Indian Air Force News & Discussions

[Tejas-MkII]

IAF fighter squadrons to rise to 42 by 2022: Antony - India - NEWS - The Times of India

IAF fighter squadrons to rise to 42 by 2022: Antony
PTI 18 February 2009, 07:11pm IST


NEW DELHI: Defence minister A K Antony on Wednesday said that by the end of the 13th Plan period, Indian Air Force's combat fleet would be of 42
squadrons, which is more than the strength sanctioned by the government.

"During the period 2007-2022, the strength at the end of 11th, 12th and 13th Plan periods is expected to increase to 35.5, 35 and 42 squadrons respectively," Antony said in a written reply to a query in Rajya Sabha.

Government has sanctioned the IAF to have a total of 39.5 squadrons of fighter aircraft.

He said that the Air Force will reach the peak of strength with the induction of Su-30 MKIs, Jaguars, Medium Multi-role Combat Aircraft (M-MRCA), Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) and the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).

Antony said at the beginning of the 11th Plan period, the force had only 32 squadrons.

Defence minister added that the IAF was in the process of carrying out upgrades in its existing fleet of Mirage 2000, MiG 21, MiG 27, MiG 29 and Jaguar fighter aircraft and adding force multipliers such as the Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) and mid-air refueling aircraft.

Antony said that induction of new aircraft and replacement of existing aircraft as well as enhancing operational capabilities to meet the prevailing threat scenario were an ongoing process in the force.

Replying to another question, he said the LCA would be inducted in the IAF by 2010-11.

 

[Tejas-MkII]

^^^^^

It should be 80-90 ,42 by 2022 will be understatment...

 

[Reddy]

NEW DELHI: Decks have now been cleared for India to order another batch of MiG-29Ks after the specially-designed maritime fighters underwent
successful flight-deck trials from Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov in the Barents Sea on September 28-29.

Defence ministry sources said the fresh order for 29 more MiG-29Ks from Russia for around Rs 5,380 crore (around $1.12 billion) will "soon'' be sent to the Cabinet Committee of Security for the final approval.

These jets will be in addition to 16 MiG-29Ks already contracted through the initial $1.5-billion Admiral Gorshkov package deal, which earmarked $974 million for the aircraft carrier's refit and the rest for the fighters, inked in January 2004.

While the military asymmetry with China is quite stark, aircraft carrier operations is one particular arena in which India is ahead of its much larger neighbour.

Grappling it may be with only 11 Sea Harrier jump-jets now, India's solitary aircraft carrier, the 28,000-tonne INS Viraat, has just undergone an 18-month life extension refit to ensure it can run smoothly for another five years.

China, in contrast, does not have an aircraft carrier. But it's furiously working to build them, apart from refurbishing the former Soviet Kuznetsov-class carrier Varyag and seeking to buy Su-33 carrier-borne fighters from Russia.

India, of course, will get the fully-refurbished Gorshkov only by early-2013, with New Delhi and Moscow likely to agree to a revised refit cost of around $2.6 billion. The first four of the contracted 16 MiG-29Ks, however, will touch down in India in October-November this year.

Though the fresh order for 29 more MiG-29Ks was cleared by Defence Acquisitions Council, chaired by defence minister A K Antony, quite some time ago, it was hanging fire since the fighters developed for India were still to be tested for take-offs and landings on an aircraft carrier.

"India wanted the MiG-29Ks to be proven in carrier-deck operations before inking the follow-on order for 29 more fighters...it was critical. Now, only a few weapon trials of MiG-29Ks are left,'' said a source.

MiG-29Ks will operate from both 44,570-tonne Gorshkov -- rechristened INS Vikramaditya after India has already paid $602 million for its refit -- as well as the 40,000-tonne indigenous aircraft carrier being built at the Cochin Shipyard, which should roll out by 2014-2015.

Armed with eight types of air-to-air missiles, including extended range BVR (beyond visual range) missiles, as well as 25 air-to-surface weapons for land-attack missions, the MiG-29Ks will provide the Navy with a lethal punch on the high seas.

The jets will also be capable of mid-air refuelling from IL-78 tankers as well as other MiG-29Ks under `buddy-tanking'. While 12 of the first 16 fighters will be the single-seat `K' variants, the other four will be twin-seater `KUB' trainer versions. Similarly, four of the next 29 jets will be `KUB' trainer versions.

To prepare for MiG-29Ks, 10 Indian naval pilots have already undergone training on them, even as shore-based training facilities have been established at INS Hansa in Goa.

Moreover, some naval pilots have also trained on the MiG-29s flown by IAF, while a few others have done courses in the US on combat manoeuvres undertaken from aircraft carriers under a $26 million agreement.

All this is needed since Indian naval pilots do not have the experience of `conventional' fighters like MiG-29Ks, which land on ship decks with arrestor wires. The `unconventional' Sea Harrier jump-jets in use land vertically on INS Viraat.

 

[Ingis]

Th MiG-29Ks are surely a beauty and a lethal fighter jet -

​

 

[gogbot]

^^^^^

It should be 80-90 ,42 by 2022 will be understatment...

IF we keep all our old planes including the MIG-21 then ya we can try to get 80 squadrons but no body wants mig-21 anymore. so lets just have 40 squadrons of respectable/modern fighter aircraft.

 

[Tejas-MkII]

India to place all MiG 29s along Pak border

To step up its air defence capabilities, Indian Air Force (IAF) has decided to station all its MiG 29 squadrons at Adampur that is the second largest air force base in the country.

The Adampur Air Force station, which is also known as home of MiG 29s, already has two frontline fighter squadrons and will see another squadron moving from Jamnagar in Gujarat soon.

"We consider ourselves to be a strategic air power establishment of the IAF in the western sector, ever ready for operations. We are fully geared up to operate in any given time frame like any other Air Force stations of the country," said Air Commodore HS Arora, Air Officer Commanding of the Adampur air base

 

[hack]

What this means is that the Navy does not have much faith in the naval version of the LCA. The Mig 29 cannot be used from the INS viraat. So that means the new aircraft's will fill up both the indigenous carrier as well as INS Vikramaditya.So NO place for the Naval LCA.

Maybe it is time to cut the loses on the LCA program.No shame in that,pretty much all countries in the world who have attempted to build fighter aircrafts have had failures.With the lessons learnt on the LCA,a new aircraft program can be started.

 

[navtrek]

What this means is that the Navy does not have much faith in the naval version of the LCA. The Mig 29 cannot be used from the INS viraat. So that means the new aircraft's will fill up both the indigenous carrier as well as INS Vikramaditya.So NO place for the Naval LCA.

Maybe it is time to cut the loses on the LCA program.No shame in that,pretty much all countries in the world who have attempted to build fighter aircrafts have had failures.With the lessons learnt on the LCA,a new aircraft program can be started.

Our it might also mean that the LCA program is taking time. So with the present interest of the navy in mind the govt is going ahead with more mig 29

LCA cannot be regarded as a failure it might have taken time with lots of cost over runs but its an amazing plane to fly.

 

[navtrek]

More pictures of this beautiful beast

 

[hack]

Our it might also mean that the LCA program is taking time. So with the present interest of the navy in mind the govt is going ahead with more mig 29

LCA cannot be regarded as a failure it might have taken time with lots of cost over runs but its an amazing plane to fly.

Are you kidding me..the deliveries of the Mig 29 K will be finished only by 2015 when the indigenous carrier is supposed to be in service. So if the LCA is not in service even by then, when will it be in service...2030?

When you see a lemon,you should recognize a lemon. The LCA is a lemon.

 

[Ingis]

Are you kidding me..the deliveries of the Mig 29 K will be finished only by 2015 when the indigenous carrier is supposed to be in service. So if the LCA is not in service even by then, when will it be in service...2030?

When you see a lemon,you should recognize a lemon. The LCA is a lemon.

Actually, the delay of LCA could be a blessing in disguise for India. After all, the MiG-29K is more than a capable fighter-jet.

India has always loved the MiG-29s. We were the first international customer of this jet and have invested heavily on its modernization.

 

[Born In The USA]

 

[Born In The USA]

Building Friendships
Indian Air Force Participates In Red Flag
By Eric Hehs



Every fighter pilot's dream is to come to Red Flag. This is a very famous exercise. It helps to fly in a different environment, to fly away from home, to fly in what we call large force engagements. The exercise exposes our air force to different aircraft—aircraft we are not used to flying with and against.
— Air Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik, vice chief of air staff, Indian Air Force

Dream became reality for a large contingent of Indian Air Force personnel last August as they deployed eight Su-30MKI fighters to the United States to participate in Red Flag 08-4 exercises at Nellis AFB, Nevada. The deployment, a first for the Indian Air Force, reflects the warming relationship between India and the United States.

"The United States and India have been partners for a long time with a make-and-break relationship," said Air Marshal Naik, who visited his personnel at Nellis. "We have been close and far and close and far. I am very glad that we are in a phase of getting closer and closer together."



Lt. Gen. Loyd Utterback, USAF, commander of the 13th Air Force, also addressed the Indian contingent. "The USAF and IAF together form an incredible team," he said. "We have been planning to get the Indian Air Force team to Red Flag for some time. Our plans have now materialized—for peace and security in South Asia. I am looking forward to working with you more."

The eight Su-30MKI fighters from 20 Squadron, based at Lohegaon Air Force Station in Pune just southeast of Mumbai, represent the most modern fighters in the Indian Air Force. The Su-30s were accompanied to the United States by two Ilyushin Il-78 tanker aircraft from 78 Squadron of Agra Air Force Station in Agra (southeast of New Delhi) and one Ilyushin Il-76 transport aircraft from 44 Squadron based at Sonegaon Air Force Station in Nagpur in central India.

Before arriving at Nellis, the Indians completed a two-week work-up phase with the US Air Force at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, where they flew more than 100 sorties with F-15 pilots from the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home and the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron from Eglin AFB, Florida, and with F-16 pilots from the 18th Aggressor Squadron at Eielson AFB, Alaska. The sorties consisted of air defense missions, offensive counter-air operations, large force engagements, and dynamic targeting. The flights familiarized the Indians with Western standards for communication and battle management.

Red Flag flying exercises formally began at Nellis on 10 August with initial briefings and mission planning by the participating air forces occurring the week before. The Indians were not the only international participants in Red Flag 08-4. The French Air Force brought four Rafales, and the Republic of Korea Air Force brought twelve F-15Ks. US participants included F-15s from the 125th Fighter Wing, the Florida Air National Guard unit at Jacksonville IAP; from the 85th TES at Eglin; and from the 65th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis. Participating F-16s came from Nellis's own 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron and 64th Aggressor Squadron

Red Flag is a realistic combat training exercise involving the air forces of the United States and its allies. The exercise is conducted on the 15,000-square-mile Nevada Test and Training Range, north of Las Vegas. Red Flag is one of a series of advanced training programs administered by the US Air Force Warfare Center and the 414th Combat Training Squadron at Nellis.

The two-week exercise is held several times throughout the year. By integrating the participants into large strike packages and flying them against Red forces—highly trained adversaries flying F-15 and F-16 fighters—the realism of Red Flag is unmatched by any other exercise. Participating units complete several thousand sorties.

The simulated air war involved the IAF's Su-30 aircraft participating in a variety of roles but predominately in the suppression of enemy air defense missions.

Many of the IAF pilots were junior ranking officers identified and specially trained in India more than one year before being deployed to the United States for Red Flag participation. "The younger aircrews will stay in the fleet much longer than our senior pilots so that our air force will benefit from their Red Flag experiences and exposure for a longer duration," explained Group Capt. Ajay Rathore, exercise coordinator for the IAF. "They have done a marvelous job taking on this large responsibility."

The IAF pilots deployed to Red Flag represented more than themselves. They represented the entire Indian Air Force. "We want to exemplify the highest levels of professionalism," said Group Capt. Diptendu Choudhury, the team leader for the IAF. "We are acutely aware that everyone is watching us as we deal with different languages, platforms, and technologies. But we must still perform as part of a larger team. To that end, we have done exceedingly well."

The professionalism IAF pilots presented reflected well on the IAF. "The Indian Air Force is a world-class air force with great aircraft, great pilots, and great leadership," said Capt. Marcus Wilson, an Aggressor pilot at Nellis and the team chief for the exercise. "Red Flag afforded an excellent opportunity for the US Air Force and Indian Air Force to integrate our assets in a training environment. We would like to have the IAF back as a regular participant."

The prime minister of India set several national objectives for participating in Red Flag to reflect India's zone of influence increasing beyond its mainland. "We want to see if we are capable of projecting power over long distances," explained Naik. "We want to see if our logistic and administrative abilities could support such a large number of people so far away from home." IAF's success at Red Flag is ¬credited to the careful planning by a lot of people back home in India. "Red Flag allows us to evaluate how good we are in large force engagements with aircraft India does not operate," added Naik. "Overall, I am very satisfied with the results."

Code One Magazine: Building Friendships Volume 24 Number 1 2009

 

[hack]

Jesus..I just realized the the additional Mig 29K's will cost around 40 million dollars each.That's the price of a Sukhoi 30 MKI!!

 

[gogbot]

I wish there was another briefing about what was happening at red flag.