Indian Airforce A-50 EI Spotted

[Neo]

I see, i vaguely recall however some news report saying it was because of economic considerations...

Some sources hinted that the dicision to size down the order was linked to the Oct 8th Earhquake but I go with Blain, turboprob has is more suiteable for certain area's in Pakistan.

Also mate, why does the PAF need an AWACS to cover its western border, the AAF is a joke right now and will be for a long time.

AAF might be a joke, USAF/NATO is still there, eventhough its not considered a threat.

 

[Neo]

IAF already operates Il-76, 3 more Il-76's for another three AWACS, not to mention IAF is planning to get atleast 6 more tankers, so all that adds to a significant fleet of Il-76/78's.

The latest contract with the Russia, is for Russia setting up a huge warehouse of sorts for stocking every kind of spares item for military aviation equipment that India uses. It will be set up as a JV if i remember correctly with Rosoboronexport. It should supposedly cut the time for procuring the spare parts for IAF machines drastically, with everything available here.

Could you please post the link to support the claim, I'd like to read more.
Thanks.

 

[Contrarian]

Just the one i could find in a hurry. You could try indiadefence also.

Russia offers to set up spares depot in India

Russia, India’s No. 1 defense supplier, has offered to set up India’s first depot for defense spares in a bid to meet New Delhi’s shortages.

The semiofficial Press Trust of India said the Indian government was reviewing the proposal, which was made following Defense Minister A.K. Antony’s visit to Moscow last month where he raised the issue of defense spares. PTI quoted unnamed Indian sources as saying a spares depot would be a cost-effective option. It said New Delhi was awaiting a formal proposal from Russia on the issue.

Russian defense equipment in India’s armory include the MiG and Sukhoi fighter jet, T-90 and T-72 tanks, AN-32 planes, the Ilyushin aircraft, along with submarines, vessels and missiles, PTI said.

Such a move would give Russia a stronger foothold in the Indian defense sector. Although its primacy is undoubted, Russia has faced stiff competition from Israel and more recently from the United States for the attention of India’s defense sector.
Analysis: India's defense sector - UPI.com

AFAIK It was signed a sometime back.

 

[Titanium]

India eyes additional Phalcon airborne early warning systems
By Siva Govindasamy

India could double its order for Israeli-produced Phalcon airborne early-warning and control system equipment, due to growing doubts over the viability of an indigenous programme being conducted by its Defence Research and Development Organisation.

New Delhi ordered three Phalcon systems in 2004 as part of a $1.5 billion deal with Israel Aerospace Industries and Russia's Rosoboronexport arms export agency, with the radars to be fitted on Ilyushin Il-76 transports. The first aircraft is scheduled for delivery in September, and the last should be in service by the end of 2010.

DRDO scientists and engineers have been developing an AEW system for several years, and hope to fit this on to a modified Embraer ERJ-145 regional airliner for service use by 2011, but air force and industry sources are pessimistic.

"The DRDO has not made any significant breakthrough in the development of the radars or other equipment for a surveillance system. Even if they do, there isn't enough time to conduct the technical and flights tests," says one industry source. "India urgently needs the AEW systems, and an additional three Phalcon systems would meet that requirement." A follow-on deal for three more systems could be signed soon, with this projected to be worth around $2 billion.

Uzbekistan's Tashkent Aircraft Production Organisation has been retrofitting the Il-76 airframes to accommodate the radars. The first converted aircraft began flight tests last November, and work is likely to begin on the second shortly, sources say.

India's contract with IAI also includes the provision of electronic intelligence and communications equipment, with early-warning subsystems designed and manufactured by its Elta Systems subsidiary. Work is now being conducted in support of the programme inside a special hangar at IAI's facilities at Ben-Gurion international airport near Tel Aviv.

Israel's defence ministry said last year that India is its largest client for defence equipment, accounting for 50% of all exports. After years of relying on Russia for its military equipment, India began to diversify its sources a few years ago, and recently signed a letter of offer and acceptance with the USA for six Lockheed Martin C-130J tactical transports. Companies from Europe, Russia and the USA are also bidding for multirole combat aircraft and utility helicopter tenders worth almost $15 billion.

India has also shown interest in Northrop Grumman's E-2C Hawkeye to augment its Il-76 AEW&C aircraft and naval Kamov Ka-31 radar picket helicopters

 

[Contrarian]

India eyes additional Phalcon airborne early warning systems
By Siva Govindasamy

India could double its order for Israeli-produced Phalcon airborne early-warning and control system equipment, due to growing doubts over the viability of an indigenous programme being conducted by its Defence Research and Development Organisation.

What a foolish report. DRDO awacs are not in the same league as the Phalcons, they are to act as smaller nodes of the AEW system for India. The order of Phalcons is not because DRDO failed, but DRDO's job is to augument the Phalcons! Both are in a different category.

India has also shown interest in Northrop Grumman's E-2C Hawkeye to augment its Il-76 AEW&C aircraft and naval Kamov Ka-31 radar picket helicopters

Old news again, US offered E2C, since our carrier cant operate it, we rejected it. Now they are offering E2D as a shore based Naval AWACS. And we still dont need it, as if its shore based, we might as well give the Navy one of the Phalcons or the DRDO awacs.

 

[Titanium]

The DRDO has not made any significant breakthrough in the development of the radars or other equipment for a surveillance system. Even if they do, there isn't enough time to conduct the technical and flights tests,"

 

[Contrarian]

DRDO scientists and engineers have been developing an AEW system for several years, and hope to fit this on to a modified Embraer ERJ-145 regional airliner for service use by 2011, but air force and industry sources are pessimistic.

"The DRDO has not made any significant breakthrough in the development of the radars or other equipment for a surveillance system. Even if they do, there isn't enough time to conduct the technical and flights tests," says one industry source.

No need to comment any further. Trashy article.

 

[ejaz007]

Indian Air Force gets Israeli-built AWACS

* Aircraft can monitor troop build-up, movement 200 kilometres inside neighbours’ territory

By Iftikhar Gilani

NEW DELHI: Immediately after one of three aircraft procured from Israel arrived on Sunday, India has inducted the ‘Phalcon’ airborne early warning and control system into its air force squadron based in Agra, to “monitor military build-up and troop and aircraft movement nearly 200 kilometres inside Pakistan”.

On its arrival in India, the Israeli-built system mounted on a Russian-built IL-76 transport aircraft was inspected by Indian Air Force chief Fali H Major. The system is used for tactical surveillance of airborne and surface targets and intelligence gathering in a radius of over 400 kilometres. An electronically-steered beam provides a 360-degree coverage around the aircraft and it carries air force personnel on board to analyse data and steer fighter aircraft.

Officials here said the Phalcon was a tremendous ‘force multiplier’ in the current situation. “It can help monitor military build-up and troop and aircraft movement nearly 200 kilometres inside Pakistan while flying nearly 100 kilometres inside our own territory,” a news portal quoted Air Marshal (r) AK Goel as saying.

India’s external spy agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), and the Indian Air Force’s fleet of Israeli-built Heron and Searcher-II drones are the only other platform offering such capabilities.

“AEWs have a threefold advantage of flexibility – they can be deployed anywhere, provide much better coverage because they are mounted on an elevated platform and carry control systems and datalinks, which can be used to vector your own fighter aircraft,” says Air Marshal VK Bhatia, India’s former western air commander.

India signed a $1.1 billion deal for three Phalcons with Israel in 2004. The first aircraft were to be delivered last year, but the delivery was held up by a few months. All deliveries are to be completed by next year.

The Indian Air Force is keen on acquiring three more Phalcons, and with negotiations said to be at an advanced stage, the deal is likely to be signed sometime this year.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[Indicom]

There's a severe shortage of spare parts for IL-76/78, this could eventually ground the platform unless IAF secures large amount of spare kitts.

Russia isn't reliable when it comes to supplying spareparts, we've seen this happen with Mig-21, Mig-29 and now even Su-30MKI. My source tells me that only 10-12 jets are flying due severe shortage of spares.

Whosoever your source is,he is smoking pot bigtime. The MKIs have the best seviceability in the IAF and currently about 90 are in active service.

 

[zeus]

In recently held RedFlag Sukhoi had high seviceability rate even better the French Rafale and South korean F-15k which were pretty much Brand New

 

[Indicom]

The pics are here....

 

[Keysersoze]

Whosoever your source is,he is smoking pot bigtime. The MKIs have the best seviceability in the IAF and currently about 90 are in active service.

yeah you mighto think so but i can say without a doubt neo's contact has been on the ball every single time mate in fact the details have come out roughly 6 months before the mainstream media would get it.

So sorry go back to your fantasy land....

 

[Keysersoze]

In recently held RedFlag Sukhoi had high seviceability rate even better the French Rafale and South korean F-15k which were pretty much Brand New

You mean the 8 planes that got sent got 100% servicing as not to embarrass the pride of the IAF? surely not!

 

[Indicom]

You mean the 8 planes that got sent got 100% servicing as not to embarrass the pride of the IAF? surely not!

You are talking out of nothing,anybody can make baseless claims like you but the fact remains something else.

 

[Keysersoze]

You are talking out of nothing,anybody can make baseless claims like you but the fact remains something else.

hmmmm of course we are.....and of course you have some inside information? or just ego? .....give us some projections then smart man......i await you reply......