Indian Air Force News & Discussions

[sudhir007]

Press Information Bureau English Releases

Golden Arrows Complete 60 Years of Glorious Service to the Nation

‘Golden Arrows’, the gallant 17 squadron of the Indian Air Force is celebrating its 60th anniversary today. Formed in 1951 at Ambala with Harvard IIB aircraft, the squadron saw action in 1965 and 1971 wars. It also played a key role in ‘Op Safed Sagar’, the Kargil conflict in 1999 and earned the highest number of gallantry awards in the IAF including a Vir Chakra (Posthumous) awarded to Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja.

The celebrations to mark 60 years of glorious service to the nation are being held in the traditional Air Force way at its parent base, along the Western border. The Commodore Commandant of the Squadron Air Vice Marshal BS Dhanoa YSM VM, Air Officer Commanding, Air Commodore Vishwas Gaur VM and the Commanding Officer Wing Commander Rajesh Nandedkar placed the wreath at the War Memorial.

The other celebrations during the event included a Barakhana and a special drill display by the Air Warrior Drill Team and thrilling Skydiving display by ‘Akash Ganga’ team.. The Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Rajesh Nandedkar described this as a “momentous occasion” for the squadron and said that he was proud and honoured to be Commanding the Squadron at this time. He added that the presence of the Commodore Commandant, Air Vice Marshal BS Dhanoa YSM VM, on this historic occasion who was the Commanding Officer of the squadron during Kargil conflict, made these celebrations significant. The then Wing Commander BS Dhanoa was awarded Yudh Seva Medal (YSM) for his sterling leadership during the conflict as the glorious phase in the history of the Golden Arrows, when one Vir Chakra, one Yudh Seva Medal, two Vayu Sena Medals and two Mention-in-Dispatches were awarded for the operations. The squadron played a key role in filming the enemy positions which facilitated their subsequent targeting during the conflict.

Speaking of the occasion, Air Vice Marshal BS Dhanoa credited the achievements of the squadrons to the strong lineage of Commanding Officer, who built such strong foundations and carried forward the highest traditions of the IAF. Many of them rose to the highest rung of the IAF echelons including Air Chief Marshal LM Katre PVSM AVSM and Bar, the Chief of the Air Staff from 04 Sep 1984 to 01 Jul 1985. The other illustrious Commanding Officer of the yesteryears include Air Commodore Jasjit Singh, Air Marshal Janak Kapoor, Air Marshal R Bhasin and Air Marshal MSD Wollen. The squadron was stationed in the Eastern theatre for a considerable period including 1971 Indo-Pak war. It mounted continuous Combat Air Patrol (CAP) missions during the war to keep the enemy air at bay.

Rich tributes were paid to the Martyrs on the occasion, who in the highest traditions of the service made the supreme sacrifice for the nation. It is these spirited men, who charted the course of history and set standards for successive generations to follow. In his message to the Squadron the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command, Air Marshal DC Kumaria stated; “These traditions are the treasure troves of all fighting arms”.

 

[sudhir007]

Belarus may buy outdated Su-30 fighters from Russia | Defense | RIA Novosti

Eighteen Su-30K fighter jets which were delivered by Russia to India in the 1990s could end up in service with the Belarusian air force, respected Russian business daily Kommersant said on Friday.

Russia and India agreed on the sale of advanced Su-30MKI fighters to the Indian air force in mid-1990s, but Moscow had not been able to deliver the aircraft until early 2000. The sides found a compromise - the first 18 fighter jets were delivered in downgraded version, Su-30K, on condition that they would be returned to Russia after being replaced with Su-30MKI.

According to Kommersant, the aircraft were formally returned to Russia's Irkut aircraft corporation, but never touched the Russian soil and ended up in Belarus.

The first 10 jets have been recently delivered to an aircraft plant in Baranovichi for a deep overhaul to the Su-30KN version, Kommersant cited a source close to Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport. The remaining eight are expected to arrive in November.

The source said Belarus was interested in buying the Su-30K because the country cannot afford new aircraft and the deal could be very cheap.

According to Russian experts, the current price for an outdated Su-30K after depreciation is about $10 million. An overhaul would require an additional $5 mln per plane.

"To buy a heavy fighter for $15 mln is a real bargain," Kommersant quoted Ruslan Pukhov, the head of the Russian Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, as saying.

Despite the certain loss from such a deal, Irkut may be forced to sell the Su-30Ks to Belarus because the Russian Defense Ministry will not spend the money on old aircraft, and other potential buyers - Syria and Sudan - are out of the picture for political reasons.

 

[Archie]

17 Sep, 2011, 09.40AM IST, Rajat Pandit,TNN
Soon, Rs 2,900 crore deal for acquiring 75 Swiss Pilatus PC-7 turbo basic trainers jets

NEW DELHI: India is swiftly moving towards inking another major deal for training aircraft to teach rookie pilots the intricacies of combat flying before it stitches up the over $10.4 billion (Rs 42,000 crore) project to acquire 126 top-notch fighters.

The Rs 2,900 crore deal for acquiring 75 Swiss Pilatus PC-7 turbo basic trainers is in the final stages now, with the "note" prepared for the Cabinet Committee on Security being "vetted" by the finance ministry at present, say defence ministry sources.

"While the contract for 126 MMRCA ( medium multi-role combat aircraft) is likely to be inked only by January-February, the trainer deal will be signed this year itself," said a source.

Though the Pilatus trainer had emerged the cheapest among other contenders like American Hawker-Beechcraft's T-6C Texan-II and Korean Aerospace's KT-1 after flight trials, it was dogged by some allegations of irregularities in the procurement process. But MoD has dismissed them, holding the negotiations were completed with the Swiss company based on "its absolutely valid commercial offer".

IAF has long felt the need to modernize its trainer fleet, with young pilots grappling with 114 ageing piston-engined HPT-32s and 137 Kiran-I & II aircraft to learn the inherently-dangerous art of combat flying in supersonic jets. Almost 40% of the over 1,000 crashes recorded in IAF since 1970 have been attributed to "human error (air crew)".

The need for new aircraft is especially urgent since the HPT-32s, which for long served as the basic trainers for its rookie pilots, have been grounded since August 2009 after one of the aircraft crashed due to engine failure.

IAF, of course, is also progressively inducting British Hawk AJTs (advanced jet trainers), 123 of which were ordered in two contracts inked in March 2004 and July 2010 for a total of around Rs 16,000 crore, but they are meant for advanced combat training.

The Pilatus trainers will replace the HPT-32s to provide initial training to rookie pilots. The eventual requirement for the basic trainers could well touch 200, with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) making a bulk of them. The defence PSU is also developing the HJT-36 Sitara to replace the Kirans for intermediate-level training.

Soon, Rs 2,900 crore deal for acquiring 75 Swiss Pilatus PC-7 turbo basic trainers jets - The Economic Times

 

[Abingdonboy]

FIRST DEPLOYMENT OF IAF C-130J:

NDRF personnel wait to board an IAF C-130 bound for Sikkim after the Earthquake hours earlier.

The NDRF's equipment is loaded onto the IAF's C-130J, a NDRF rescue team is a completely self-contained unit that takes with them all the equipment and supplies they could need in the course of their operations.

 

[jha]

Indian Jaguar Re-engining Nears

When India did not shortlist either of the U.S. fighter offerings in its large Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft competition, it raised questions whether something was amiss with the defense-industrial relationship between the two sides.

But U.S. industry still looks to have access to this growth market. The latest sign is that after seven months of on-again, off-again talks, India’s effort to re-engine more than 100 of its Sepecat Jaguar strike aircraft is finally moving forward, with indications that Honeywell will land the deal.

Indian air force officials say the defense minister, in late August, was told to fast-track the acquisition to replace the Jaguar’s Adour Mk811 engines in light of operational considerations and requirements. That effectively means a contract will be awarded to Honeywell for its F125N engine. Both U.S. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pushed for the $650 million deal during their visits to New Delhi last year. U.S. officials suggest that the paperwork for a foreign military sale (FMS) is already being processed. Any deal with Honeywell would involve the purchase of more than 200 engines.

But it is not a done deal. High-level Rolls-Royce officials says they are still in talks with the air force to upgrade the current powerplant. Rolls-Royce did not respond to the service’s request for proposals earlier this year and was believed to have stepped away from the competition in February, saying it had issues with the stated requirement. While Honeywell offered a new engine, Rolls-Royce’s was an upgrade of the existing Adour engine to the Mk821 standard, and therefore not strictly a “re-engining” as demanded by the Indian air force.

“We are still in dialogue with the Indian air force about what we believe is a much more cost-effective and lower-risk engine upgrade program. A package that would minimize aircraft integration and would utilize existing Adour infrastructure in Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., which we believe should be a point of deep importance for the customer,” a senior Rolls-Royce India official says. Military officials confirmed that the firm has held several meetings with the acquisition team since February.

In briefings, Honeywell has criticized Rolls-Royce’s Mk821 program, suggesting that several parts of the engine were yet to be developed fully. Honeywell says its offering, the F125IN, is designed to “drop-fit into existing Jaguar airframes, resulting in an enhanced aircraft with superior mission capabilities and with a projected life-cycle savings of over $1.5 billion.”

Privately, Rolls-Royce has questioned Honeywell’s “drop-fit” claim, suggesting that certifying the F125N on the Jaguar is likely to take an unacceptable length of time from the military’s perspective.

The Indian air force, which began acquiring Jaguars in 1981, has since bought license-built variants from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., and has had them upgraded several times with new navigational aids, weapons capabilities and precision-attack systems, incrementally cranking up platform weight. After several complaints of low thrust across the aircraft’s operational envelope, particularly at medium altitude, the service decided four years ago to search for a new engine. In 2008, an internal study of the options available recommended an engine replacement rather than an upgrade.

Over the next few months, the Indian air force will also come closer to choosing a close-combat air-to-air missile for its Jaguars. The competitive field has been narrowed to MBDA’s Advanced Short-range air-to-air missile and Rafael’s Python 5. Live-fire field evaluations are scheduled to be held before year’s end.

Indian air force chief Air Chief Marshal Norman Browne, a veteran Jaguar pilot himself, has stressed the need for efficient contracting, faced as he is with depleting squadron strength. Four days into office, a fatal Jaguar crash, still under investigation, is understood to have compelled fresh dialogue with the defense ministry to speed up modernization efforts, since they have a bearing on flight safety.

Indian Jaguar Re-engining Nears | AVIATION WEEK

 

[jha]

^^ Wasn't ASRAAM already selected for Jaguar..? And a new AAM was to be designed under a JV...

 

[jha]

Indian Air Force (IAF) Pilots prepare for a Night Drill ahead of Air Force Day celebrations in Kalikunda airbase

 

[Abingdonboy]

^^^ Damn, amazing pics. More please!!

 

[Dash]

The first picture is just awesome...Looks like a herd of angels, who can protect life and kill evil..

 

[Zabaniyah]

Yep, those pics look really awesome

 

[Night_Raven]

Flankers ... sexy !!

 

[anathema]

Wow amazing pics.....are there any more ?

 

[jha]

Flankers ... sexy !!

300 of these lined together..Just imagine...

 

[SpArK]

IAF Chief: Mirage 2000 weapons contract for MICA missiles to be signed this month or the next.

IAF chief showers praise on @LockheedMartin for early delivery of C-130Js.
Says IAF receiving benefit of Rs 400 crore less on follow on order for 6.

 

[Veeru]

Kargil to be a major Indian Air Force base

NEW DELHI: Gaining from its experience of using the Kargil airfield for military operations during the 1999 war with Pakistan, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is all set to develop the airfield into a fullfledged base that can operate all types of medium and heavy lift transport planes.

The IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne, said at the annual press conference ahead of the Air Force Day October 8 that the IAF plans to expand the 6,000-foot runway to enable the base to operate all major transport aircraft such as the Soviet-origin IL-76 heavylift planes, the newly-ordered C-17 heavylift aircraft from the US and the already acquired C-130J Super Hercules for sepecialist operations.

Soviet-origin medium-lift AN-32 transport planes are being operated from the Kargil airfield, in the northern part of Jammu and Kashmir, since the 1999 Kargil war.

The Jammu and Kashmir government had activated the airfield in 1996 for civilian aircraft operations and was under the Airports Authority of India (AAI) till the Kargil war, when the military operations began there.

Since then, the IAF has been operating the AN-32s from the airfield, apart from the Jammu and Kashmir government using it for operating tourist flights.

Kargil to be a major Indian Air Force base - The Economic Times