IAF will field 15 Awacs & 42 Fighter Fighter Sqds by 2022

[Storm Force]

Two major annoucements by the IAF Cheif of staff Air Marshall Browne confirmed what the PAF will be or should be preparing to FACE OFF against over the next decade.

The first was this statement today

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will be aiming to induct and operate as many as 15 airborne warning and control systems in the next decade which will include the soon-to-be initiated programme of India Airborne Warning and Control System.

Speaking after an event organised to commemorate the arrival of the Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) System (EMB 145i) here, Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne said, “It’s a very large country and our interests are extending beyond our borders as well, including Car Nicobar islands and those areas so we require that number of platforms.”

Browne said that the new AEW&C systems, mounted on Brazilian Embraer aircraft would be based in the Western Border.

“The AEW&C will be inducted into the Indian Air Force in April 2014,” Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister and Chief of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) V K Saraswat said.

Adding that the first of the three aircraft landed in Bangalore a month ago, he said the second one would land in December while the third aircraft is currently undergoing various certification trials in Brazil.

India already has Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft under development using the Russian IL-76 platform and the Israeli Phalcon Radar and has proposed an indigenously developed programme India AWACS.

Even though the first of the three aircrafts had already been with the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), Saraswat said that the challenging part of the work remains to be completed now by the team.

Director of CABS said that there are more than 60 antennas and sensors as well as modifications to install the CABS developed Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA).

Browne also said that the IAF would complete all negotiations with French Defence major Dassault Aviation on the 126 aircraft Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) deal.

He also said that the IAF will soon award the contract to either Airbus A330 Multirole tanker transport (MRTT) or IL-78 aircraft for aerial refuelling tankers.

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AND the second was confirmation that the MMRCA rafale negotiations and TOT procedures are nearing a resolution with the contract to be awared to RAFALE this fiscal year ie before end of March 2013

This article first appeared in Aerospace Daily & Defense Report.

NEW DELHI -- India expects to finalize the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) deal by March 2013, according to the country's air force chief, N.A.K. Browne.

"The negotiations are absolutely on with Dassault Aviation," Browne says. "We hope that at least this financial year [which runs through March 2013], we should be able to finish the negotiations and finalize the deal" for 126 Rafale fighters. After a global competition, the Rafale beat out the other finalist, the Eurofighter Typhoon.

The Indian air force is likely to get 18 aircraft from Dassault in fly-away condition; the rest would be manufactured by the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) under license from Dassault.

"It is a very complex project, as we are discussing various areas like transfer of technology, the offset [agreements], what HAL will do and the cost as well," Browne says.

Though Browne didn't detail the latest cost estimates, the deal is expected to cost India $15 billion to $20 billion.

The multibillion dollar deal will be first export order for Dassault. The French fighters are expected to replace India's aging MiG-21 fleet from the Soviet era.

Rafale and Typhoon were the finalists after India in April 2011 ruled out the Boeing F/A-18, Lockheed Martin F-16, Saab Gripen and United Aircraft Corporation MiG-35

 

[Storm Force]

The queit low key arrival of a second AWACS type

And the MASSIVE signing of the MMRCA wil SHAPE the cutting edge of the IAF in the decade to come and these are no longer conjecture or could happen . INFACT THEY ARE FINALLY HAPPENING and the PAF needs to respond and make readiness for facing off against this type of opponent

The days of a predominate russian mig fleet with short legs no eyes and ears in the skys is over.

 

[joekrish]

Wow that's good news, hope they do not delay the sign up any further.

 

[Storm Force]

Rafale deal is defo virtually done

IAF threw out any proposal that EADS & Typhoon tried out way back in may 2012.

Its just a question of will it happen late this Year ie DEC 2012 or early January to March 2013...

The rafale will respresent IAF premiere mluti role Strike fighter threat

Rafale deal is defo virtually done

IAF threw out any proposal that EADS & Typhoon tried out way back in may 2012.

Its just a question of will it happen late this Year ie DEC 2012 or early January to March 2013...

The rafale will respresent IAF premiere mluti role Strike fighter threat

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Buddy, the 15 or so AWACS are meant for both Pakistan and China and not Pakistan alone. The article does not even mention PAF or PLAAF. Why are you making it sound like only the PAF will be facing these beasts?

 

[Mitro]

It's good news and i hope they "politians" don't mess up the plans .and we all know how things works in india. so hope for the best and pray that our economy is also good .
I think 10 years is a long way and i know PAF is also working their strategy accordingly.

 

[Donatello]

Thanks for letting us know.

 

[faithfulguy]

Another future thread. Isn't there a thread about India will have them fastest growing major economy by 2012? I wonder why happened to that prediction.

 

[arcelite]

You missed faithful guy over there

 

[ajtr]

It's good news and i hope they "politians" don't mess up the plans .and we all know how things works in india. so hope for the best and pray that our economy is also good .
I think 10 years is a long way and i know PAF is also working their strategy accordingly.

If there is good money to make from defence deal then politicians will never mess it up.....

in future IAF should have budget for 65 fighter squadrons to meet the need of indian security.

 

[REHAN NIAZI FALCON]

tension MAKAWA ,
indians have this habit of talking loud for no reason ,
plz place 30 awacs and 1000 fighters ........ still u will be in more fear than us

 

[janon]

tension MAKAWA ,
indians have this habit of talking loud for no reason ,
plz place 30 awacs and 1000 fighters ........ still u will be in more fear than us

Yes, sane people with maniacal neighbours will always be more scared than the maniacal neighbours. The maniac has nothing to fear because he lives in his own delusions. The sane person will always be wary of the maniac and plan accordingly. Which is what you are seeing here.

Pakistan has nothing to fear, since India does not covete pakistan's territories. India has something to fear because of our neighbour's futile ambitions.

 

[Break the Silence]

Same news again and again... if they mean it.. then they they should do it ASAP.

 

[Mitro]

If there is good money to make from defence deal then politicians will never mess it up.....

in future IAF should have budget for 65 fighter squadrons to meet the need of indian security.

Of course if they have chance they make more money in commission then the supplier and will buy junk like they used to do from Russia .
Seriously we need 65 squadrons I don"t think so .
Future in air war is quality 4th or 5th generation .

 

[Windjammer]

Yes, sane people with maniacal neighbours will always be more scared than the maniacal neighbours. The maniac has nothing to fear because he lives in his own delusions. The sane person will always be wary of the maniac and plan accordingly. Which is what you are seeing here.

Pakistan has nothing to fear, since India does not covete pakistan's territories. India has something to fear because of our neighbour's futile ambitions.

India is worried about a lot of things, hence has issues with Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, and every other neighbouring country, one wonders if snow white dressed in a Saree or Alfred Nobel supported a pony tail and Dhoti.