Diversity in Indian Air to Air missile Arsenal - a discussion

[Stag112]

Indian Airforce will soon field one of the most diverse arsenals of top of the line Air to Air missiles, BVR and WVR both.

European -
Meteor
MICA
ASRAAM

Israeli -
Derby
Python

Indian
Astra

Russian
R series
Novator K100 ?
Any new developments for PAKFA ??

American - potential with possible acquisition of F16s

I am no expert at all, but I would love to hear from experts on what this means for

1 Indian air force tactics and doctrine

2 threat level to PAF tactics as they would not know what missile ia being fired at them

Any house trolls who want to talk about Modi or shyteheads who think 'hindu man marries rat' is a defence forum thread are requested to stick to the appropriate threads. Thanks.

@Oscar @Taygibay your views pls

 

[Taygibay]

1 Indian air force tactics and doctrine

2 threat level to PAF tactics as they would not know what missile ia being fired at them

I'll let the 2 questions together, you'll see why!

So, a lot of missiles, different capabilities, must be good, right?
It is ( and will lead to writing new tactics ) but could be better.

Each missile is coupled to a platform. What you learn is how to
use that missile in conjunction with that platform. Right?
The tactics for each combo are getting re-written and their place
in the greater tactical book of the airforce may shrink or grow.

There's more depth there but first, let's clear the field a tad :
_MiGs 29 K and UPG can be bunched as support to MKI;
_Let's leave prospective out and keep confirmed fighters only;
_But accepting the planned worksheet for Tejas ( Mk1A, Mk2 ).

We're left with 5 aircrafts : SU30MKI, Rafale, M2000I/TI, Darin III Jaguars, LCA in various guises.

With the Tejas trainer getting a 2052 by say 2020 , and the
Super30s getting the Zhuk-AE, four will sport AESAs, all being
dual seaters. During that period, training, collaborative or not,
will be immensely fruitful.

In 2019, Rafale will start the dance by bringing a new level.
Training with MKIs, 2000s and Tejas on old radars but also
Jags with AESA, mixing it up with both types with or against
the rest will be an amazing time for the pilots to grow in.

M2000I stays put but TEJAS or MKI get their AESA upgrades.
Training at that point will intensify. Each new jet will come
back with a vengeance & tactics will change as fast as fashion.
For example, if both Jags and LCAs sport Eltas 2052, there'll
be a subset of expertise to be gained by comparing the duos?

Because in the end, that's what there will still be happening,
comparing platforms with associated kit except for the above.
And except for missiles, including some air to ground BTW.

The real riches will IMHoO unfold when missiles are used
across platforms. The MICA will be on 2 jets but only one
will exploit it with AESA. Worse, the ASRAAM will fit Jags only.
K100 is unlikely to fit anything but SuperSukhoisMKI30.

Let's now think about which missiles could be ported across
the IAF stable. Indigenous ones as ASTRA spring to mind.
Then, the BrahMos-NG is supposed to arrive and if all the
promises are kept to get onboard 3 of our jets ( MKI/Raffy/LCA ).
By then, ASTRA should be on those too and also on different
non AESA types ( 29UPG/2000I/TI ). The scope of experience
obtained will be broader than ever with such a local product
being exploited and adapted by the multiple field feedbacks.


As for putting dates on all of that, considering S.I.T. and all,
I have no idea. I may be weird but I still ain't that crazy!!!


And therein lies the problem maybe. The sooner each objective
in the list is attained, the sooner the tactical rewards. Good luck!

Good day to you and Oscar if/when he comes, Tay.

 

[enquencher]

I'll let the 2 questions together, you'll see why!

So, a lot of missiles, different capabilities, must be good, right?
It is ( and will lead to writing new tactics ) but could be better.

Each missile is coupled to a platform. What you learn is how to
use that missile in conjunction with that platform. Right?
The tactics for each combo are getting re-written and their place
in the greater tactical book of the airforce may shrink or grow.

There's more depth there but first, let's clear the field a tad :
_MiGs 29 k and UPG can be bunched as support to MKI;
_Let's leave prospective out and keep confirmed fighters only;
_But accepting the planned worksheet for Tejas ( Mk1A, Mk2 ).

We're left with 5 aircrafts : SU30MKI, Rafale, M2000I/TI, Darin III Jaguars, LCA in various guises.

With the Tejas trainer getting a 2052 by say 2020 , and the
Super30s getting the Zhuk-AE, four will sport AESAs, all being
dual seaters. During that period, training collaborative or not
will be immensely fruitful.

In 2019, Rafale will start the dance by bringing a new level.
Training with MKIs, 2000s and Tejas on old radars but also
Jags with AESA, mixing it up with both types with or against
the rest will be an amazing time for the pilots to grow win.

M2000I stays put but TEJAS or MKI get their AESA upgrades.
Training at that point will intensify. Each new jet will come
back with a vengeance & tactics will change as fast as fashion.
For example, if both Jags and LCAs sport Eltas 2052, there'll
be a subset of expertise to be gained by comparing the duos?

Because in the end, that's what there will still be happening,
comparing platforms with associated kit except for the above.
And except for missiles, including some air to ground BTW.

The real riches will IMHoO unfold when missiles are used
across platforms. The MICA will be on 2 jets but only one
will exploit it with AESA. Worse, the ASRAAM will fit Jags only.
K100 is unlikely to fit anything but SuperSukhoisMKI30.

Let's now think about which missiles could be ported across
the IAF stable. Indigenous ones as ASTRA spring to mind.
Then, the BrahMos-NG is supposed to arrive and if all the
promises are kept to get onboard 3 of our jets ( MKI/Raffy/LCA ).
By then, ASTRA should be on those too and also on different
non AESA types ( 29UPG/2000I/TI ). The scope of experience
obtained will be broader than ever with such a local product
being exploited and adapted by the multiple field feedbacks.


As for putting dates on all of that, considering S.I.T. and all,
I have no idea. I may be weird but I still ain't that crazy!!!


And therein lies the problem maybe. The sooner each objective
in the list is attained, the sooner the tactical rewards. Good luck!

Good day to you and Oscar if/when he comes, Tay.

What u have jus stated...is so much of confusion to understand....i wonder its not that difficult to operate so many types of bvr missiles on so many differnt types of aircrafts with diferrent types of radars

 

[Taygibay]

What u have jus stated...is so much of confusion to understand....i wonder its not that difficult to operate so many types of bvr missiles on so many differnt types of aircrafts with diferrent types of radars

It's not that it is difficult but that it is complex.
It will produce complex results but also a more
complete return on experience.

In a sense, after being laughed at for having too
many types for so long, the IAF is actually going
to profit from that situation.
As they say in the far west, revenge is sweet ...
to the heart of the Indian.

OFC it's different Indians but still, Tay.