Indian Air Force News & Discussions

[Abingdonboy]

Random Question (not a huge thing)

But has anyone else noticed that the IAF PHALCON doesn't, as far as I've seen, have "INDIAN AIRFORCE" written on the side of the fuselage it like all transports of the IAF (including DRDO AWACS). It has the finished paint job with the IAF roundals and Tail Flash but not the letters. Like i said, not a big issue just a little strange. Can anyone think of any particular reasons behind this- it is still identifiable as an IAF plane with the other markings.

 

[DMLA]

Newly painted IAF mig-29UPG in Russia.

mig-29UB upg (yet to be painted)

 

[fatman17]

Indian MoD admits extent of aircraft losses


Gareth Jennings - Aviation Desk Editor - London



The Indian Air Force (IAF) has lost 30 combat aircraft, 10 helicopters and 26 personnel (including 13 pilots) in air crashes over the past three years.


Indian Air Force officers stand near the wreckage of a MiG-21 aircraft that crashed near Ambala, in northern India, in September.


The figures, released by the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 12 December, cover the period from the beginning of 2008 to 3 December 2011. In addition, six civilians have been killed on the ground as a result of falling wreckage.

According to the MoD, human error and mechanical malfunction were the main causes of these accidents. The statement also highlighted pilot inexperience as a "major reason" behind many of these incidents.

In light of this loss rate, the IAF has instigated a number of remedial measures that include increased use of simulators to practice procedures and emergency actions, focused and realistic training with additional emphasis on the critical aspects of the mission, introduction of crew resource management and operational risk management, aviation psychology courses and the introduction of aerospace safety modules in the training of aircrew.

The statement added that older aircraft types will also be phased out of service.

COMMENT

The release of the figures by the Indian MoD caps a year in which hardly a month has passed by without news of an IAF aircraft crashing. Since the beginning of 2011 five MiG-21 'Fishbed' fighters, one MiG-29 'Fulcrum' fighter, one SEPECAT Jaguar strike aircraft and a Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) HJT-16 Kiran jet trainer have crashed with the loss of three pilots and one civilian.

Reaction to the appallingly high attrition rate in the Indian media has been so vociferous - referring to the MiG-21 in particular as a 'flying coffin' - that Defence Minister A K Antony has had to publicly announce a number of measures designed to reduce this loss rate. These measures include assigning only the IAF's most experienced pilots to the MiG-21 after the current course graduates in 2013.

However, Antony has issued similar statements in the past to seemingly little effect. In 2008 he said that India was pursuing measures to enhance the quality of training to improve pilot skills and would be working with aircraft manufacturers "to overcome the technical defects of aircraft", as well as introducing anti-bird-strike measures. It remains to be seen if the latest measures outlined by the MoD will do anything to limit the number of IAF aircraft being lost in training accidents.

 

[BoB's]

Bad news folks....another SU 30mki crashes but the good news is both pilots survived

The Indian Air Force lost another Su-30MKI this afternoon. The aircraft took off from the Lohegaon air base at Pune at 12.45pm, and crashed shortly thereafter. Both pilots ejected safely. The IAF lost its first Su-30 in April 2009, in which both pilots ejected, though one succumbed to injuries sustained during ejection. The second crashed in November 2009.

 

[Thundersword]

IAF AN-32 with paras for an OP in Ex Sudarshan Shakti
http://twitpic.com/7t4ugd/full
courtesy : Livefist

 

[Abingdonboy]

^^^ GET SOME!!!

 

[BoB's]

Missile to get smarter & lighter with onboard desi chip.

Indian missiles are set to go lighter and smarter with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on the verge of launching a System on Chip (SOC) component, to be embedded on to the onboard computer (OBC). The SOC will give a tech advantage to the scientists to either increase the range of the missile or the warhead, depending upon the mission. The processing speed also will go up by 6-7 times with SOC.

A five-member team of young scientists with average nine years of experience are eagerly waiting for the final product, which will replace the PCB-based hardware consisting of various integrated components (IC) on single board. A missile typically carries huge number of such ICs making the total weight of the OBC close to 4-5 kilograms. The SOC with its power supply unit and connecters will weigh less than 200 grams.

DRDO scientists claim that it will be for the first time India will equip its missiles with such state-of-the-art component, though the US, Israel and China have made inroads in similar technologies. SOC will be a match-box size unit with high computing intense application and very low power requirement. The efficiency of the missile will also be increased by many folds.
S K Ray, Director, Research Centre Imarat (RCI), tells Express that miniatirisation of systems makes the missile high-performance in nature. “Smaller avionics means, more options for warhead with more propulsion. Ours chips can be used for avionics applications in future too and we have a huge cost advantage having made them indigenously. It will be an integral part of all future navigation and homing guidance seekers,” says Ray.

DRDO hopes to get the first block of SOCs in December and later test it the on short-range air-to-air Astra missile by mid-2012. Astra – a BVR (Beyond Visual Range) missile – will be initially integrated with Su-30 MKI and later on Tejas and MiG-29.

B H V S Narayana Murthy, Director, Real-Time Embedded Computers, RCI, says that the might of India’s futuristic missiles will largely depend on miniaturization of onboard systems. “The key developing smaller and efficient components and India is in striking distance in achieving this. Tactical missiles will be the biggest beneficiaries and we are now aiming to standardize and offer SOC to more platforms in future,” Murthy said.

The SOC is a project being undertaken by RCI, jointly with the Advanced Numerical Research and Analysis Group (ANURAG) – both DRDO labs based in Hyderabad. The Real-Time Embedded Computer Directorate under RCI has tasked the SOC development to its Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) wing. Though the Rs 32-crore project was sanctioned in December 2005, with a four-year deadline to deliver the product, sources attribute the slippage of two years to the technology challenges involved in developing low-power SOCs.

 

[Agent_47]

IAF inducts C-130J Super Hercules transporter

With this India joins the growing number of nations with C-130J fleets including the US, Australia, Canada, Italy, Denmark, Norway and the United Kingdom. The C-130J carries eight 463L pallets, 97 medical litters, 24 CDS bundles, 128 combat troops and 92 paratroops

 

[Thundersword]

courtesy livefist
pics of Hawk at bidar!

 

[CIPHER]

India, Russia sign deal for another 42 Sukhoi combat planes

Moscow, Dec 16 (IANS) India Friday signed a fresh agreement with Russia for the licensed production of 42 Sukhoi fighters for which the Russians will provide technical and equipment support.
The new deal comes a week after an Indian Air Force (IAF) Sukhoi Su-30MKI crashed near Pune in Maharashtra following which the entire fleet of 120 planes in six squadrons has been grounded while the case of the accident is investigated.
The deal was among five pacts signed after delegation-level talks between visiting Indian Minister Manmohan Singh and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
The agreement was signed by Indian Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma, who is part of the prime minister's delegation, and Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Director M.A. Dmitriev here in the presence of Manmohan Singh and Medvedev.
India had in the mid-1990s signed an agreement with Russia for buying 50 twin-seater Sukhois off-the-shelf that were delivered beginning 1997.
In 2000, the two sides had signed another deal for licensed production of 140 Su-30MKIs by defence public sector undertaking Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). In 2007, a protocol was envisaged for manufacture of a further 40 Sukhois.
'The present protocol envisaged manufacture of an additional 42 aircraft by HAL, taking the total Sukhois for the IAF to 272 planes,' Sharma told IANS.

 

[DacterSaab]

The new deal comes a week after an Indian Air Force (IAF) Sukhoi Su-30MKI crashed near Pune in Maharashtra following which the entire fleet of 120 planes in six squadrons has been grounded while the case of the accident is investigated.

Is that it we only have 120 operational MKIs?????

 

[BoB's]

BVR Astra missile warming up for aircraft release in 2013; re-engineered weapon to undergo more captive flight trails in 2012

India is all geared up to conduct the release flight trails (firing) of the beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVR-AAM) Astra, being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Sources tell Express that the the missile configuration has been re-engineered after going through five ballistic and 13 control flights. With all its subsystems being qualified for airworthiness it will be ready for release flight trials for the first time from a Sukhoi (Su-30MKI) fighter during the first quarter of 2013.
In the meantime, captive flight trials (a total of eight) have been conducted on the aircraft in 2010-11 for establishing the structural integrity of the aircraft with the missiles for the complete flight envelope. The Rs 955-crore project was sanctioned in 2004 to develop two versions (Mk-1: 50 km & Mk-II: 100 km) for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The programme ran into rough weather for an year owing to controllability issues and higher than expected rolling moments at high angles of attack. The new symmetric configuration fully addresses these concerns and the whole of 2012 will be dedicated to testing a number of missiles from the ground to prove the configuration and engagement envelopes. Two subsystems had also to be re-designed and re-packaged to meet the new system configuration. "There are too many conflicting requirements for an air-to-air missile such as stability and safe release coupled with high agility during engagement against the target aircraft. We have sorted all the issues now," sources said.
"During the captive trials the total structural integrity of the missile and the launcher (modified one used by R-73 missile) on Sukhoi has been tested. Vibrations, shock and strains on the missile and the launcher at all altitudes and Mach numbers (-1 to 9 'g') were tested. As we are proving the missile, the platform is also getting proven and readied. The missile will be first integrated on Sukhoi, then Tejas and finally on to the MiG-29," sources said.
DRDO hopes to have the production versions of Astra Mkl-I & II on the three different fighters by 2016. "We have got two Su-30MKI aircraft from the IAF which has come with all modifications. Integration of the aircraft avionics with the missile on-board equipment are being carried out using the Sukhoi test rig at IAF's Software Development Institute in Bangalore. This will further undergo rigorous checks during the captive flight trials planned in mid-2012 for qualifying the electronic integrity in flight using a metric missile," sources said.
A young 50-member team in their mid-30s are putting their act together to take the project forward. This is the first air-to-air missile being developed in India, which is claimed to match more than MICA, Meteor (both French) and AMRAAM (US). The home-grown Tejas fighter will probably get a taste of Astra missile during the last quarter of 2013.
Every material from metal, airframes, propellant, fasteners, wires to electronics have to be certified for airworthiness and the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification with the Regional Centres for Military Airworthiness (Missiles) & (Air-Armament) are on an overtime mode to achieve these goals.
The biggest challenge for the missile will be to demonstrate its capabilities against subsonic and supersonic targets. To make the project enter production phase early, the sub-systems of Astra are being made by multiple industries, to enable faster delivery of identical systems. "We have no issues as far as subsystems are concerned. Efforts are also on to develop a parallel agency for production and system integration," sources said.
Today, the mainstay of the IAF are the Russian-made R-73 and R-27 missiles and once the Tejas gets operational, the Israeli-made Derby too will join the party. India has already developed a dual-pulse rocket motor (enahances the range) for Astra Mk-II. "Self reliance in air launched missile and particularly air-to-air system is of strategic importance considering the new paradigm of air superiority warfare," sources said.
Astra project is a tech-treat considering the miniaturization of the systems, including on-board computer, data links for transmitter/receiver and rotary electro-mechanical actuators. A smokeless, non-metallized high-specific impulse propellant was developed for the rocket motor.
The missile will use 'Agat' seeker from Russia which will be produced in India through a total transfer-of-technology process. The development programe will see about 100-plus missiles produced intially, thanks to the two variants and different platforms.

Astra during ground trials

Captive flight trials on Su-30 MKI

 

[praveen007]

Not directly related to IAF but deserve a glance.
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I'M ALIVE! Sukhoi pilot puts together a passionate video on elite fighter
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Tarmak007 -- A bold blog on Indian defence: I'M ALIVE! Sukhoi pilot puts together a passionate video on elite fighter
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&hl=en&client=mv-google&v=P6Eg14a9l1A

 

[BoB's]

Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne, Chief of the Air Staff flew a one hour sortie in a SU-30 MKI at Pune airbase.

 

[BLEND]

Shortage of trainer aircraft, so IAF cuts flying time of rookie pilots to one-third





Faced with an acute shortage of trainer aircraft, the Indian Air Force has cut down flying time for rookie pilots to one-third, altering its training programme for officers at the Air Force Academy (AFA) in Dundigal, Andhra Pradesh.Cadets joining the academy now are getting only 25 hours of flying experience in the first stage of training, sources said, down from the minimum requirement of 75 flying hours that was the norm before the entire fleet of HPT 32 basic trainers was grounded two years ago due to technical reasons.

The first stage of training lasts for six months. Sources said the number of flying hours in the first stage had dwindled even lower over the past two years due to the shortage but has now been kept steady with optimum management of the resources.



While pilots who are selected for the fighter branch do manage to get ten extra hours before moving on to the second stage of training on Kiran Mk II aircraft, others who are selected for helicopter and transport fleet move to the second stage training after flying for barely 25 hours.

The grounding of the HPT 32 fleet has put the entire onus of basic training on the Kiran Mk 1 trainers that were earlier being used for stage two training. The problem is the quantity of available aircraft. All 114 HPTs have been grounded and the IAF has just 96 Kiran Mk I’s for the first stage training.



Even with the Kirans being stretched to their maximum flying potential, there are simply not enough aircraft for rookie pilots to log flying hours. Cadets are now being selected for trifurcation into the helicopter, fighter or transport stream on the basis of their performance in the first 25 hours of flying.



The shortage has had a cascading effect. The IAF has disbanded its aerobatic flying team — the Suryakirans were flying Kirans — to make aircraft available for training. The Air Force Academy has had to delay its passing-out parade this year by almost a month as cadets could not complete mandatory flying in time for the regular date.



The situation is not likely to change over the next few years as the first new aircraft for basic training will take at least three years to arrive after acquisition is approved by the Union Cabinet. Even though the Hawk advanced jet trainers are arriving in greater numbers, the shortage at the first stage is expected to continue.



Efforts are on by HPT 32’s manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to get the aircraft off the ground by fitting it with a ballistic recovery system — a massive parachute that safely brings down the entire aircraft in case of engine failure. But this has not found much favour with the IAF that is keen to import new basic trainer aircraft.

Shortage of trainer aircraft, so IAF cuts flying time of rookie pilots to one-third - Express India