Indian Air Force News & Discussions

[CONNAN]

FIRST PHOTOS: IAF C-130J At Hindon AFS

The IAF's C-130J landed at Hindon on February 3 at 6.20PM.

 

[tallboy123]

First good news of 2011...


First C-130J-30 Super Hercules arrives at Hindon Air Force Station.

YouTube - IAF C-130J lands at Hindon Air Force Station

Video Courtesy DPR Defence / By Sgt Vijay Kumar, IAF via Shiv Aroor

Guys can C-130J fly directly from USA to India....without stop as the pilot said in this video....

How can one enter other nations air space,
he said they flew over Europe,Gulf countries and then finally India....?
Isnt it airspace violation..
please explain how they use those something called call signs...?

 

[tallboy123]

Can anyone answer me this question : Where is the a2a refuelling probe? I have asked this question numerous times on numerous threads and numerous sites, after it was handed over to the IAF in the US at the LM plant in December I was told not to worry as some tech would be added on by the time it flew to India. Now it has arrived and the probe is nowhere to be seen. This is very worrying especially as it was clearly seen in the first pics of its first flight in the US:

Right from the start the a2a refuelling probe is clearly visible:

YouTube - India's first C-130J Super Hercules takes off!

Could this have anything to do with India not signing CISMO? although I doubt it as this is primarily to do with communications equipment right??

friend,just 1 C-130j doesnt have fuel probe,
other 5 has fuel probe...
ill show u a image wait..this is KC-302 C-130J in the video..it has no fuel probe
but Kc-301 has fuel probe

this is nothing to do with CISMO,it's about communication equipment,which help the US forces to communicate each other..like a heart to heart connection,but we dont need those equipment..we are independent....
Taking those communications equipment wont even affect a 0.00001% of the C-130j performance...

 

[Abingdonboy]

friend,just 1 C-130j doesnt have fuel probe,
other 5 has fuel probe...
ill show u a image wait..this is KC-302 C-130J in the video..it has no fuel probe
but Kc-301 has fuel probe

this is nothing to do with CISMO,it's about communication equipment,which help the US forces to communicate each other..like a heart to heart connection,but we dont need those equipment..we are independent....
Taking those communications equipment wont even affect a 0.00001% of the C-130j performance...

Firstly thanks a lot for pointing this out I hadn't noticed the tail no. @ 4.38 you can make out Kc-302. Secondly though this is very peculiar primarily that all the birds are not of the same spec (this one, Kc-302, doesn't have a refuelling probe whilst the others do) which is very odd as what mission will one do while the others operate? You would also think that Kc-301 would be the first made so the first handed over and thenfirst to arrive in India. Why make one of the birds less capable than the others?? This could be due to a number of things and I'd like to know what you think is the most likely or there maybe other reasons I have over looked but the only reasons I can think of are:
1) They (IAF/LM/MOD/GOVT) rushed this plane through so it could arrive for Aero India in just over a week. And/or this plane may receive the probe later on after Aero India?
2) more unlikely but... Financial reasons- IAF/MOD/FM sought to keep to a tight budget so left some equipment off some and not others' again unlikely but only reason I can think off.
3) With Kc-301 some technical difficulties were found with the refilling probe and so it was left off Kc-302 until the problem was resolved, again seems unlikely as LM are a professional company and have had experience fighting these probes for USAF, RAF and other AFs, although this probe maybe India specific as IAF uses Israeli a2a refilling equipment right?

Any feedback would be much appreciated as this is very peculiar.

 

[KS]

Guys can C-130J fly directly from USA to India....without stop as the pilot said in this video....

How can one enter other nations air space,
he said they flew over Europe,Gulf countries and then finally India....?
Isnt it airspace violation..
please explain how they use those something called call signs...?

Prior permission would have been obtained from them as most of the nations enroute are NATO members in case of Europe or staunch US allies in case of Middle East and air escort over the respective nation's airspace would have been provided by that Airforce.

After crossing the Gulf,the route could have then digressed over the Arabian sea instead of Iran and Pakistan and entered India via the airspace over Maharashtra, Gujarat.

I may be wrong, but just a possible explanation.

 

[tallboy123]

Firstly thanks a lot for pointing this out I hadn't noticed the tail no. @ 4.38 you can make out Kc-302. Secondly though this is very peculiar primarily that all the birds are not of the same spec (this one, Kc-302, doesn't have a refuelling probe whilst the others do) which is very odd as what mission will one do while the others operate? You would also think that Kc-301 would be the first made so the first handed over and thenfirst to arrive in India. Why make one of the birds less capable than the others?? This could be due to a number of things and I'd like to know what you think is the most likely or there maybe other reasons I have over looked but the only reasons I can think of are:
1) They (IAF/LM/MOD/GOVT) rushed this plane through so it could arrive for Aero India in just over a week. And/or this plane may receive the probe later on after Aero India?
2) more unlikely but... Financial reasons- IAF/MOD/FM sought to keep to a tight budget so left some equipment off some and not others' again unlikely but only reason I can think off.
3) With Kc-301 some technical difficulties were found with the refilling probe and so it was left off Kc-302 until the problem was resolved, again seems unlikely as LM are a professional company and have had experience fighting these probes for USAF, RAF and other AFs, although this probe maybe India specific as IAF uses Israeli a2a refilling equipment right?

Any feedback would be much appreciated as this is very peculiar.

maybe because of cost... lets wait and see,will all other 5 will have fuel probe or not..

 

[Kinetic]

I think this is the first US fixed wing aircraft in Indian armed forces..... beginning of a new era.

 

[SpArK]

77 Squadron, The Veiled Vipers Inducts 1st C-130J​

 

[SpArK]

77 Squadron, The Veiled Vipers Inducts 1st C-130J​

 

[Kinetic]

C-130J-30 inducted into the IAF...

IAF Statement:

Together with the raising of No. 77 Squadron, named 'Veiled Vipers', the Indian Air Force (IAF) inducted the first C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft, procured from the United States of America (USA), into service at IAF's Hindan airbase, today. The squadron will have all of six aircraft after their phased arrival by end 2011.

At an induction ceremony held in the airbase, Defence Minister AK Antony handed over the keys of the aircraft to the Commanding Officer of No. 77 Squadron, Group Captain Tejbir Singh, in the presence of Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal PV Naik, marking its formal induction.

Gp Capt Tejbir later conducted the Defence Minister and Air Chief around the aircraft. As the dignitaries proceeded inside, a section of IAF's Special Forces 'Garuds' in combat suits jumped off from the rear of the aircraft in a symbolic display of their future integration with the squadron.

US Ambassador to India, Mr Timothy J Roemer, Chief of Staff (CoS) of USAF, General Norton A Schwartz, US Embassy officials, Lockheed Martin Corporation officials, manufactures of C-130 aircraft were among others present at the ceremony.

Adopting 'Kill with Stealth' as their motto, the tactical airlift aircraft will be able to undertake quick deployment of 'Special Forces' in all weather conditions, including airdrops and landings on unprepared or semi-prepared surface even in complete darkness. Capable of undertaking low-level air-to-air refueling to enhance its range, rapid forward basing of personnel and equipment in emergent situations would be one of its multifaceted roles.

The war time employability will include special air operations, airborne operations, air transported operations, air supply operations, air maintenance operations and casualty evacuation among other roles. The peacetime roles include operations and air maintenance in mountainous terrain in adverse circumstances, UN or multinational missions, humanitarian assistance including disaster relief and evacuation of Indian Diaspora during emergencies and crisis situations.

The Super Hercules inducted was flown to India by the pilots of the newly formed squadron from USA. IAF pilots and personnel underwent training at various USAF bases including at the Lockheed Martin complex in Atlanta. The second aircraft is expected in first week of March, this year.

The IAF aircraft will make its debut appearance at the Aero India-2011, at Bengaluru, from February 9-13.

Separately, in a written statement before the induction, U.S. Ambassador to India Timothy J. Roemer said: “The sale of the C-130J to the IAF on-time and on-budget is exactly the type of win-win situation President Obama talked about during his historic visit to India last November. With the C-130J, Indian defense can bring their troops what they need, when they need it, and to wherever they are located. And the United States wins too with better defense cooperation with India, new markets opened, and the creation of American jobs. A strong defense relationship is a key component of the U.S.-India strategic partnership. The sale of six C-130J aircraft strengthens our bilateral military relationship and enhances joint regional security efforts between our two democracies. As President Obama said during his historic address to Parliament, ‘as two global leaders, the United States and India can partner for global security.’ The growing capabilities of the Indian military are a testament to his vision of India’s expanding role as a global leader.”

Photo: Shiv Aroor

 

[Kinetic]

Can anyone answer me this question : Where is the a2a refuelling probe? I have asked this question numerous times on numerous threads and numerous sites, after it was handed over to the IAF in the US at the LM plant in December I was told not to worry as some tech would be added on by the time it flew to India. Now it has arrived and the probe is nowhere to be seen. This is very worrying especially as it was clearly seen in the first pics of its first flight in the US:

Right from the start the a2a refuelling probe is clearly visible:

YouTube - India's first C-130J Super Hercules takes off!

Could this have anything to do with India not signing CISMO? although I doubt it as this is primarily to do with communications equipment right??

I think this pic will clear your doubt little bit....

 

[Capt.Popeye]

I think this is the first US fixed wing aircraft in Indian armed forces..... beginning of a new era.

Re: the underlined part of the statement,
It applies only to the 21st century, i.e. present time.
Post Independence, it was the C-119 "Packet"- Flying Boxcar (first large transport).
Pre Independence, the C-47 Dakota (the first transport?), the Vultee Vengeance etc (first dive bomber).
There were a few others as well. The B-24 Liberator (the first heavy bomber), a handful of C-46 Commando (the first ELINT), the T-6 Harvard/Texan (the first advanced trainer).
All fixed wing aircraft.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Anyone else notice the differnce (sorry keep harping on about the same thing but it is getting more and more perplexing)

model:

delivered plane:

Ok we can see the a2a probe missing as in the model, which we have discussed with no real solid conclusion accepted, but we can also see what looks like a FLIR missing from the delivered plane but seen on the model (the turret mounted camera hanging on the bottom of the plane's nose) I noticed this on the vid of it arriving at Hindon but thought njothing of it, the model though seems to confirm my suspicion- vital Spec Op equipment is missing, it begs the question what else is missing we can't see??

WHAT IS GOING ON??

 

[GLOBAL HAWK]

I dont happen to see the external electro-optical equipment on the real one as compared to this dummy below
anyone care to explain

 

[Kinetic]

Re: the underlined part of the statement,
It applies only to the 21st century, i.e. present time.
Post Independence, it was the C-119 "Packet"- Flying Boxcar (first large transport).
Pre Independence, the C-47 Dakota (the first transport?), the Vultee Vengeance etc (first dive bomber).
There were a few others as well. The B-24 Liberator (the first heavy bomber), a handful of C-46 Commando (the first ELINT), the T-6 Harvard/Texan (the first advanced trainer).
All fixed wing aircraft.

Thanks for the info. Did we bought them directly from USA? And I think all of these aircrafts bought in early decades. Before C-130J which fixed wing aircraft we last bought from US.? Thanks in advance.