Hi,
By 2015 almost entire PAF would be BVR capable and linked to AWACs.
India will not have Rafale before 2015. Which means....PAF will have upper hand with respect to equipment across the board.
What will be the determining factor?
A side which can keep it's resources flowing for long, attack aggressively to counter the attacking nemesis.
Which means, PAF must keep the option of pre-emptive strikes, with both the aircraft and the standoff weapons...open.
Sir,
By 2015 most of PAF inventory will be linked to Awacs and BVR capable, doesn’t explain how PAF will have an upper hand. IAF mig 29’s, M2K, Su30MKI, Mig21 Bison are all BVR capable and linked to Phalcons at present. MKI’s and M29’s follow the BVR regime of firing a salvo of two BVR missiles for every lock (passive and active) making evasion more difficult. (although I am not a very big believer in BRV regime). PAF doesn’t need to worry about the rafale that will come after 2015, but what they do need to worry about its about the much more potent 130 Super SU30MKI’s, nirbhay/brahmos capable and with RVV MD and RVV SD with the AESA radar.
Hi,
It is not that---and seemingly---suddenly everybody has gone blind----what The ACM is talking about the application of the AIM 120 in the blk52's and the upcoming upgrades----the AIM 120 is the game changer as of now----the playing field is not in favour of IAF anymore.
Sir,
R77-AE-RVV SD, and RVV-MD out ranges AIM 120. MD is on offer and the SD is speculated to be in service already with the super mki upgrade. M2k Upgrade will be Meteor capable in very short time, and then there is the future rafale!
This portion I cant get. Provided the heavy AWACS operations from each side, how will you evade the superiority platforms in a strike package? both teams knew what is coming against each other. There will be hardly any kinda surprises.
Moreover, IMO each other will target the enemy's AWACS and command centers first.
Sir,
Detecting doesn’t mean defeating, Ambushes are usually done by low flying configuration interceptors and jammers and dummies can be employed to create ground clutter. Even if detected, BVR missiles do not ensure kills. If the combat reaches WVR, then its numbers and tactics, 8 F16’s can overwhelm a strike package 10 air interdiction Mirages and 6 mki/m29 flying air superiority, even if the stike package has to jettison its combat load to get into the fight, the interceptors have done their job and can dis engage. The objective is to foil the strike mission not necessarily play red baron.
Then BVR regime also lets PAF fire a salvo and disengage to upset the strike package missions if detected by their radars.
Adding to my previous posts, the primary objective of both the armies would be to cripple each others net centric warfare systems. At any level of conflict better battle management systems and situational awareness will provide the edge.
Last I heard was an exercise, undertaken by a reputed Indian private firm to simulate the ability of the Indian battle management system to absorb damages in first 24 hrs of hostility. This study was done about # years ago and results were not satisfactory hence there has been systems upgrades at war footing on installing ground network radars and additional redundancies in communication routing systems. I cannot go into any more details on this topic. There is a requirement for 5 more Phalcon systems, I am not sure how well this requirement can be offset by the DRDO built Awacs systems.
The key for the beginning punches by the IAF would be to forget the losses and try and overwhelm Pakistani defences with cruise missiles and stand off missiles followed by closely coordinated Air interdiction missions to take down their c4i systems, trying to catch them off guard. On the other hand if there is any miscalculation the and the PAF is aware of the first blow, and they can offset the the strike with an effective denial of Iaf objective, then its going to be hell for IAF, There will be high attritions, counter attacks by PAF.
Another space about the CSD that worries me is , a heavy fraction of IAF will be pulled for CAS roles for the IBG’s. mig 27’s and Jag darins wouldn’t cut the entire program, and I am pretty sure, MKI’s will be called off for the CAS roles cutting the edge from the strike roles. Another big problem area which will cause IAF headache will be Chinese involvement. India will need to station nearly 1/4th of its strength towards china border, which makes me think. Most senior pilots go into PAF conflict leaving rookies to china border. Any attempt by say few PLAAF fighters or say PAF fighters flying PLAAF a/c will be a big big gamble for IAF.
I have always maintained the fact that rafales and sukhois are not the most important platform for India, the hopes of IAF are pinned on the lCA Mk2 , If the project is completed on time expect around 450 units to fly in Indian colors, that makes all the existing strike platforms flying strike missions and not defensive or CAS missions. That will add some serious teeth to IAF capability.
Regarding Farkhor base, it is surrounded by ambiguity, no one really knows for sure whats going on there. Placing 12-24 mig 29 won’t make much of a difference to PAF, we are not USA that we can project power through a foreign base. Even if there is sqdn of fighters there, what logistic support will we have there.
So ? Would you mind changing your statement now ?
AF better trained pilots 1 PAF pilot = 5 Yindu air force pilot PAF shot down Russian and Israeli 40 years ago so therefore we are better than Indians
