News Report: Crashes Cripple Indian Already Inadequate Fighter Jet Strength Over Last 3 Years

Already short of more than 200 fighter jets from the required strength, the Indian defense ministry revelation that 37 fighter jet and helicopters were lost in accidents have further clouded the capability of Indian armed forces to tackle a hypothetical two-front attack by China and Pakistan.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — The Indian defense ministry revelation comes in the backdrop of the standoff between India and China in the Doklam plateau of Bhutan. A few days ago, the Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa had said in an interview that the IAF does not have the required fighter jets to fight a full-spectrum war.

"37 fighters and defense aircraft have crashed during the last three years in which 55 people were killed," Subhash Bhamre, India's Minister of State for Defense told the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Indian Parliament. Bhamre provided details of the accidents where IAF lost 24 planes and five helicopters in the last three years.

News Story: Russia and India Negotiating Su-30 Combat Jet Support Deal

Su-30MKI (Image: Wiki Commons)

by Reuben F. Johnson

Russia and India are close to signing a long-term support agreement for the fleet of Sukhoi Su-30MKI combat aircraft operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF). It includes an improved schedule for the delivery of spares from Russia, local manufacturing of some spares and the creation of logistics hub for the aircraft at the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) production facility in Bangalore. India has contracted for the delivery of more than 300 of these aircraft. 

The Su-30MKI is a specialized variant of the Su-30MK-model series and was developed and built at the Irkut factory in Russia. It features several modifications that differentiate it from the original Su-30 design. These include a set of canard foreplanes and a thrust vector control (TVC) module coupled to the aircraft’s fly-by-wire flight control system; the N011M passive electronically scanning array (PESA) radar set produced by the NIIP design bureau in Moscow; and a mix of Israeli, French and Indian-produced avionics.

It is this unique configuration of this aircraft, which is different from the other Su-30MK variants sold for export, that complicates the logistics chain for this aircraft, say Russian aerospace specialists familiar with the program. Indian officials had previously expressed dissatisfaction with the declining availability rates for the Su-30MKI, but have seen improvements in those numbers recently.

Read the full story at AINonline

News Report: India Plans to Find Foreign Single-Engine Fighters Manufacturer

HAL Tejas (File Photo)

Eleven Squadrons of Indian Air Force (IAF) equipped with Russian MiG-21 and MiG-27 aircraft are scheduled to retire by 2024 on completion of their Total Technical Life.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — India plans to replace all these aircraft with a foreign manufacturer setting up shop for a single-engine combat jet. The locally made Tejas, a single jet fighter, will also make up the numbers.

India has decided against banking only on its locally made Tejas combat fighter to make up for the shortfall in squadron strength after the retirement of mainly Russia-made fighters.

India has drawn up plans for a global tender to select a new single engine fighter aircraft that will be locally manufactured under an extensive technology transfer contract. Sources told Sputnik that apart from the indigenous Tejas aircraft, the Government will invite bids for 200 new single engine fighter aircraft once it finalizes the guidelines for choosing a strategic partner. Strategic Partnership is a concept to select the right Indian private company to jointly execute certain types of high-value defense items. India's Defense Ministry expects the Strategic Partnership guidelines to be finalized this month.

News Story: India Launches Global Search for Single-Engine Fighter Jets

Concept Art for Lockheed Martin F-16IN (File Photo)

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI - India has begun a fresh program to acquire single-engine fighter aircraft to be built in India on the basis of foreign technology, as invitations have been sent privately through Indian Embassies to "some overseas participants" to partake in the program, according to an official at the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Among the planes expected to be in the running are Lockheed Martin's F-16 Block 70 and Saab's Gripen E. 

"If it is single-engine fighter, there are mainly two: Lockheed Martin and Saab," Muthumanikam Matheswaran, retired Indian Air Force Air Marshal says.

SAAB JAS-39D Gripen (File Photo)

"It appears that Lockheed Martin and Saab would get shortlisted if it is confirmed that only three countries, including Russia, have been  approached to seek their response," Daljit Singh, retired IAF Air Marshal and defense analyst, said.

The announcement for a fresh fighter program comes within a month after India committed to buying 36 Rafale fighters from France at a cost of $8.85 billion.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

Editorial: India’s Air Force Will Field 42 Combat Squadrons by 2027

By Franz-Stefan Gady

The Indian Air Force chief is optimistic about expanding the number of IAF combat squadrons.

The head of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, recently announced that the Indian Air Force (IAF) will in all likelihood be able to deploy 42 combat squadrons by 2027 the Business Standard reports.

“We are looking forward to building up our combat fleet to 42 squadrons by the end of the 14th plan, by 2027. I think it is possible, it is viable, there are a lot of options available with us, and discussions are already on,” he told reporters last Saturday in New Delhi.

The Indian Air Force currently operates 32 (some sources say 35) combat squadrons. However, the Indian government’s 35-member Standing Committee on Defense said in a report this April that the number of squadrons could drop as low as 25 (See: “The Indian Air Force’s Big Problem: Not Enough Pilots”).

The reason for the decline in active combat squadrons is that aircraft (primarily MIG-21) are more rapidly retired or are lost in crashes than replacements are available. Next to MIG-21 squadrons, the IAF’s 5 MIG-27 and 7 Jaguar squadrons will also have to be slowly phased out over the next years since the aircraft will have reached the end of their service life in the 2020s.

Read the full story at The Diplomat

India: The Indo-French Air Exercise “Garuda-V” Successfully Concludes today at AFS Jodhpur

1. The Indo-French Air Exercise “Garuda V” which commenced on 03 June successfully concluded today, where both the air forces engaged in various combat roles including Air to Air refuelling. The exercise provided great cross learning to both Air Forces. During the exercise, the IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha and his French counterpart General Denis Mercier flew combat sorties in Rafale and Su30 respectively and interacted with the pilots and technicians of both the Air Forces. 

2. The challenging and realistic missions executed throughout Garuda-V as well as the sharing of know-how and operational lessons has enhanced the operational capabilities of both sides as well as reinforced the cooperation between French and Indian Air Forces. Conducted in a professional and friendly spirit, Garuda-V contributed significantly to the camaraderie between the units involved, in the spirit of the strong Defence relationship and strategic partnership between France and India. 

3. The French detachment comprised of 4 Rafales and 1 C-135 French Refueller aircraft while the IAF fielded 4 Su-30MKI, 4 MiG 21 Bison, 4 MiG 27 (Upg), as well as an IL-78 tanker aircraft and an Airborne Warning and control system IL-76 (AWACS).

Indian Press Information Bureau

News Story: Rafale To Fly in Indo-French Joint Air Exercises

By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI

NEW DELHI — The French Rafale fighter aircraft, shortlisted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) for its $12 billion Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) program, will engage with IAF aircraft in June 3 joint exercises over the Rajasthan desert.

The Indo-French air exercise, Garuda-5, will include four Rafale multirole fighter aircraft and one air refueler that will participate with IAF’s multirole Su-30MKI, MiG-27 and MiG-21 aircraft.

While the exercise is unlikely to test the performance of the Russian or the French aircraft, it will expose to IAF personnel the French aircraft’s capabilities in maneuvers, said an IAF official. The MMRCA deal, in which Rafale is the preferred aircraft, has been in the contract negotiations stage for more than a year and is awaiting finalization.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: IAF transforming into strategic power - Chief

KOLKATA (PTI): Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha Friday said that the IAF was poised to transform into a strategic aerospace power with the ongoing modernisation.

"IAF (Indian Air Force) is on a trajectory of modernisation and is transforming into a strategic aerospace power with full spectrum capability," said ACM Raha in his address to the personnel at Kalaikunda airbase in West Bengal.

He also urged all personnel to display exemplary leadership in pursuit of excellence.

Read the full story at Brahmand

India: Modernisation of IAF

Tejas (LCA) Fighter (File Photo)

There have been delays in the indigenous development of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA-Tejas) and the Project to co-develop Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA). The LCA has attained Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) on 20th December, 2013 paving its way to induction into IAF. In the FGFA project the PD phase has been completed in June, 2013. 

The MiG-21 and MiG-27 aircrafts of the IAF have already been upgraded and currently equip 14 combat squadrons. These aircraft, however, are planned for being phased out over the next few years and will be replaced by the LCA. Steps have been initiated for upgradation of other fighter aircrafts like MiG-29, Jaguar, Mirage-2000; transport aircraft like AN-32 and Mi-17/Mi-17 IV helicopters. 

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Shri Jitendra Singh in a written reply to Shri Dharmendra Yadav and Shri Anandrao Adsul in Lok Sabha today. 

Indian Press Information Bureau

News Story: IAF to phase out MiG 21 FL variants on Dec 11

Egyptian MiG-21 (Wiki Info - Image: Wiki)

NEW DELHI (PTI): The iconic Mig-21 FL fighter jet, one of the first variants of the MiG 21 combat aircraft, which dealt severe blows to Pakistan Air Force in the 1971 war, will be phased out from the IAF on Wednesday.

"The deafening roar of the MiG-21 FL afterburner, an iconic delta-wing fighter aircraft that heralded the 'supersonic era' in IAF will no longer be heard after December 11, 2013, the day it is set to fly into the annals of military aviation history," an IAF release said here.

On the occasion, four MiG-21 FL aircraft flown by pilots from the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) in the northeast will fly a 'box formation'. IAF chief N A K Browne will salute at the ceremonial parade to bid them adieu.

Read the full story at Brahmand

India: At the Forefront in Executing its Mission with Honour and Pride IAF Displays its Fire Power at IRON FIST2013

MiG-29 Fulcrum (Wiki Info - File Photo)

IRON FIST – 2013 was conceived as a visible demonstration of not only the deterrent and joint war fighting capabilities of the IAF but also a reaffirmation of IAF”s commitment to nation building through its more benign and non kinetic capabilities. February 22, 2013 would witness the Indian Air Force demonstrate its operational capabilities by day, dusk and night at the sprawling facility of the Pokharan Range, the largest air –to-ground weapons firing range for training in delivery of heavy armament, near Jaisalmer, in the arid Rajasthan Sector. 

Showcasing more than 30 types of platforms and Weapons Systems amounting to a participation of about 230 aircraft, this Fire Power Display will demonstrate the day and night employability of air power by frontline fighter aircraft of the IAF including - Su-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, Jaguar, MiG-21,MiG-27, MiG-29 and Hawks. The transport aircraft would include – C130J, AN-32, Embraer and IL-76, while Mi-8, Mi-17 1V, the newly inducted Mi-17 V5 and Mi-35 Attack Helicopters will constitute the Rotary Wing ingredients. The Sarang Helicopter Aerobatic Display Team and low level aerobatics by SU-30 aircraft would be the added attraction to the event

Think Tank: Aero India 2013 – Fulfilling Larger IAF Mission - Part I

Dassault Rafale (MMRCA) 

The buzz of Aero India 2013 has commenced even though the event will be unveiled only on 6th February, the debate on aerospace issues in the defence media in India and abroad is on with full vigour. An issue worth considering is how the Aero India 2013 fulfill the larger mission of the Indian Air Force (IAF). A review of the IAF doctrine would provide a good perspective. In Part I we examine the combat fighter capability mission of the IAF and Aero India 2013.

The IAF has published a revised doctrine which has been released in September 2012 for larger public debate. The Doctrine is fairly comprehensive and outlines vision and mission of the IAF and the manner of its achievement. The doctrine envisages air power as the, “total ability of a nation to assert its will through the medium of air,” and increasingly includes both civil and military aviation as also integration of the space medium. In this sense it would also be important to integrate the capability of the aero industry in the country to provide the IAF the necessary tools to complete its mission. Research and Development are also an important addendum of the, “total ability,” of the air force to complete the assigned objective. The Doctrine has considered these issues though more could have been included.

News Story: Induction of BRAHMOS air version, C-17 aircraft in 2013

COIMBATORE (PTI): Induction of BRAHMOS air version and C-17 aircraft would form a part of major expansion of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2013, Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne has said.

The first C-17 Globemaster aircraft would reach India by June, 2013 and would be mainly utilised for strategic lifting and transport of goods and troops, besides humanitarian relief works, Browne told reporters at the Sulur air force station on Tuesday.

The Government has ordered 10 such heavy-lift military aircraft which would be based at Hindon. The entire lot was expected to be delivered by 2015, he said.

Read the full story at Brahmand

News Story: HAL's new strategic electronics factory comes up in Kerala

Rafale MMRCA

KASARGOD/BANGALORE (BNS): Defence Minister A K Antony has inaugurated the strategic electronics manufacturing unit of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) at Seethangoli in Kasargod district of Kerala.

The new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, which was opened on November 17, will produce advanced avionics for aircraft and helicopters of the Indian armed forces.

"Production has already started at the new factory and the inauguration was a mere formality," Antony said, adding that the manufacturing unit will be developed as a major aerospace firm of India. 

Read the full story at Brahmand

India: Antony Asks Air Force For Early Completion of Courts of Inquiry on Air Crashes First Training Course on Pilatus to Begin in July Next Year

Indian AirForce Hawk Trainer

The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony today asked the top brass of Indian Air Force to complete all pending Court of Inquiry (CoI) proceedings into air accidents as early as possible and take appropriate remedial measures so that the possibility of future accidents are minimized. Addressing a meeting of the Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry here he said even one accident is a matter of serious concern. 

Shri Antony said a Joint Committee comprising representatives of Ministry of Defence, Indian Air Force, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., DRDO and DG AQA has been constituted to monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the Court of Inquiry specially for Category-I aircraft accidents. Category-I accidents are those in which the aircraft is destroyed or damaged beyond economical repair, or is missing or the cost of repair, excluding damage to aero-engines exceeds 50% of the total cost. 

Shri Antony said a one-time inspection of all helicopter detachments was carried out in view of the fact that an unusually high number of accidents and incidents on helicopters occur, when they are operating away from their parent base. These inspections resulted in highlighting several shortcomings. Action is being taken on these shortcomings on a priority basis. 

Kiran Trainer (Wiki Info - Image: Wiki Commons)

Another area of focus, he said, is the training standards of young fighter aircrew. The deficiencies in training are rectified by a review of training patterns, enhancement of availability of training aircraft and strengthening of training procedures. The basic flying training task was shifted from HPT-32 to Kiran aircraft. To make up for the deficiencies of training resources, the availability of Kiran aircraft is being enhanced to strengthen the foundation training of ab-initio pilots. Maximum availability of simulators is ensured during training. Procurement of 75 Basic Trainer Aircraft has been fast-tracked and the first training course on the new trainer aircraft ‘Pilatus’ will commence in July 2013. 

Shri Antony said Plans to phase out equipment approaching redundancy are also in place and certain critical procurements have been fast-tracked. Non-upgraded MiG-27 and MiG-21 are being phased out progressively by March 2016 and March 2018 respectively. 

Cutting across party lines, the Members of Parliament complimented Indian Air Force for progressively bringing down Cat-I accident rates over the past thirty years. However, they cautioned IAF not to sit on laurels and take further measures in air safety to match the global standards. 

Responding to a query on the shortage of spare parts for the aging aircraft fleet of Indian Air Force, Shri Antony said earlier the acquisition of aircraft and replenishment of spare parts used to be dealt with by separate contracts. He said in the new contracts we are taking corrective measures and product support is built into the process of acquisition of new aircraft. 

The Members of Parliament also urged the Government to accelerate the process of modernization of airports and air fields in various parts of the country because such a measure will not only improve air safety but will also spur economic growth of the regions. 

The Members of Parliament who attended the meeting included Shri Naveen Jindal, Shri Suresh Kalmadi, Shri Harshvardhan, Shri Kailkesh N. Singh Deo, Shri Lalit Mohan Suklabaidya, Shri Gopal Singh Shekhawat, Shri Ram Chandra Khuntia, Shri Veer Singh, Shri HK Dua and Shri Piyush Goyal. 

The newly inducted Minister of State for Defence Shri Jitendra Singh, the Defence Secretary Shri Shashikant Sharma, the Secretary (Defence Production) Shri RK Mathur, SA to RM Shri VK Saraswat, the Secretary Ex-Servicemen’s Welfare Shri Vijay Chibber, Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal DC Kumria and other officials of the Ministry of Defence and Air Force also attended the meeting. 

Indian Press Information Bureau

News Story: (India) IAF planning to phase out MiG-27 combat planes by 2017

Mig-27 (Wiki Info)

Concerned over recurring problems in MiG-27 combat aircraft engines, Indian Air Force is planning to phase out these Russian-origin planes by 2017.

IAF operates about 80 (four squadrons) of these aircraft in its fleet and due to the recurring problems in their engines, it had to ground all of them after a crash about two years ago.

"We are planning to phase out the MiG-27s, of which around 80 are still in service, by the year 2017," senior IAF officials said.

IAF has deployed two squadrons each of the aircraft in Jodhpur in Rajasthan and Kalaikunda in West Bengal at present.

Read the full story at The Indian Express

Editorial: India Eyes Nuclear Triad

Agni V Ballistic Missile

By Zachary Keck 

“India’s drive to develop a nuclear triad proceeds apace,” write Hans M. Kristensen and Robert S. Norris in India’s entry in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists’ 2012 Nuclear Notebook.

Like most nuclear-armed countries, New Delhi maintains a certain degree of opacity about the size of its nuclear arsenal making it difficult to pinpoint. Thus, while estimating that India has produced enough weapons-grade plutonium for 100-130 nuclear warheads, Kristensen and Norris believe that it has only produce 80-100 of them. This may increase in the future, however, as India enhances its ability to produce plutonium, and increases its delivery systems.

 Read the full story at The Diplomat

India: Upgradation of Aircraft

Mig 21 (Wiki Info)

The Indian Air Force (IAF) undertakes upgrades of its fighter aircraft to enhance their combat potential and to ensure their operational relevance. 

Mig 27 (Wiki Info)

IAF has undertaken upgrade of MiG-21 and MiG-27 aircraft. Contracts have also been signed to upgrade the MiG-29, Mirage-2000 and Jaguar aircraft.

Mig 29 (Wiki Info)

Contract for upgrade of MiG-29 was signed with RAC 'MiG' at a cost of US$964 Million. The upgrade is planned to be completed by 2016.

Mirage 2000 (Wiki Info)

Contract for Mirage-2000 upgrade has been signed with M/s Thales and M/s Dassault Aviation, France at a cost of 1470 Million Euros and with M/s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at a cost of Rs.2020 crores. All the aircraft are scheduled to be upgraded by mid-2021.

Jaguar (Wiki Info)

The Contract for upgrade of Jaguar Aircraft has been signed with M/s HAL at a cost of Rs.3113.02 crores. The aircraft are planned to be upgraded by December 2017. 

This information was given by Minister of Defence Shri A.K. Antony in written reply to Shri Ramesh Bais and Shri PC Mohan in Lok Sabha today. 

Indian Press Information Bureau

News Story: India, Singapore to hold joint military training

KALAIKUNDA, WEST BENGAL (PTI): With an aim of increasing mutual operational understanding, India and Singapore will hold joint military training activities at the Air Force base here this month.

Starting from October 14, the Air Force base at Kalaikunda will host the seventh IAF-RSAF (Republic of Singapore Air Force) JMT activities for 30 days, defence sources said.

Read the full story at Brahmand