Indian Air Force News & Discussions

[sancho]

@sancho why was it closed??

Maybe because he thought that MMRCA is already decided after Rafale was selected L1. Personally, I think it's a big loss for the forum and it would have been better to simply re-name it to Rafale news and discussion thread. However, it is as it is and now I'm posting any news about Rafale in this thread:

http://www.defence.pk/forums/indian-defence/163714-rafales-mini-encylopedia-its-fanboyz-17.html

 

[SpArK]

Maybe because he thought that MMRCA is already decided after Rafale was selected L1. Personally, I think it's a big loss for the forum and it would have been better to simply re-name it to Rafale news and discussion thread. However, it is as it is and now I'm posting any news about Rafale in this thread:

http://www.defence.pk/forums/indian-defence/163714-rafales-mini-encylopedia-its-fanboyz-17.html

You may request to reopen it to Antibody or Aeronaut. They can also change the titles. Send them a PM.

 

[sancho]

You may request to reopen it to Antibody or Aeronaut. They can also change the titles. Send them a PM.

Did that back then, let's leave it at that.

 

[SpArK]

Did that back then, let's leave it at that.

I would also like to request but Aeronaut wont listen to me. He thinks im Annunaki alien from nebula.

 

[RPK]

 

[arp2041]

Indian Air Force [IAF] - Themed Calendar For 2013

 

[arp2041]

WISHING YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

[sancho]

Interesting for Indian forces that considers the C27J as a possible addition:

US Scraps Afghan Cargo Plane Fleet

The U.S. military is scrapping the Afghan Air Force's entire fleet of Italian-made cargo planes, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday...

...For more than a year, though, most of the planes had been little more than expensive aviation exhibitions, unable to fly due to lack of spare parts and maintenance.

Now, despite spending nearly $600 million on the program, the U.S. is canceling the contract for the aircraft and disposing of all 16 planes delivered to the Afghan Air Force, the Journal reported...

...This decision comes after failed attempts by the contractor to generate a sufficient number of fully mission-capable aircraft that would provide an effective airlift capability for the AAF," Gulick said in the email...

...The entire fleet of C-27As was grounded in December 2011 and even recently only four to six planes have been able to operate at any one time, Afghan Air Force spokesman Col. Mohammad Bahadur said in an interview with Stars and Stripes.

"The basic problem is that these airplanes were purchased without spare parts," Bahadur said. "For a small part, you need to wait for weeks or months."

US Scraps Afghan Cargo Plane Fleet | Military.com

 

[sancho]

An on the other side:

Airbus Military begins flight tests of C295 winglets

Airbus Military has begun flight-testing a modification to add winglets to the C295 medium transport and surveillance aircraft – one of a series of product developments underway on the market-leading type.

The winglets, which are short extensions to the wingtips of the aircraft, have the potential to improve performance in the take-off, climb and cruise phases of flight by increasing the lift-drag ratio.

Possible in-service benefits include improved hot and high runway performance, increased range and endurance, and reduced operating costs...

Airbus Military begins flight tests of C295 winglets - Airbus Military

 

[Abingdonboy]

Interesting for Indian forces that considers the C27J as a possible addition:



US Scraps Afghan Cargo Plane Fleet | Military.com

@sancho sir, I don't think this has too much of a baring on India and its upcoming induction plans, I had also heard this news and from what I can glean this was a monumental eff up on the US side (who purchased these on behalf of the ANAF) as they gifted the maintenance to a US based firm -L3,who failed supremely. Additionally these planes were C-27As whose supplies are incredibly hard to get a hold of since the type has been out of production for almost 2 decades.

 

[selvan33]

IAF to deploy Mi-17 V5 squadron near Indo-Pak border

Posted On: Jan 02, 2013

The Mi-17 V5 helicopter of the IAF.
JODHPUR (PTI): Strengthening its presence along the Pakistan border, the Indian Air force (IAF) is deploying a squadron of its latest Mi-17 V5 helicopters, comprising about 15 aircraft, at the Phalodi air base near Jodhpur in Rajasthan.

IAF chief Air Marshal NAK Browne will induct the new helicopters on January 7, defence spokesperson Colonel SD Goswami said.

The helicopter is an upgrade of the Mi-17 in medium-lift category and is equipped with sophisticated avionics and on-board navigation systems.

"It has on-board weather radar, state-of-the art autopilot and is equipped with the latest generation night vision devices. With these, the helicopter can undertake all- weather, day-night operations in any kind of terrain," he said.

Located between Jaisalmer and Jodhpur, Phalodi Air base was set up in 2010 for air defence purposes in the western sector.

 

[sancho]

@sancho sir, I don't think this has too much of a baring on India and its upcoming induction plans, I had also heard this news and from what I can glean this was a monumental eff up on the US side (who purchased these on behalf of the ANAF) as they gifted the maintenance to a US based firm -L3,who failed supremely. Additionally these planes were C-27As whose supplies are incredibly hard to get a hold of since the type has been out of production for almost 2 decades.

It should, because the spare supply issue is based at Alenia, which is the prime manufacturer of the aircraft, no matter if we talk about the A or the current J versions. Even the US forces are scrapping their J orders, because of high operational costs, but also because of technical issues.
On the other side, the performance upgrades of the C295 could be very interesting for Indian forces, be it for IAF and BSF, since they might use more airstrips, or IN, ICG, since they can benefit from more range and endurance.

 

[cirr]

DefenceMin goes global in search for Kaveri partner

Ajai Shukla / Bangalore Jan 04, 2013

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) will no longer ask French aircraft engine builder Snecma to help it in resurrecting the indigenous Kaveri jet engine, which has reached a dead end in development.

DefenceMin goes global in search for Kaveri partner

 

[Agnostic_Indian]

Airbus MRTT Bags IAF's Air Tanker Deal

Posted on: January 05, 2013Airbus has pipped Russian Ilyushin to bag a deal worth over USD 1.5 billion to supply six mid-air refueling tanker aircraft to the IAF, which will deploy them to extend the striking range of its fighter jets deployed along the Indo-China border in the Northeast.The European Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft has emerged as the lowest bidder in the deal edging out its Russian rival Ilyushin-78 on the basis of life-time cost of operating the respective planes and has been offered the contract, defence sources said here.As per the defence procurement procedure, the firm offering the lowest price and meeting all tender requirements is awarded the contract.The six aircraft will add to existing fleet of equal number of Il-78s operated by the IAF to extend the flying range of its fighter aircraft, including the frontline Su-30MKI and Mirage 2000 aircraft.The Defence Ministry will now engage the European firm in commercial negotiations to finalise the contract for the six aircraft, which will be deployed in Panagarh at West Bengal.The IAF has based its Su-30 MKIs in Tezpur and Chabua in Assam. So far, the Russian IL-78 mid-air refueling planes based in Agra were catering to the entire air force.An earlier tender for procuring these aircraft was scrapped in 2010 after the Finance Ministry expressed reservations on the procedure.

Airbus MRTT Bags IAF's Air Tanker Deal

 

[arp2041]

@Abingdonboy @gessler @sancho chk this link:

Il-78MKI Aerial Refuelling Tanker Aircrafts Of The Indian Air Force [IAF] - AA Me, IN