Indradhanush 2015

[Stephen Cohen]

272 SU30MKI backed by phalcon awacs is a formidable AIR POWER

We will have 350 SU 30 MKI s

And many of them will be upgraded to Super Sukhoi 30

 

[Optimos Prime IA]

Make no mistake.

272 SU30MKI backed by phalcon awacs is a formidable AIR POWER

Maybe only one or two nations could overcome such awesome nos and capability

USA AIR FORCE
USA NAVY
maybe PLAAF

I think a very comparison been done by this author . Very technical .
And it's no secret that our MKI have blown out RCS . Which we need to take care of and we will with awesome Super Sukoi upgrade .

 

[Hindustani78]

The only troll here is you. If you cannot type in a proper manner then it is better you don't type at all. Posting in super bold letters does not mask your genetic stupidity.

Did any IAF officer claim victory or was it the media?

What was the engagement, BVR or WVR?

Were AWACs used?

What weapons were employed?

What were the restrictions enforced? Because a dumb troll like you would not know that such exercises are not conducted like in a real war.

Do you know anything of the above or are you here just to run your mouth like a silly troll?

The 10-day exercises which commenced on July 21 was the fourth edition of the Indo-UK Bilateral exercise called 'Indradhanush'. IAF aircraft and personnel were based out of three Royal Air Force bases: four IAF Su-30 fighters operated out of RAF Coningsby, C-17 and C-130J Hercules transports were positioned at Brize Norton and Garud Commandos of the IAF operated alongside British forces at RAF Honington. The IAF also deployed an Ilyushin IL-78 air to air refuelling tanker at Brize Norton.

Inside the cockpit of an Indian Air Force C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft, which was part of the Indian contingent to the Indradhanush exercises.

The IAF fleet departed India on July 15, with the fighters refuelling twice mid-air ahead of their first pit-stop at Taif in Saudi Arabia (near Jeddah). The formation then proceeded to Athens on July 16, refuelling once before their arrival. After another halt for one night, IAF aircraft flew onto the UK again refuelling once mid-air.

The first week of the exercises pitted the Su-30, which NATO calls the Flanker, in a series of aerial dogfight scenarios. First, there were 1 v 1 encounters, where a single jet of each type engaged each other in Within Visual Range (WVR) combat, firing simulated missiles to a range of two miles. The exercises progressed to 2 v 2 engagements with two Eurofighters taking on two Su-30s and 2 v 1 exercises where two Sukhois took on a single Typhoon and vice versa. Notably, in the exercise where a lone Su-30 was engaged by two Typhoons, the IAF jet emerged the victor 'shooting' down both 'enemy' jets.

In all dog fighting exercises, IAF Sukhois were able to turn sharply into the extremely agile Typhoons using their thrust-vectored engines to keep the RAF jets locked in their sights. The Su-30's advanced Infrared Search and Track System (IRST), a passive sensor, which cannot be tracked, proved to be a distinct advantage for the IAF's pilots in close-combat maneuvering. Both the IAF and RAF used the full capabilities of their onboard radars, albeit in training mode, which meant that actual radar frequencies used in combat conditions were never exposed for confidentiality reasons. However, the detection ranges of the radars of both aircraft were not curtailed per se. This was air combat as close to the real thing as possible.

The pilots themselves ranged from young Flight Lieutenants to senior Group Captains from either side drawn directly from Typhoon squadrons and the IAF's 2 Squadron, The Winged Arrows, based in Kalaikunda. The idea was for both sides to expose their operational pilots to a modern frontline platform of the same class. Accordingly, the IAF did not deploy any senior pilots serving with its Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE).


By the time the exercises shifted to Large Force Engagements (LFE) in the second week, IAF pilots were comfortable operating in British conditions. The Large Force Engagements saw mixed formation scenarios where the IAF operated its jets alongside RAF Typhoons in air battles against fellow Su-30s flying together with other Typhoons.

The Large Force Engagements saw 4 v 4 engagements at beyond visual range and graduated to a massive 8 v 8 engagement featuring 16 aircraft in the skies near Coningsby. IAF pilots shared tactical information with RAF pilots in their formations using radio communications since the IAF's data-link system (which shares critical sensor data with friendly aircraft) was not compatible with the Link 16 system in use with NATO aircraft like the Typhoon.

Asked about the performance of IAF pilots in these Large Force Engagements, Group Captain Srivastav told NDTV his pilots performed "fairly well" though "quantifying [the results] is difficult". It was not unexpected for the IAF to "lose" one or two jets (over all the Large Force Engagements put together) given that the movement of each formation was directed by fighter controllers coordinating an overall air battle. Both sides agreed to simulate their Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Missiles at 25 miles for offensive missions and 22 miles for defensive scenarios

IAF C-130 and Il-78 jets also participated in the Large Force engagements where they were "defended" by the fighter formations they were flying with against 'enemy' attacks.

The IAF also encountered no serviceability issues with any of its participating jets. All Su-30s were available for the daily exercises which took place over two blocks, one in the morning, the other in the afternoon for a total of eight sorties daily.

Praising the support the IAF received from the RAF, Group Captain Srivastav told NDTV, "The hosts were very good. They were ready to extend exceptional support."

The sense of camaraderie extended to C-17 transport pilots of both sides. According to Group Captain Srivastav, "There was good interaction between young pilots. The C-17 Squadron of the RAF wanted some help in Kathmandu [following the Nepal earthquake]. We helped them then, this was more than reciprocated." RAF pilots showcased their assault landing and combat off-loading experiences with IAF pilots observing from the cockpit of the big jet. IAF pilots shared their experiences of operating the C-17 at high altitudes.

Over the last decade, the Indian Air Force has been very keen to develop its Garud Commando Force meant to protect its assets such as air bases and also be deployed behind enemy lines if required. Operating alongside British forces in the UK, the IAF Garud commandos participated in a 96-hour camp in a training area close to Honington. This involved reconnaissance and surveillance missions and a combat free fall para-jump with British forces.

Back in India now, the IAF, like the Royal Air Force, is keen to point out that the exercises were a learning and training opportunity, and should not be seen as a battle between the IAF and the RAF, who are close allies and partners. According to Group Captain Srivastav, "It was all about learning from each others experiences and to fine tune our own procedures."

At the end of the day, though, for the IAF, these exercises were about gauging the skill levels of its own pilots and the aircraft they operate. For the IAF, these exercises came as positive news on where they stand against some of the best of the West.

 

[Stephen Cohen]

@MilSpec

WIth Jammers and EW suites present A merge and WVR is
the most likely scenario

 

[being humane]

We will have 350 SU 30 MKI s

And many of them will be upgraded to Super Sukhoi 30

Is airforce ordered more than 272?

 

[Sarjen29]

Hey anyway.... any nonsense article by British BullSh!t Corporation on this yet???

Is airforce ordered more than 272?

272 for IAF and around 40 for strategic forces command

 

[Abingdonboy]

272 for IAF and around 40 for strategic forces command

There have been no orders for the SFC, the MKI is not suited for that role- the Rafale will most likely be employed for the SFC and the numbers of MKIs all exceed 272 almost certainly.

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

The Falnkers of IAF were forbidden to use Radars in earlier excersies, according to sources.

Jara guartalab is par bhi farmaiye.

@Capt.Popeye @sancho @XiNiX

sounds like BS... Exs arent held that way...

PAF has no heavy AWACs, No Jet Fuel Tankers, No Long Range fighters and its macth for IAF?

Plus we have P 8Is and Tu 142.

what is a heavy AWAC? We have 8 AWACS Btwn... 4 Midas Air Refuellers... And our jets can strike deep inside india... Your ancient soviet bombers are obsolete .. P8 is an maritime ASW aircraft like our PC-3s and ATRs with Meltem Systems..

 

[livingdead]

brits will face russians, the whole exercise is to assess how good russians jets will be(from british point of view)

 

[The_Sidewinder]

A sane article. Nice done, kudos to the author. :y:

 

[Perpendicular]

Indian side had clearly accepted the need to improve BVR capability in S 30's comparitively. But there is no doubt of its WVR capabiltiy which it has proved.
But exactly what author mentions A LOT depends on BVR capability.
Brits are finding hard to comprehend this

 

[Indus Falcon]

.. P8 is an maritime ASW aircraft like our PC-3s and ATRs with Meltem Systems..

Minus the MAD boom.

Magnetic anomaly detector

 

[Sarjen29]

There have been no orders for the SFC, the MKI is not suited for that role- the Rafale will most likely be employed for the SFC and the numbers of MKIs all exceed 272 almost certainly.

k... but wiki says they placed order for 40 and the delivery were begun and so... ya right wiki!!??? why mki not suitable??????

 

[SQ8]

Su-30MKI excels in WVR low energy combat, Typhoon in standoff & WVR high energy combat.

And that regime is where most western pilots and those using a mixture of their doctrine always aim to be. Essentially, it is western combat thinking that if you lose speed/energy you are dead. So does that statement then imply that when it comes to lower energy states for both.. the MKI is always on top.. but when it comes to the regime where most pilots in the world like to fight in.. the MKI is not going to walk away from it?

 

[syedali73]

what is a heavy AWAC?

An AWACS painted on with Bharati flag and roundels.