IAF may get 6 sea planes

[jha]

IAF may get 6 sea planes​

In a bid to boost security around the strategic tri-services Andaman and Nicobar Command and ensure adequate surveillance over the island chain, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is considering acquisition of about six amphibious sea planes that can operate from sea.
“Acquisition of amphibious sea-planes is being considered since these have a much longer range than helicopters which need helipads to land on. The sea planes will be used to move personnel to any of the islands in the chain, many of which are uninhabited. Sea-planes will also perform the task of surveillance,” explained a source.
Most of the islands in the chain are rocky and considered unsuitable for building of helipads on these. Proposed acquisition of the sea planes could come at a cost of over Rs 200 crores.
Following the Mumbai terror attacks, the threat perception of terrorists using the sea route has increased enormously. Further, the government is also anxious to ensure that no terror group is able to operate from and take over any of the uninhabited islands that form part of Indian territory.
Acquisition of amphibious sea planes by the IAF will also boost India’s maritime power and will augment the proposed growth in the aircraft and fleet strength of the Indian Navy which is hoping to acquire more indigenous aircraft carriers and naval fighter aircraft MiG-29 K apart from submarines with air independent propulsion (AIP) and stealth frigates that will be built at Indian shipyards.
In fact, experts at a government conference held last year in the Andamans had called for the establishment of a nuclear power station in one of the islands in the chain and also bases from where aircraft carriers and nuclear-powered submarines could operate.
Experts believe that the tri-services Andaman and Nicobar Command will have an increased significance in the next decade, considering the strategic location of the island.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are geographically located closer to Southeast Asia than even the Indian mainland and give India a strategic presence in the Southeast Asian region.

 

[jha]

Seems to have gone unnoticed in IAF thread..comments awaited..

 

[Donatello]

But why IAF?

Why not IN?

 

[KEETARP]

Jha Ji
Old news , Tender is already out .
Bombardier with 415 & Beriev with Be-200 are competing

These are Req -

Specs ----
-Twin Engined craft
-Range of at least 800-nm
-Short take-off capability
-Cruising speed of about 200 knots

-State-of-the-art avionics and EW kit, including RWR/MAWS

Should be able to perform these tasks ---
-search and rescue missions
-inter-island communication,
-rapid response duties
-reconnaissance of islands

I would say give it to Be-200 , much more capable and versatile than Bm-145 .
Has Anti-submarine capability as well . Could be easily configured to perform Fire-fighting role - True multi-role aircraft

Cockpit of Be200

To add Be-200 would please Russia and esp Irkut corp bcoz they manufacture them .





This is Bm-415

Cockpit 415

Must add BM415 has been offered with extensive EW suite .

 

[Chanakyaa]

so this will be Naval WING OF iAF... GREAT.

 

[British_Bangladeshi]

congtratulations to India if they get it.

 

[sancho]

Jha Ji
Old news , Tender is already out .
Bombardier with 415 & Beriev with Be-200 are competing

I also would prefer the Be 200 (isn't the coast guard evaluating them too?), because of their multi role capabilities. But I also would ask the question of penumbra again, why IAF and not IN?
The article says to transport troops to the islands, as well as for surveillance missions, but the maritime patrol role is an IN role and if troop transport is needed, those aircrafts could be used if they were in service in IN too. So isn't it wrong to have several aircrafts, in several forces, for pretty much the same role/use?
That's the same question as always asked myself with the Jaguar IMs (only 12 in numbers), with dedicated anti ship weapons and avionics. Wouldn't it be better if they serve in the IN air wing and they could concentrate the pilot training, specially for the anti ship role with Sea Harrier, or now Mig 29K pilots?

 

[KEETARP]

Sancho Coast Guard are looking for Dornier-Seaplane .

Why IAF & not IN , i am also surprised

IMO has to do with naval arm of IN .
And the fact that IAF has an operational base in Island

We are really short of air-reco platforms for navy .
Tu142 are ageing ,
by the time P8I gets inducted ,
we may well be into last phase of retiring these Tu142 .
Il-38 may be upgraded but still nos are less to provide whole range of operations .
Moreover these are pretty much dedicated Maritime & ISR platforms . Cost of operating and flight-plan management is more .

This is why Navy decided to order Medium Maritime platforms with multirole capabilities .
Dassault's Falcon jet & Boeing's P8 lighter version were in fight
But later ministry cancelled the tender .

So when tender was cancelled for IN , may be IAF had the last say

 

[Markus]

Sea Planes for the Air Force

Next what? Fighter planes for the Army!!!

Tactical planning error or an ingenious solution ???

Better create a new force Called "Indian Marines" who can handle ships, planes et all

 

[Break the Silence]

Sea Planes for the Air Force

Next what? Fighter planes for the Army!!!

Tactical planning error or an ingenious solution ???

Better create a new force Called "Indian Marines" who can handle ships, planes et all

 

[jha]

thanks Prateek for the info...

On a side note i have worked with Bombardier aerospace on one of their project...hard working people ..always kept me on toes.