IAF retiring MiG-23MF this Week

[Adux]

Adux,
While I cannot change your thoughts,most of the western world is worried about the chinese developments and rate the J10 as an advanced 4th generation(by some accounts4.3 Generation in its present form)plane. With more maturity, it will give the best planes in the world a run for their money. Please dont withold recognition where it is due, it only serves to show ones own insecurity. Please dont take it as a personal remark, but feel free to respond with a valid counter argument.
regards
Araz

Araz,

Thank you for your thoughts, and I agree with you. Chinese have done well, and they deserve credit, But Calling a J-10 4th Gen is discrediting Eurofighter, Rafale etc and I do think they deserve credit, so their scientist, that reconginition is that it is far ahead of the J-10. Lets be realistic and accept that an F-16I, F-16 Block52 and F-16 Block 60 is far far ahead. J-10 is 3.5 at its best, Lets hope Chinese come up with some good electronics.

 

[Neo]

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Indian air force retires more aged MiGs

NEW DELHI: India’s air force bid farewell Tuesday to some of its last active Soviet-era jets, which are set to be replaced by new hardware from either Russia, the United States or Europe. Four of its five remaining MiG-23 jets, which have top speeds of up to 2,500 kilometres an hour, staged a fly-past from an air base in western India before the entire squadron was declared retired, an air force spokesman said. The planes - referred to by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) as the “Flogger” - were bought from the Soviet Union in the early 1980’s during a frenetic arms race with South Asian arch-rival Pakistan. “The last flight of these aircraft is special as they were among the only two units to have operated the swing-wing variants of the MiG-23 in countering possible threats from Pakistan’s F-16s,” the air force said. Air force chief SP Tyagi, top military brass and diplomats were on hand at the Jamnagar air base in Gujarat which was India’s key aviation base during its 1971 war with Pakistan, for the final fly-past of the supersonic jets, witnesses said.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\03\21\story_21-3-2007_pg4_18

 

[nomi007]

Indians are kicking out Russians jets

 

[blain2]

MiG-23 were only for air defence and it was India's first Aircraft with BVR missile Vympel R-23 (35km), funny thing is that IAF is retiring its first BVR capable aircraft from its inventory while PAF is just inducting them

This is a bit faulty. PAF has operated Matra R530 (now obsolete) for a very long time and even used one in anger. It had a range of 30km but, as was the case with all first generation BVR missiles like R-23, Sparrow etc., very limited guidance and kill rates. R530 was inducted in early 70s.

 

[intelarpit]

2 yrs old thread

 

[Haanzo]

people here re very good at leasing new life into a dead horse

 

[DMLA]

This is a bit faulty. PAF has operated Matra R530 (now obsolete) for a very long time and even used one in anger. It had a range of 30km but, as was the case with all first generation BVR missiles like R-23, Sparrow etc., very limited guidance and kill rates. R530 was inducted in early 70s.

Can you provide a source for the R530 range? AFAIK, it has a maximum range of 10-11 miles.

thanks in advance

 

[Frankenstein]

Can you provide a source for the R530 range? AFAIK, it has a maximum range of 10-11 miles.

thanks in advance

Might be some error, its 20 km

 

[blain2]

people here re very good at leasing new life into a dead horse

It matters little how old the thread is when a factual error is being corrected.

 

[blain2]

Might be some error, its 20 km

At and beyond ~9km on a very good, clear day, it becomes a BVR engagement. R530's range is quoted to be anywhere between 20-30km depending on the source. I was recalling from memory. The R-23 fared no better.

This one says 18km:
http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/cgi-bin/res.pl?keyword=Matra+R530&offset=0

This one says 20km:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matra_R530

 

[harrymohan]

man this was one cheap plane like $3.6 million each! airforce can make good numbers with planes like this!

 

[Pralay_Nath_ForYou]

Farewell MIG-23s you have served our Nation well. You will be remembered as Potent fighters! Let haters Fly their Chinese Gliders into war with a gud radar then will will see who is better!

 

[harrymohan]

Farewell MIG-23s you have served our Nation well. You will be remembered as Potent fighters! Let haters Fly their Chinese Gliders into war with a gud radar then will will see who is better!

Actually they retired Mig23s in 2007

 

[Pralay_Nath_ForYou]

Actually they retired Mig23s in 2007

NO, Mig-23 were being used as trainers, if I am not wrong the twin seaters, now they have been retired completely or some may be there!!

 

[Indian Su30 MKI]

IAF aint that fond of MiG-23, But they are crazy for MiG-27

Adu Sir where are you. You are my favourite poster in this forum.Your debating skill is excellent