Indian Air Force News & Discussions

[Lord Of Gondor]

So the tests by the Su-30MKI included the RVV-SD.
Will replace the RVV-AE as the mainstay.
According to unverified reports the delivery of 400 RVV-SD, 400 RVV-MD and 300 R-27 variants were done in June(Ordered last year).

And here is the first image of the Su-30MKI with the RVV-SD!

Image by Gaurav Shetty on Twitter

 

[Lord Of Gondor]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1408986125377499137

 

[MirageBlue]

And here is the first image of the Su-30MKI with the RVV-SD!

Image by Gaurav Shetty on Twitter

How can one infer that it is the RVV-SD?

 

[MirageBlue]

5 Su-30MKIs with IL-78MKI refueler

Su-30MKIs, MiG-29Ks, Jaguar IMs and Super Hornet

Su-30MKI, Super Hornet and 2 Jaguar IMs

 

[Lord Of Gondor]

How can one infer that it is the RVV-SD?

Just an educated guess really.Last time IAF ordered Ukranian R-77s were 2002, Navy got an earful from CAG a decade back for a small repeat order and IAF went with R-27 variants in 2013 from Ukraine.Russia does not build the AE and IAF said no thanks to Ukraine after the challenging An-32RE upgrade program.Last order was from Russia.
Except for a close examination it is not easy to tell the two apart.
Edit: Check report here

 

[Lord Of Gondor]

Stunning images from AFS Leh

Rafale EH/DH and AH-64E(I) flanking the legendary Siachen Pioneer
Images shared by RM

 

[Lord Of Gondor]

Rafael marketing video on the SPICE

Memory cards and stand off strikes from high altitudes!
Alien tech for 1980's IAF MiG-27s flying tree top to get close to the target to fire off the clumsy Kh-29s(First gen PGMs of the IAF)

The combat range of the Mig 27 varied with the weapon package. It was 780 Km normally, but reduced to 540 Km with two Kh-29 missiles and three drop tanks. It further dropped to 225 Km with two Kh-29 missiles without any drop tanks.

Adieu Bahadur – Mig 27

Does look great on the Baaz though.

Remember that all the MiG-27s were single seaters, pilot workload would be insane.

 

[MirageBlue]

Remarkable image..showing all of the IAF fighters and bombers that were operational in the late 1980s timeframe..

Canberra
MiG-25RB 'Garuda'
Jaguar IS/ 'Shamsher'
Hunter
MiG-29 'Baaz'
MiG-27 'Bahadur'
MiG-23MF 'Rakshak'
Mirage-2000 'Vajra'
Ajeet
MiG-21
Fearsome payload of bombs away

 

[Lord Of Gondor]

AHCS B-777 300ER
View attachment 696942

Gets IAF markings!

Image shared by Gaurav Shetty on Twitter
Also the IAF EMB-135BJ of AHCS, "Gagandoot" on ferry duties for EAM Dr. S Jaishankar

From Tblisi, Georgia(Images shared by EAM on Twitter)
Carried the Holy Relics of St. Queen Ketevan!

 

[Lord Of Gondor]

Su-30 MKI from 15 Sqn "The Flying Lancers" getting the honour to host Lt.Gen. Joshi, Veer Chakra on his flypast over Pt.4875 to celebrate the life of Captain Vikram Batra, Param Veer Chakra

Images shared by the Army
(Lt. Gen Joshi on the LHS of the Mortar and Gen. Ved Malik , 1999)

 

[Lord Of Gondor]

Read an interesting report on the RuFAF "Aviadarts 2021" competition. The Su-30SM won the crown in the fighter category, very impressive feat. The two person crew philosophy, the super maneuverability, massive range and powerful sensors make for a sound platform.

Some random browsing around on Jetphotos yielded this stunner

IAF Bombardier Global 5000 ELINT/SIGINT jet in Athens Greece (Photo date is 13 July)

The Global 5000s incorporate various multi-mission airborne reconnaissance and surveillance systems, including electro-optical and synthetic aperture radars. Their multi-mission airborne reconnaissance and surveillance systems will be used on missions along India’s borders with China and Pakistan. It is reported that their new equipment will be able to collect electronic and ground intelligence up to 110 miles (180km) inside neighbouring countries’ borders. Alan Warnes

https://tangentlink.com/indias-new-special-mission-global-5000s-service/

 

[MirageBlue]

Su-30MKIs on the flight line..

New DRDO A-319 test-bed for the upcoming AWACS project. This is an ex Air-India air frame.

 

[Yasser76]

If below is true then it means even by end of this year IAFD will still only have 2 LCA squadrons and MK1A production will only start in 2023.At this rate it will take them till 2031 to produce all 83 planes.


“We have to produce 10 more of these,"

Delayed by Covid, HAL jet deliveries to start from July

Ventilator unused at Nurpur hospital, patients rush to...

www.tribuneindia.com

 

[Gomig-21]

How can one infer that it is the RVV-SD?

Interestingly enough, we had this discussion in the EGY Armed Forces thread with @Lord Of Gondor (aka LoG lol) about 6 months ago or so since we were trying to determine if the EAF had bought the newer, more modern and longer ranged RVV-SD and not settled for the older and shorter range AE, and we determined the only visible differences between the two missiles is the ends, or the nozzles area. The newer SD has a tapered end, whereas the AE just has a straight nozzle end to it and that really is the only, visible and visual difference between the two otherwise they look identical. Plus it's very difficult to see that tapered end in pics that are of the missile at a certain distance. Once you get to that distance or beyond it, you just can't tell.

This is the RVV-AE with the straight end:

This is the newer and improved RVV-SD with the tapered end:

That's the only visible way to tell the difference and good luck trying to identify the missile in a pic on a flying aircraft! lol Very difficult, but sometime on a high res and close enough like on the tarmac etc., you might be able to catch that end detail and be able to tell the difference.

Saw this today from September 2020 on the tarmac in Ambala, India.

 

[Lord Of Gondor]

Russia hands over commercial offer of 21 MiG-29 fighters to India