Indian Air Force News & Discussions

[proud_indian]

IMHO yes he is- by far the most reliable Indian defence journo out there. Google him, read some of his op-eds and tweets he is very balanced, fair and well-informed across the board. He is no PSG or Shiv Aroor thank god!

if you want to interact him regarding defence queries, just follow his tweeter account and ask him anything
best thing, he would always reply you back. I ask him mine sometime.

 

[nik22]

Mainly discussion about MMRCA
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The Future of India's Fighter capability
StratPost recently teamed up with the defense and aviation magazine Vayu to hold discussions around a round table on the future of Indian air power. These discussions held on July 04, 2014, were meant to shed light on how the fleet structure of the Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter aircraft is expected to evolve over the coming years and decades, given current circumstances.

We invited some of the top officials associated with planning and operations in the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy, some of whom have retired only recently, and who have been closely associated with the MMRCA and LCA procurement programs.

In the opening session, Pushpinder Singh, Editor of Vayu, introduced the status and balance of Indian air power in comparison to neighboring countries and presented some stark realities. His authoritative presentation is essential viewing for all those interested in the future of India's fighter strength.

Strategic analyst George Verghese concluded this session with his observations on the modernization of Indian armed forces, especially air power.

StratPost | Vayu-StratPost Air Power Roundtable IV - YouTube

 

[sathya]

Nice discussion ..
Now we know how the so called blog people think..
I am not impressed with few ex Air Force chiefs , wonder how they became one..


Thank nik for posting it.. Now we ll get somewhat know where we stand..

Saurav is a better defense journo..
He pointed out flaws damn to the point ..

Few highlights which I observed form their talk.

Rafale has availability of 44 % in French Air Force ..
Sukhoi is like rolls Royce , that other countries (Malaysia) take out only few times to cut expenses..
Germany sold out mig 29 since it was expensive for them to maintain..
Migs and ilyusians are hanger queens
FGFA each will cost around 200 million $

Military acquisition budget is around 10 % of total budget..
Means if u get MMRCA you can very forget about buying other weapons for sometime since defense budget unlikely to increase drastically in near future..

Then IAF going to have majority of air crafts as medium and heavy..
HAL is bad, DRDO trying to destroy military..


Navy Arun Prakash and few others were supportive of home research...

 

[halupridol]

@nik22
thanks for posting those videos,,,,,,alarming yet very interesting.

 

[Agent_47]

 

[Juggernautjatt]

Shortage of ASVs at forward IAF bases
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 3
More than 13 years after a “gross inadequacy” of aircraft support vehicles (ASV) at forward IAF bases was highlighted during Operation Parakram, the situation continues to be the same.

The IAF has an inventory of 18 types of ASVs and the actual holding of all types of ASVs was far less than their authorisation. Shortfalls in eight types of ASVs range between 47.83% to 100% and between 25% and 36.92% in another seven types. The shortfall in the remaining three types is below 25%. ASVs are specialist equipment that are used for aircraft operations and play a direct and vital role in operational preparedness.

During Operation Parakaram, ASVs at operational locations were found to be grossly inadequate and did not match the requirement of the detachments. Keeping this in view and bottlenecks in transportation of the ASVs from the parent bases, the IAF felt that it would be essential to make permanent positioning of specialist vehicles at operational locations.

Accordingly, in May 2004, the Ministry of Defence agreed for procurement of additional ASVs for pre-positioning at operational locations. After working out its requirements, Air Headquarters accorded “in principle” approval for procuring 408 ASVs for Rs 132 crore. However, the case for procurement did not proceed further.

Consequently, to tide over the deficiency, Western Air Command (WAC) made temporary arrangements for pre-positioning of ASVs at operational locations in two phases. The first phase was for WAC forces and the second phase for “out of command” forces through of temporary allotment of ASVs on loan from the units within the command. The objective was to support quick mobilisation of forces at designated locations and reduce dependability on airlifts or civil hired trucks and overcome bottlenecks in transportation.

In Phase-I, 67 ASVs comprising nine types were to be positioned immediately at forward locations for WAC forces but it was later observed that, 46 ASVs, about 69 per cent of Phase-I requirement and the entire quantity under Phase-II were yet to be placed at the operational locations of WAC.

What are ASVs?

• • Aircraft support vehicles (ASV) are specialist equipment that are used for aircraft operations and play a direct and vital role in operational preparedness
  • During Operation Parakaram, ASVs at operational locations were found to be grossly inadequate and did not match the requirement of the detachments
  • The situation continues to remain the same
  
  The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Nation

 

[ejaz007]

May day: India’s New Basic & Intermediate Flight Trainers

Defence Minister confirms that HAL’s HJT-36 Sitara in in big trouble, and India is considering other options.

Latest Update:

Aug 5/14: IJT. Defence Minister Shri Arun Jaitley makes it official, in response to a Rajya Sabha question:

“HAL, which has been developing the Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT), as a replacement for the Kiran aircraft, has not so far been able to resolve critical wing and airframe Design & Development issues related to stall and spin.

In order to meet the emergent situation created due to inordinate delay in the IJT project, IAF has already initiated the process for extending the technical life of the Kiran aircraft. The IAF has also initiated action to look for alternate options for the IJT.”

See March 30/14 for that RFI. Sources: India MoD, “Replacement of Intermediate Trainer Planes of the IAF”.

May day: India’s New Basic & Intermediate Flight Trainers

 

[SRP]

Modi flew to Kargil today in an IAF C-130J Super Hercules (visible in this pic) from 77 Squadron 'Veiled Vipers'.

 

[nik22]

Discussion about LCA

 

[Juggernautjatt]

IAF’s first Jaguar squadron turns 63.
Sharing the nation’s birthday is the IAF’s No14 Squadron, which will turn 63 on August 15. The squadron was raised in 1951 on British Spitfires and now operates the Jaguar deep-penetration strike aircraft. Known as the “Raging Bulls”, it was the last squadron in the IAF to fly Spitfires and the first to convert to Jaguars in march1981. In between, the squadron flew the Vampire and Hawker Hunters.

The Squadron has spent considerable part in the Eastern theatre and had carried out combat operations from Kalaikunda in 1965 and then in 1971. It also had the distinction of operating from the captured Pakistani airbase of Jessore towards the end of the 1971 India-Pakistan war. Presently based at Ambala, the IAF’s oldest airbase, the squadron was awarded the President’s Standards in November 1994.

 

[Junaid Ashraf]

If, whats so ever PAF get successful in gaining Mirage-2000s from Egypt-Qatar-UAE which will be about 98 of them; then what will be the reaction of IAF. As then there will be possibility of PAF gaining Mirage-III&Vs from former operators as well for spares and will reduce its Mirage fleet from 200 to 100 but then it will be far easier for PAF to run Mirage-III&Vs because of large numbers of spares available from local cannibalized planes as well as from foreign ones.

 

[Echo_419]

If, whats so ever PAF get successful in gaining Mirage-2000s from Egypt-Qatar-UAE which will be about 98 of them; then what will be the reaction of IAF. As then there will be possibility of PAF gaining Mirage-III&Vs from former operators as well for spares and will reduce its Mirage fleet from 200 to 100 but then it will be far easier for PAF to run Mirage-III&Vs because of large numbers of spares available from local cannibalized planes as well as from foreign ones.

Evil Hindu baniyas will use their influence on French to stop the supply of Spares for your Mirages

 

[trident2010]

If, whats so ever PAF get successful in gaining Mirage-2000s from Egypt-Qatar-UAE which will be about 98 of them; then what will be the reaction of IAF. As then there will be possibility of PAF gaining Mirage-III&Vs from former operators as well for spares and will reduce its Mirage fleet from 200 to 100 but then it will be far easier for PAF to run Mirage-III&Vs because of large numbers of spares available from local cannibalized planes as well as from foreign ones.

India will panic and might buy both Rafale and Typhoon as a reaction. Your win ..

 

[Junaid Ashraf]

But it seems that its getting possible.... day by day....

I am sure PAF is in the process of getting spares for air-frame and engine from ex-Mirage-III&Vs users and also some 80 Mirage-Vs from Egypt as they will get MiGs.

 

[kaykay]

If, whats so ever PAF get successful in gaining Mirage-2000s from Egypt-Qatar-UAE which will be about 98 of them; then what will be the reaction of IAF. As then there will be possibility of PAF gaining Mirage-III&Vs from former operators as well for spares and will reduce its Mirage fleet from 200 to 100 but then it will be far easier for PAF to run Mirage-III&Vs because of large numbers of spares available from local cannibalized planes as well as from foreign ones.

But guess what, recently Egypt negotiated with UAE and France in order to buy UAE mirages. and nothing will move without France's approval so no question about paf getting mirage 2ks. at best those mirages will end up in Egypt as they want to buy it too.