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More than 39.5 squadrons by 2020
Sri Krishna
BANGALORE, Feb. 12: The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Fali H Major, is confident of the air force having more than 39.5 squadrons by 2020 and reaching the strength by 2017. This time lag is because acquiring aeroplanes, radars and other equipment take long as manufacturing starts after the order is placed, he explained.
Addressing a press conference at the ongoing 7th edition of the AeroIndia Show organised by the ministry of defence and CII, Major said without losing cutting edge we at the moment have 34 squadrons and by 2017 we will have reached the required strength of 39.5 squadrons and by 2020 we would have more.
A day after the defence minister, Mr A K Antony, said the light combat aircraft (LCA), Tejas, would be inducted into the IAF, the air chief was even more specific saying that we expect the first squadron of Tejas to be ready to join by 2010 or early 2011.Every air force goes through phases in life when the strength of the authorised combat squadrons go up and down. The old platform fades out and new platforms need to be inducted. This cycle is common to every air force and there is none in the world which is 100 per cent fully technology efficient, Air Chief Marshal Major said.
On the air force using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), he said, We already have UAVs and we are increasing the strength. The payloads in these UAVs are improving and are getting better and better and the process of expanding the fleet is going on.
On whether after the Mumbai terror attacks, the air force had put acquisition on fast track, he said, I have put nothing on fast track after November 26 and I dont need to. The IAF have the capabilities to fight all kinds of situations. My force strategy and weapons profile is for entire operation of conflict. We have our force deployment in a manner which caters for all our adversaries and low intensity.
On purchasing equipment from those who also supply to Pakistan, he said, It has been happening for generations and depends on the type of equipment and the common platform doesnt bother me. The air chief stressed on the need for indigenising the capability when it came to using these weapons.
On the large number of unused airfields likely to be used by terrorist groups, he said, It is the responsibility of the respective state governments and these can pose a threat and can be used for not so proper purposes.
Heavy weapon testing
The indigenously made light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas which is likely to be inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) by next year or early 2011 would be carrying out heavy weapon testing immediately after the ongoing 7th edition of AeroIndia show here .
We would be carrying out heavy weapon testing immediately after this AeroIndia show and we would be carrying 1000 lb bombs, Group Captain N Tiwari who has been flying these aircraft at the National Flight Testing Centre (NFTC) told The Statesman.
The successful display of the LCA at the air show encouraged the defence minister, Mr AK Antony, and the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Fali H Major, to be confident that the fighter aircraft would be inducted into the IAF at a time when it is planning to purchase 126 combat aircraft for which trials are to begin by April.
We had started weapon testing two years back and we have just started air to ground tests, said Group Captain Tiwari who is at the airshow with his team which had tested the Tejas fighter in both hot and cold weather conditions.
The hot weather trials were held at the Air Force Station (AFS) at Nagpur last year while the sea level trials were conducted at INS Rajali, Arakkonam and Close Combat Missile (CCM) firing at INS Hansa, Goa.
On the test flight of the Tejas at Leh which he had undertaken, Group Captain Tiwari said, There was no major problem and everything looked better than planned. We were very worried whether the aircraft would start at the high altitude but there was no problem. We left it overnight in Leh and everything was fine though the temperature was between -14 degrees Celsius and -16 degrees Celsius and the altitude was 10,300 feet. It took us two days for acclimatisation and only on the third day could be carry out the test flight.
Elaborating on the testing, he said, All our performance targets were met easily. It was more an evaluation of the systems ~ that was the basic intent of the exercise.
On the aircrafts ability to cope with hot weather conditions, he said there too we had no problems. Despite the heat with the temperature touching nearly 45 degrees Celsius, the cockpit remained cool.
On night flying, he said the aircraft has completed the first phase which was done here and the final phase would be undertaken soon.
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Sri Krishna
BANGALORE, Feb. 12: The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Fali H Major, is confident of the air force having more than 39.5 squadrons by 2020 and reaching the strength by 2017. This time lag is because acquiring aeroplanes, radars and other equipment take long as manufacturing starts after the order is placed, he explained.
Addressing a press conference at the ongoing 7th edition of the AeroIndia Show organised by the ministry of defence and CII, Major said without losing cutting edge we at the moment have 34 squadrons and by 2017 we will have reached the required strength of 39.5 squadrons and by 2020 we would have more.
A day after the defence minister, Mr A K Antony, said the light combat aircraft (LCA), Tejas, would be inducted into the IAF, the air chief was even more specific saying that we expect the first squadron of Tejas to be ready to join by 2010 or early 2011.Every air force goes through phases in life when the strength of the authorised combat squadrons go up and down. The old platform fades out and new platforms need to be inducted. This cycle is common to every air force and there is none in the world which is 100 per cent fully technology efficient, Air Chief Marshal Major said.
On the air force using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), he said, We already have UAVs and we are increasing the strength. The payloads in these UAVs are improving and are getting better and better and the process of expanding the fleet is going on.
On whether after the Mumbai terror attacks, the air force had put acquisition on fast track, he said, I have put nothing on fast track after November 26 and I dont need to. The IAF have the capabilities to fight all kinds of situations. My force strategy and weapons profile is for entire operation of conflict. We have our force deployment in a manner which caters for all our adversaries and low intensity.
On purchasing equipment from those who also supply to Pakistan, he said, It has been happening for generations and depends on the type of equipment and the common platform doesnt bother me. The air chief stressed on the need for indigenising the capability when it came to using these weapons.
On the large number of unused airfields likely to be used by terrorist groups, he said, It is the responsibility of the respective state governments and these can pose a threat and can be used for not so proper purposes.
Heavy weapon testing
The indigenously made light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas which is likely to be inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) by next year or early 2011 would be carrying out heavy weapon testing immediately after the ongoing 7th edition of AeroIndia show here .
We would be carrying out heavy weapon testing immediately after this AeroIndia show and we would be carrying 1000 lb bombs, Group Captain N Tiwari who has been flying these aircraft at the National Flight Testing Centre (NFTC) told The Statesman.
The successful display of the LCA at the air show encouraged the defence minister, Mr AK Antony, and the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Fali H Major, to be confident that the fighter aircraft would be inducted into the IAF at a time when it is planning to purchase 126 combat aircraft for which trials are to begin by April.
We had started weapon testing two years back and we have just started air to ground tests, said Group Captain Tiwari who is at the airshow with his team which had tested the Tejas fighter in both hot and cold weather conditions.
The hot weather trials were held at the Air Force Station (AFS) at Nagpur last year while the sea level trials were conducted at INS Rajali, Arakkonam and Close Combat Missile (CCM) firing at INS Hansa, Goa.
On the test flight of the Tejas at Leh which he had undertaken, Group Captain Tiwari said, There was no major problem and everything looked better than planned. We were very worried whether the aircraft would start at the high altitude but there was no problem. We left it overnight in Leh and everything was fine though the temperature was between -14 degrees Celsius and -16 degrees Celsius and the altitude was 10,300 feet. It took us two days for acclimatisation and only on the third day could be carry out the test flight.
Elaborating on the testing, he said, All our performance targets were met easily. It was more an evaluation of the systems ~ that was the basic intent of the exercise.
On the aircrafts ability to cope with hot weather conditions, he said there too we had no problems. Despite the heat with the temperature touching nearly 45 degrees Celsius, the cockpit remained cool.
On night flying, he said the aircraft has completed the first phase which was done here and the final phase would be undertaken soon.
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