Indian Air Force News & Discussions

[MirageBlue]

HAL HTT-40!

Beautiful pic of a Jaguar DARIN 2 and Tejas Mk1 FOC fighter

 

[walterbibikow]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1619642828455555077

 

[MirageBlue]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1619717476513898496

 

[MirageBlue]

4 IAF Rafale F3R's escort a Netra AEW&C

 

[walterbibikow]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1621164886771535872

 

[SQ8]

4 IAF Rafale F3R's escort a Netra AEW&C

Wonder what the serviceability of Phalcons is with the Netra taking more and more of the center stage with AEW?

 

[walterbibikow]

Wonder what the serviceability of Phalcons is with the Netra taking more and more of the center stage with AEW?

Bhai only 6 AEW&Cs/AWACS are in service with IAF. Usme bhi serviceability dekh rahe ho?

 

[SQ8]

Bhai only 6 AEW&Cs/AWACS are in service with IAF. Usme bhi serviceability dekh rahe ho?

Yes - because it matters if out of the 6 you can keep 2 in the air constantly for a week long campaign or will find yourself juggling with one.

 

[MirageBlue]

Yes - because it matters if out of the 6 you can keep 2 in the air constantly for a week long campaign or will find yourself juggling with one.

the IAF made a big mistake by going with an order for just 3 Netra AEW&Cs. Follow on orders were not feasible with Embraer since they got blacklisted and as of now the A-321 based AWACS program is on. That's what happens when you don't have faith in your indigenous capabilities and hedge your bets on it failing and going in for additional Phalcon orders. Now those additional Phalcons are not gonna come and nor are any more Netras.

So as of now, the IAF is having to make do with a much smaller than satisfactory number of AWACS and AEW&C. There's aerostats in service but ideally they should have had an order for at least 6 Netra AEW&C given how cost effective it is.

 

[MirageBlue]

In other news related to the IAF, it looks like GE has applied for US Govt sanction to built a facility in India to manufacture the GE F-414-INS6. DRDO and a yet to be selected private sector company may be involved in this alongside GE.

Given that the IAF has committed to 6 squadrons of Tejas Mk2 (at least 114 jets) plus additional squadrons after that, and 2 squadrons of the twin engined AMCA Mk1 (40 units) is to be powered by F-414s, plus 60 of the twin engined TEDBF fighters for the IN, it translates to at least 340-350 engines.

Expect a facility that can build, test and do MRO of F-414 engines for the next 40 years.

GE F-414 engines set to be manufactured in India

 

[SQ8]

the IAF made a big mistake by going with an order for just 3 Netra AEW&Cs. Follow on orders were not feasible with Embraer since they got blacklisted and as of now the A-321 based AWACS program is on. That's what happens when you don't have faith in your indigenous capabilities and hedge your bets on it failing and going in for additional Phalcon orders. Now those additional Phalcons are not gonna come and nor are any more Netras.

So as of now, the IAF is having to make do with a much smaller than satisfactory number of AWACS and AEW&C. There's aerostats in service but ideally they should have had an order for at least 6 Netra AEW&C given how cost effective it is.

If its built in house then the Netra radar should be adapted to other platforms and the A321 should do it.

The Aerostats were a good poor man’s AEW when they were inducted but their static natire is a problem and that I have myself seen(the beach boys “ I get around”) the exact emissions lobe for that system and the PAF already knows how to circumvent and deteriorate it capabilities. The Netra was also the platform of choice the IAF took on 26th and the Phalcons are a rare sight in general which is why I brought up the serviceability question

 

[MirageBlue]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1619937731802730497

 

[MirageBlue]

Netra formation at the inaugural day of Aero India 2023

image credit - Hukum

 

[SQ8]

Netra formation at the inaugural day of Aero India 2023

image credit - Hukum

Aero India in a separate thread or post everything here - take your pick.

 

[MirageBlue]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1624449290495213571