Indian Air Force News & Discussions

[redpearl75]

Hello guys.... was out of the site for some silly reasons... I missed it so much...

 

[CONNAN]

got the text article for the title US strips IAF plane

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/118036/India/us-strips-iaf-plane.html

In just over four weeks from now, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will take delivery of its first American-built C-130J Super Hercules military transport aircraft at a facility in Georgia, US. Part of a 2008 deal worth $ 964 million for six aircraft, the IAF C-130J will be the first US military aircraft India has procured in over four decades since it flew the American Douglas Dakota and Fairchild Packet in the 1960s.

But there is something amiss. The contract document, a copy of which is with Headlines Today, reveals five specific pieces of high-end equipment, that the US has stripped from the aircraft, being sold to India. This is a direct consequence of New Delhi's reluctance to enter into a contentious technology inter- operability agreement with Washington.

The equipment kept off the Indian aircraft includes its advanced communications equipment. The equipment includes the AN/ ARC- 222 SINCGARS combat net radio, the KV- 119 Identify Friend- Foe digital transponder, the TACTERM/ANDVT high frequency secure voice terminal, the VINSON KY- 58 secure voice module and parts of the Rockwell- Collins AN/ ARC-210(V) SATCOM transceiver.

The equipment facilitates secure, encrypted communication - facilities that would be deeply useful in covert or special forces operations. Such operations form the secondary mission profile ascribed to the C-130J in India.

The US has refused to fit these items on the Indian C-130J fleet unless India enters into a bilateral pact that the Indian military leadership is deeply suspicious about. It is called CISMOA - short for communications inter- operability and security memorandum of agreement.

Last month, defence minister A. K. Antony is understood to have told his counterpart in Washington that the agreement would not be signed any time soon - certainly not during US President Barack Obama's visit - because India was far from convinced about the benefits that would accrue to its Indian defence forces.

Strangely, even though the IAF had specifically asked for the high- technology items mentioned above, the C- 130J contract suggests that there is a chance the equipment won't be made available even if India signs the CISMOA. Referring to the stripped items, the contract says: " These items may be added when CISMOA is signed between" the US and India.

Lockheed-Martin officials indicated that the IAF C-130J configuration was frozen before the contract was signed and that there were no last- minute surprises, a point conceded by the IAF. "There could be implications for operational autonomy at play here, which is something a service as large as the Indian Air Force cannot afford," Air Marshal (retd) A. K. Singh, former commander of the IAF's Western Air Command, said. A substantial part of the IAF agrees with that view.

An extreme view is that fitting advanced communications gear on Indian aircraft, and having them governed by an agreement like CISMOA, would allow the US remote power over the equipment through satellite- relayed " kill switches" that could render equipment unusable, not to mention leaving doors open to electronic espionage.

But the IAF put on a brave face.

"The government had asked for IAF opinion.... It [ not getting the equipment] will not make any substantial difference to our operational capability," Air Chief Marshal P. V. Naik said A section of the IAF, however, believes that if India is resolved to deepen its ties with the US, then agreements like CISMOA are simply enablers of more nuanced, meaningful exchanges in operational theatres. For now though, the armed forces are sceptical.

 

[Hulk]

I think before people panic on this news, they should remember what IAK chief nayak said about this news.

 

[redpearl75]

I hope the Americans don't strip down some important components from the Hornets if it gets selected.... Can't really be sure about what's going in their minds.....

 

[tvsram1992]

I hope the Americans don't strip down some important components from the Hornets if it gets selected.... Can't really be sure about what's going in their minds.....

americns will not definetly provide spares in case of any conflicts

 

[tvsram1992]

Without helipad Dhruv is Rocking

wah it rocks

 

[cybertron]

yeah der shudnt be any doubt
americans would surely strip the hornets of the communication equipments unless india signs the agreement which ofcourse is not going to happen
india on the other hand dont need them since we fit comm. equips of our choice

 

[RPK]

Railways seek IAF help for building Kashmir rail line - India - DNA

For the first time, Railways are taking the help of Indian Air Force in construction of a important stretch between Katra and Qazigund in the prestigious Kashmir rail link project.

According to Northern Railway, work between ***** and Sangaldan was stuck for more than a year as it was getting difficult to transport construction material for laying the tracks. Besides, in normal course, road construction will take three to four years.

To expedite the construction of road, which is key to building to the rail link, the help of IAF is being taken.

"We sought the help of Air Force in airlifting the construction materials like dippers, excavators to the construction site and the airlifting has already started," a senior Northern Railway official said.

The Katra-Qazigund section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project is one of the toughest stretches without any road access.

Railways have already constructed 260km of road network to built 130km of railway line.

The objective is to move the transportation material and workers to the construction site.

As it was getting too difficult for the Railways to carry out work between Reasi and *****, the construction work was stopped since July 2008.

 

[redpearl75]

Going for American jets is like going inside a dark room hoping to find the light switch.. MRCA should be dealt with the utmost seriousness...

 

[redpearl75]

First setback when Austin class was delivered with out of date tech and without proper upgradation as if it was stripped dows as well, second was the recent C 130 deal, and I fear what the P-8 Poseidon will unfold about them... They simply are not at all trust worthy.. look at their allies, all suffers with the same problem..

 

[CONNAN]

Transport fleet woes force IAF to look West - The Economic Times

Transport fleet woes force IAF to look West


BANGALORE: Hampered by the lack of spare parts and serviceability issues, India is increasingly looking West for its military transport aircraft fleet, even as it beefs up its presence along its borders.

The military is currently served by two squadrons of the IL-76, its flagship transport aircraft, and little over a 100 medium-range airlifters, the AN-32. Even as its northern neighbours, China and Pakistan, step up their aggressive posturing, the country is facing a serious shortfall of airlifters.

“We need to have more aircraft, considering the amount of troop movement that is happening, and more importantly, those expected to take place at our borders. While we do have the IL-76 and the AN-32, it may not be enough,” air marshal (retd) BU Chengappa pointed out.

The serviceability of the IL-76 has also been called into question. Since the aircraft is manufactured in Uzbekistan , there is a constant lack of spare parts, adding to IAF woes. “The spares availability of the IL-76 is not good. We have to get them from Russia , and that takes a lot of time, and additionally, they are not easily available. Secondly, it is not economically viable to set up an overhauling facility for the IL-76 in India. So, it is not the best situation to be in,” Mr Chengappa said.

Over the last two years, New Delhi has been increasing its military presence along its borders with China and Pakistan, with several underutilised airfields in the process of being upgraded.

“The Rs 1,000-crore Modernisation of Airfield Infrastructure plan has been formulated to ensure that a huge number of IAF bases are equipped to handle not just the Sukhoi-30 MKI combat aircraft, but also our transport aircraft,” said air commodore (retd) Jasjit Singh, who heads the New Delhi-based Centre for Air Studies, a major think tank for the IAF.

Since 2001, the Chinese have been putting finishing touches on their version of the Lockheed Martin C-130 J, the Shaanxi Y-9, while rumour also abound that it plans to start manufacturing a 200-tonne airlifter, based on the IL-76 design.

India’s refusal to sign three strategic agreements with the United States could see it receiving its muchrequired military transport aircraft from the US, shorn of critical electronic systems, a situation that could hamper its border defences. The six Lockheed Martin C-130 J Super Hercules aircraft purchased by the country in 2008, and to be delivered in January 2011, will be delivered without, roughly, five communication interfaces, due to the country refusing to sign the agreements.

New Delhi’s position, shaped largely by the hardball stand adopted by the IAF, has found a great deal of support amongst the country’s defence personnel and analysts, who argue that the strategic agreements, Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) and Logistics Supply Agreement (LSA), infringe on its military sovereignty.

 

[RPK]

NCC Air Wing unit in Kochi may be delayed | | | Indian Express


THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The National Cadet Corps (Air Wing) dream of opening its second unit in the state in Kochi is likely to be realised only by the next academic year.


NCC Air Wing officials have identified the college that will accommodate the Air Wing in Kochi. It has also completed other formalities in connection with the formation of the new wing, which is intended to attract youngsters to the Indian Air Force, NCC Air Wing officials said.

INS Garuda, the aviation wing of the Indian Navy in Kochi, which is to provide the land, is studying the proposal, according to Navy sources.

"'It may not be possible to open the new unit No 2. Air Squadron NCC at Kochi this academic year. We will probably be able to do it next year,'' a senior NCC official said. While the NCC has Army and Navy wings in educational institutions across the state, there is only one Air Wing, which is located in

Thiruvananthapuram the No. 1 Kerala Air Squadron NCC. There had been talk of opening a second unit in Kochi for some time now, and discussions were held with INS Garuda. NCC Air Wing officials and the Board of Officers had inspected the identified land.

The NCC Air Wing promises youngsters ample scope for adventure in the skies. A unique opportunity for flying gliders and microlights, the chance to attend national-level camps make it an attractive pursuit. It is also a plus when joining the IAF.

 

[marcos98]

Russia sends 3rd AWACS plane to India​

Russia has completed its part of a contract on the delivery of A-50 Mainstay AWACS aircraft to India, a Russian aircraft industry official said.

India ordered three A-50EI variants, developed on the basis of the Russian Il-76MD military transport plane and fitted with the Israeli-made Phalcon radar system, in 2004. The first two aircraft are already in service with the Indian air force (IAF).

"We have finished retrofitting a [third] transport plane for special tasks, and sent it to Israel in October to be fitted with electronic equipment for future delivery to India," a spokesman for the Taganrog-based Beriyev aircraft center said on Wednesday.

In many aspects, the A-50 is comparable to the E-3 Sentry of the U.S. Air Force. It is fitted with an aerial refueling system and electronic warfare equipment, and can detect targets up to 400 km (250 miles) away.

According to the Indian media, the IAF could order two more A-50 planes from Russia and Israel in the future.

In addition to the Russian A-50 aircraft, India has purchased eight Boeing P-81 long-range maritime reconnaissance (LRMR) aircraft from the United States, and signed a deal with Brazil to jointly integrate domestically developed AWACS systems onto three Brazilian-made Embraer-145 aircraft to be later commissioned with the Indian air force.
Russia sends 3rd AWACS plane to India | Defense | RIA Novosti

 

[sathya]

any one knows what type of indian air force air craft would be the next aircraft to get phased out ?

 

[SpArK]

Interview with IAF Chief: We are focusing on network-centric warfare capabilities; we believe quality of HAL products will improve with entry of private players​

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik. Photo: IAF



The Indian Air Force turned 78 on Oct. 8, and just two weeks later the IAF held its four-day biannual Commanders’ Conference Oct. 26-29, touching on issues ranging from operational preparedness and philosophies to maintenance, upgrades, HR, acquisition, and administration. As part of its aggressive modernization mission, the IAF is waiting in the wings to acquire new assets and upgrade some of its fleets. “We need to continuously train and evolve to become a capability-based force. We are honing our skills in cyberwarfare and concentrating on building network-centric warfare capabilities to boost our combat efficacy,” Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik tells Aviation Week’s Senior Aerospace and Defense Correspondent (India) Anantha Krishnan M. during the India Thought Leader (ITL) interview series. This interview mainly focuses on IAF’s philosophies toward its air warriors, support for homegrown projects and readiness to take on future challenges.



AW: IAF has grown one more year old this October. What are the challenges the air warriors will face in the next 5-10 years?

P.V.N.: I would say that the IAF has matured one more year. And this maturity is accentuated in the way we continue to evolve our warfighting doctrines and training methodologies, with a greater emphasis on harnessing the potential of human resources to achieve our objectives. Air warriors in the IAF are alive to the ever-changing strategic environment. As you know, we have embarked upon an all-round modernization plan which aims to replenish our fleets, upgrade airfield infrastructure and acquire modern radars and weapon systems. Therefore, one of the major challenges is the co-habitation factor – that of maintaining the existing fleet and, at the same time, assimilating the modern technologies coming our way. We are fortunate to have a highly professional HR pool – one which is rich in exposure and has demonstrated a great deal of adaptability in absorbing modern technologies. We are also honing our skills in cyberwarfare and concentrating on building network-centric warfare capabilities to boost our combat efficacy. In a nutshell, we will need to continuously train and evolve to become a capability-based force, one which is more than capable to meet all the challenges of the future.

AW: Often we read media reports and comments being made by
senior IAF officials about the depleted squadron strength of IAF. What are the quick steps that need to be taken to strengthen the IAF?

P.V.N.: It’s a known fact that the IAF’s fighter fleet is depleting due to phasing out of MiG-21 and MiG-23 aircraft. Both these aircraft served us well. Even the strength of the MiG-27s has been reduced to half the original. While technological obsolescence is an inevitable phenomenon, there is a need for concurrent replenishment of our combat inventory. As you are aware, the Light Combat Aircraft project has overshot production time frames. The MMRCA would take at least 4 years to fully fructify. However, it would be unwise to base our combat efficacy solely on classical numerology – that of having the required numbers. New squadrons of Su-30 MKI are being raised and midlife upgrades of [the] Jaguar, Mirage-2000 and MiG-29 fleets [are] on the anvil to improve our combat effectiveness. The induction of force multipliers like FRAs and AWACS has enhanced our combat effectiveness. So while depleting strength is a concern, it is equally true that we have maintained our combat edge through new inductions and upgrades and the IAF is fully capable today of thwarting any threat.

Tarmak007 -- A bold blog on Indian defence: Interview with IAF Chief: We are focusing on network-centric warfare capabilities; we believe quality of HAL products will improve with entry of private players