Indian Air Force News & Discussions

[SBD-3]

By Radhakrishna Rao

India's defence ministry has given its approval for the nation's air force to acquire 75 ab initio trainers as off-the-shelf replacements for its Hindustan Aeronautics HPT-32s. The 125-strong fleet was grounded in August, after two air force instructors were killed in a crash.

An inquiry into the accident found that the aircraft's piston engine had run dry and cut out before the crash, and revealed that 90 such incidents had been recorded since the type's induction in 1984.

The air force is expected to soon issue a request for proposals to basic turboprop trainer manufacturers including Alenia Aermacchi, Embraer, Grob Aircraft, Korea Aerospace Industries and Pilatus.

 

[Foster]

who is making this? DRDO?if yes i goona bet on this it will not complete after 20 yrs...LCA takes 20 yrz to built still taking time...DRDO(DUMP research and development orz.)

 

[brahmastra]

RaytheonThales GM-400




India initiated the procurement of low level radar systems for the IAF in 2003.

Finalization of the contract was announced during the 2009 Dubai Air Show.

“This contract reinforces our position in the Indian region as a major supplier of air defense radars,” said Richard Deakin, Thales senior vice president and head of the air systems division. “BEL is a leading supplier of defense electronics systems and subsystems and plays a leading role in a number of major Indian defense programmes.”

Under the TOT deal, Thales will build the initial six radars at its Limours facility, southwest of Paris. BEL will build the remaining 13 radars in India.

Technical Specifications


The GS-100 radar works with the SR3D platform, which also serves as the core for the longer range Ground Master 400 (GM-400) system.

The GS-100/SR3D combine is a portable air defense system that can be deployed in remote areas. It can work in a stand alone mode or within an integrated command and control center.

Each system comprises the GS-100 radar, operational and communications shelters, an energy subsystem, mobility subsystem and quarters for personnel.

Capabilities


GS-100 is a AESA radar with low-altitude search capability that can track targets up to 180 km range. The targets could range from conventional aircraft to cruise missiles, UAVs and even stealthy aircraft.

The entire system can be packed into a standard ISO 20-foot shipping container and shipped by road or air. It can be deployed by a four man crew within 30 minutes.

The radar can be remotely operated for the safety of the crew in case the enemy is armed with ARMs.

 

[owais.usmani]

President Patil creates history; takes off in Sukhoi

Pune, Nov 25 (PTI) President Pratibha Patil today made history by taking off in a frontline Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jet aircraft from the air force base here, becoming the first woman head of state to fly in a warplane.

74-year-old Patil also set a world record by becoming the oldest woman to be airborne in a combat jet for a 30-minute sortie at a speed close to the supersonic level.

A confident Patil, who sat in the co-pilot's seat in the cockpit, waved to the people gathered at the airbase before taking off in the Sukhoi belonging to the 30 Squadron of IAF.

The President donned a special 'G-suit' worn by fighter pilots to counter gravitational effect due to any high speed air manoeuvres.

 

[IBRIS]

President Patil creates history; takes off in Sukhoi

Pune, Nov 25 (PTI) President Pratibha Patil today made history by taking off in a frontline Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jet aircraft from the air force base here, becoming the first woman head of state to fly in a warplane.

74-year-old Patil also set a world record by becoming the oldest woman to be airborne in a combat jet for a 30-minute sortie at a speed close to the supersonic level.

A confident Patil, who sat in the co-pilot's seat in the cockpit, waved to the people gathered at the airbase before taking off in the Sukhoi belonging to the 30 Squadron of IAF.

The President donned a special 'G-suit' worn by fighter pilots to counter gravitational effect due to any high speed air manoeuvres.

VIDEO: President Pratibha Patil flies in Sukhoi-News-Videos-The Times of India

 

[normalindiancitizen]

Does any one know anything about the capabilities of the upgraded mig 21s, the Bisons? Or any update on which MMRCA is in the race for purchase by the IAF?

 

[Haanzo]

Does any one know anything about the capabilities of the upgraded mig 21s, the Bisons? Or any update on which MMRCA is in the race for purchase by the IAF?

read some thing from the cope india 2004 exerscise between f-15s USAF and indian fighters youll know their capabilities ..in short they have RAM coatings ,very small RCS, BVR capable fires r-77 so very good to make shoot and scot attacks ...but still not a dogfighter due to its airframe

GUYS DID YOU NOTICE THE VIDEO OF OUR PRESIDENT LANDING ....her sukhoi taxis and is parked next to another su-30 HAVING TAIL NUMBER SB 144 ....SO CURRENTLY THERE ARE CLOSE TO 150 OF THESE BIRDS IN THE AIR FORCE CURRENTLY ...LAST CONFIRMATION WAS FOR TAIL NUMBER 124 SOMETIME AGO ...90 MORE BIRDS TO GO ....hurray

 

[Screaming Skull]

GUYS DID YOU NOTICE THE VIDEO OF OUR PRESIDENT LANDING ....her sukhoi taxis and is parked next to another su-30 HAVING TAIL NUMBER SB 144 ....SO CURRENTLY THERE ARE CLOSE TO 150 OF THESE BIRDS IN THE AIR FORCE CURRENTLY ...LAST CONFIRMATION WAS FOR TAIL NUMBER 124 SOMETIME AGO ...90 MORE BIRDS TO GO ....hurray

Yes I too noticed the MKI with bort number SB144 parked next to the Hon. President’s MKI which btw had a bort number SB141 if I am not mistaken. But, this doesn’t mean we have 144 - 150 MKIs.

Russia delivered a total of 50 aircrafts by 2004 with bort numbers SB001-SB050. HAL manufactured MKIs started with SB101. So, as far as my knowledge goes there aren’t any IAF MKIs with bort nums SB051-SB100. However, our defence minister confirmed a few months back that IAF has 98 MKIs. So based on the rate of production by HAL, I would assume that there are about 105 MKIs in active service with the IAF. I may be wrong though!

 

[Contrarian]

IIRC, there is a pic of an MKI with the number SB-051/052 or 53. It was in the thread where everyone was discussing the number of MKI's that India has.

 

[SU-57E]

what about the increase in number of mki to be procured???
if russia is offering su-35 then we should go for it and develop su-35mki . maintenance should not be problem as we are already flying su-30.
feel free to comment

 

[Chanakyaa]

what about the increase in number of mki to be procured???
if russia is offering su-35 then we should go for it and develop su-35mki . maintenance should not be problem as we are already flying su-30.
feel free to comment

Mate Indian su30 is actually very confusing name.
It already includes Goodies from Su35/37/27.

Su 35 is NOT really good than MKI especially as far as IAF and its requirements are concerned.

 

[brahmastra]

what is the the difference between su-30 mki and su-35?

 

[unicorn148]

su 30MKI is the most superior of the class it features the best of tech taken from every russian plane it have tvc of su37 and some tech from su35 making it the best plane even india is planning to add it with the new AESA radar developed by russia after 2010 .

 

[RPK]

UK Offers India to Upgrade Jaguar

PROBLEMS RELATED TO HAWK AJT DISCUSSED


A three-member British delegation led by the Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Mr. Quentin Davies met the Minister of State for Defence Shri MM Pallam Raju here today. Mr. Davies said the United Kingdom was eager to help India in the upgradation of the Jaguar fighter jets and overcome problems related to licensed production of Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer at the HAL.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction over the ongoing Defence Cooperation between the two countries. Shri Pallam Raju said that all the three Services have been holding Joint Exercises every year alternately on each other’s soil and territorial waters. Mr. Davies said that the UK Forces have participated in Joint Exercises with India despite being overstretched due to commitments in Afghanistan and Iraq while a number of such exercises with other countries were not held.

Shri Pallam Raju informed the visiting dignitary that India was ready to sign a General Security Arrangement (GSA) with the UK while an MoU on Host Nation Support (HNS) was under examination of an inter-ministerial committee.

 

[sancho]

what is the the difference between su-30 mki and su-35?

The difference is not mainly between the fighters, it is more between the Russian and Indian air forces. Russian air force has 2 types of new Flankers mainly for 2 different roles. The Su 35 is more focused on air superiority and less on multi role capabilities. It is lighter than the MKI, has only a single seat config, has improved maneuverability, speed and radar.
The Su 34 instead is mainly focused on strikes, or long range air defense with better amored cabin, spezcialised avionics, radar and the side by side, twin seat config.
The MKI comes pretty much in between of both!
It has similar speed, maneuverabilitiy and radar capabilities as the Su 35, but better multi role capabilities with twin seat config, what gives advantages in long range and strike missions. Compared to the Su 34 it is lighter and can do the same missions, but is not as specialised for it.
Neither for air superiority, nor for strikes IAF needs Su 35, or 34. The only role where the Su 34 offers advantages is maritime patrol, with specialised techs and weapons to hunt and destroy submarines. With the high amount of commonality to MKI and by the fact that we already wants to buy 50 more Flankers, these would be a good addition, otherwise we should simply go for more MKIs.