Mi-8/17 helicopters for which it is currently looking out for a partner.
Other than Inducting a small fleet of Saras aircraft developed by NAL , which IAF will Exclusive use for Training role , Transport fleet will have mostly imported aircrafts and it is unlikely see rise of Indigenous programs since they are no local programs in pipeline . IAF 20 years down the line will still have 80 % of fleet of imported aircrafts which is a worrying trend since Indian Navy 20 years down the line will have 80 % of Indigenously developed Ships and submarines in its Inventory , which will be complete reversal of approach in Indigenization taken by two vitals arms of Indian armed force. IAF needs long term planning and higher user participation in various projects to bring higher Indigenization.
Source:- Indian air force (IAF) turning into Imported air force (IAF) | idrw.org
