Indian Air Force News & Discussions

[Lord Of Gondor]

Very interesting IAF Il-78MKI in Zhukovsky(Apr 2021 capture)

Probably getting overhauled but looks real nice.
No Fuel Transfer Pods mounted too which is very rare to see.

 

[Lord Of Gondor]

Okay some more searching online and looks like the full fleet is in the process of getting some TLC(Sept 2020 shots below)
Here is KJ-3453

and a tired looking KJ-3450

Images courtesy the respective photographers

 

[MirageBlue]

Surya Kirans mounts ready for their pilots

 

[VkdIndian]

Surya Kirans mounts ready for their pilots

Cool pic.

Came across this one. Look at the shadow on the ground.

 

[MirageBlue]

Gorgeous shot..

Il-78 based Phalcon, Netra AEW&C, Su-30MKIs and DARIN 3 Jaguars

Twitter link

Nice shot of an Indian Air Force MiG-29UPG "Baaz" armed with R-27R Semi Active Radar Homing (SARH) medium range air-to-air missile and R-73E InfraRed (IR) short range air-to-air missile, on approach for mid-air refuelling. Pilot is equipped with standard Zsh-07 helmet.

 

[MirageBlue]

Su-30MKI with Brahmos ALCM under it's belly..from No.222 'Tigersharks' squadron, now based on Thanjavur AFS in Tamil Nadu. These fighters will regularly be sent to detachments on the Andaman and Nicobar islands. From there any enemy shipping can be targeted when crossing the Malacca Strait to choke shipping.

 

[MirageBlue]

Su-30MKI with the SAP-14 Escort Jammer pod.

Before the photograph clicked during Ladakh Standoff, this was the only picture available in public where a SAP-14 Escort Jammer was spotted with a Su-30MKI. These kind of rare sightings in clean quality are gold indeed. Circa 2017 I believe Photo by
@severerocket

Twitter link

 

[MirageBlue]

Hawk-i HAL Demonstrator

Twitter link

The Hawk-i Demonstrator has already been integrated with the ASRAAM and SAAW PGM

 

[MirageBlue]

Jaguar DARIN 2 carrying indigenous SAAW PGMs on it's centerline pylon

 

[MirageBlue]

IAF C-17 cockpit as they approach Leh airport in Ladakh..

 

[MirageBlue]

4 Jaguar DARIN IIIs on the tarmac, about to take off

 

[Lord Of Gondor]

From the scary world of Test Pilots

Test pilots can be called upon to do all sorts of interesting tests. Gp Capt Agtey did the tests on fitting new engines on the AN-32, which resulted in a significantly quieter ride, lower fuel consumption and reduced vibration. In this photograph it has one engine "feathered".

Credits to: https://twitter.com/blueskiespod1
The podcast channel has great interviews of IAF veterans, must listen for great stories.
Another one for history

https://twitter.com/x/status/1386160271044104192

 

[MirageBlue]

IAF Su-30MKI firing a Kh-29TE.

SU-30MKI firing Kh-29TE. It is a Medium-range Soviet air-to-surface missile with a range of 10–30 km. It has a large warhead of up to 320 kg

link

 

[Lord Of Gondor]

40 foreign military attaché's on a tour of Hatzor airbase of the Israeli Air Force, November 2020

Group Captain Sundarmani(?) on the far Right
Credits to reddit user AkbarZip

 

[Lord Of Gondor]

Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria at AFS Srinagar, home of the "Sword Arms", flying front seat on the MiG21 UM joined in the back by the CO of the 51 Sqn, Group Captain Kamran Nazeer.
Very rare honour for the 51 Sqn.

Also seen are Mirage 2000(unupgraded) and Su30.MiG29 UPG were also part of the mission.

Photo from the Visit, noticed the CO Grp Capt. Kamran Nazeer with the handgun in the holster
Standard issue Glock 26 inside maybe