Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force (भारतीय वायु सेना : Bharatiya Vayu Sena) is the air-arm of the Armed Forces of India and has the prime responsibility of conducting air-based warfare and securing Indian airspace. It was established on October 8, 1932 as the Indian Air Force. It was granted the prefix "Royal" in 1945 in recognition of its services during the Second World War. The prefix Royal was dropped after India became a Republic in 1950. It is the fourth largest air force in the world.
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History
Formation and early pilots
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The Indian Air Force (IAF) was established with the passing of the Indian Air Force act on October 8 1932. Accordingly, IAF's No.1 Squadron came into being on April 1 1933. Initially, the IAF consisted of five Indian pilots, one RAF commanding officer and four Westland Wapiti biplanes.
The first five pilots commissioned into the IAF were Harish Chandra Sircar, Subroto Mukerjee, Bhupendra Singh, Aizad Baksh Awan and Amarjeet Singh. A sixth officer, S N Tandon had to revert to ground duties as he was too short. All of them were commissioned as Pilot Officers in 1932 from RAF Cranwell. Subroto Mukerjee later went on to become the IAF's first Chief of the Air Staff. Subsequent batches inducted before World War II included Aspy Engineer, K K Majumdar, Narendra, Daljit Singh, Henry Runganadhan, R H D Singh, Baba Mehar Singh, S N Goyal, Prithpal Singh and Arjan Singh.
World War II (1939-1945)
During World War II, the IAF played an instrumental role in blocking the advance of the Japanese army in Burma, where its first air strike was on the Japanese military base in Arakan. It also carried out strike missions against the Japanese airbases at Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in northern Thailand. During the war, the IAF went through a phase of steady expansion. New aircraft, including the U.S. built Vultee Vengeance and the British Hawker Hurricane and Westland Lysander, were added to its fleet.
In recognition of the services rendered by the IAF, King George VI conferred the prefix "Royal" in 1945. Thereafter the IAF was referred to as Royal Indian Air Force. In 1950, When India became a republic, the prefix was dropped and it reverted back to Indian Air Force.
First Kashmir War 1947
In a bid to gain control of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, Pathan tribesmen, armed and aided by Pakistan poured into Kashmir on October 20, 1947. Incapable of withstanding the armed assault in his province, the Maharaja of Kashmir, Hari Singh, asked India for help. The Government of India made its assistance conditional upon Kashmir's accession to India. The Instrument of accession was signed on October 26 1947 and the next day Indian troops were airlifted into Srinagar. The agreement was later ratified by the British.
Taking off from Safdarjang, then known as Willingdon Airfield, the IAF landed Indian troops at Srinagar airfield at 09:30 hours IST on October 27. This was the most instrumental action of the war as the troops saved the city from the invaders. Apart from the airlifting operations and supplying essential commodities to the ground troops, the Indian Air Force had no other major role to play in the conflict. On December 31, 1948, both nations agreed to a UN mediated cease-fire proposal marking the end of hostilities. A Line of Control has since separated Indian-held Kashmir from Pakistani-held Kashmir.
Congo Operation 1961
Belgium's 75-year colonial rule of the Congo ended abruptly on June 30, 1960. Unable to control the deteriorating situation in its former African colony, Belgium asked for UN assistance. In India, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was quick to respond to the initial appeal for help and sent IAF Canberra aircraft as a part of the UN-led mission in Congo.
Indo-China Conflict 1962
In 1962, China launched a sudden assault on Indian military ground positions in the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. The IAF was called to counter-attack the Chinese raid and to supply troops fighting near the Sino-Indian border. The IAF carried out several extremely demanding operations, including the bombing of Chinese helipads in Tibet's mountainous region and airlifting injured soldiers. A notable feature of IAF operations during the conflict was operating C-119 Flying Boxcars from airstrips 17,000 feet above sea level in the Karakoram, Himalayas.
However, the leadership(military-civilian) failed to organise the air assaults efficiently – one of the primary reasons for the Indian defeat in the conflict. Without essential air support, the Indian Army faced overwhelming odds in their fight against well prepared Chinese troops. The Indian leadership grounded the IAF for the majority of the war fearing that if the IAF attacked Chinese forces, the PLAAF would retalliate on Indian cities.
Soon after, the Indian government, learning from its mistakes, began a vigorous campaign to expand the IAF. An emergency flying scheme was started in Delhi, Madras, Kanpur, Nagpur, Patiala and Adampur and more than 1,000 cadets received primary flying training by 1964. The IAF's strength was increased from 28,000 officers and men in 1961 to 100,000 officers and men by 1964. By 1965, the IAF had also added newly bought Antonov An-12B and C-119G transport aircraft to its fleet.
Second Kashmir War 1965
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 tested the strength of the Indian Air Force to its full limit. Not only the air force played a crucial role in thwarting the ambitions of the invading the Pakistani army, but also engaged in several air combats with the arch-rival, the Pakistani Air Force (PAF). While the air force was successful in bombarding Pakistani air-fields and ammunation depots and provided crucial air cover to the Indian army, its operations against the Pakistani Air Force were met by mixed results.
On September 1 1965, war erupted between the Republic of India and Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The Indian Air Force's Number 45 squadron quickly responded to the urgent call for air strikes against the Pakistani army and IAF Vampire FB Mk 52s were successful in staggering the Pakistani invasion. The Vampires were followed in quick succession by Mysteres of No. 3 and 31 squadrons from Pathankot. While the Pakistani invasion was blunted, one IAF Vampire was shot down by ground fire and three Vampires were shot down by PAF F-86 Sabres.
The appearance of the Sabres necessiated a move by the IAF to send the Folland Gnat fighters to the forward base of Pathankot. This move by the IAF succeeded. On September 3, an IAF Gnat, flown by Squadron Leader Trevor Joseph Keelor of the No. 23 Squadron, shot down a PAF F-86 Sabre, marking the first IAF air combat victory since the Burma Campaign. The very next day, another F-86 Sabre was shot down by a IAF Gnat.
On September 6, the Indian Army crossed the Indo-Pakistan border near Lahore to relieve pressure off the Chamb-Jaurian sector. On the evening of the same day, the PAF responded with attacks on two Indian airfields. The attack on Pathankot was successful and the IAF lost nearly 10 aircraft on the ground. However, the attack on Halwara was relatively less successful. IAF shot down two PAF Sabres but lost IAF Hunters. The Indian pilots ejected and survived while both PAF pilots were killed.
On September 7, the IAF mounted over 33 sorties against the PAF airfield complex at Sargodha. PAF lost about 6 aircraft that day. But losses on the Indian side were heavy too. Two Dassault Mystère and three Hunters were shot down in two separate events. In another event, an IAF Mysteres successfully engaged a PAF F-104 Starfighter and shot it down. The pilot of the Mysteres, Squadron Leader Ajjamada Boppaya Devayya, was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest gallantry award, for his heroics during the air combat.
On the same day, PAF attacked IAF airfields in the region bordering erstwhile-East Pakistan. The raid on Kalaikunda was successful once again and the IAF lost 8 aircraft in two raids. However, two of the attacking PAF Sabres were shot down by IAF Hunters. One Indian pilot, Flight Lt. Alfred Tyrone Cooke, engaged four Sabres singlehandedly and shot down one confirmed and claimed another as probable. This second probable Sabre flew back to Dhaka, but was declared a 'write-off' by the PAF.
The war tapered off after September 8th and there were occasional clashes between the IAF and the PAF. During the conflict IAF English Electric Canberra raided several Pakistani bases including Sargodha and Chaklala. On September 14, Canberras undertook the deepest strike yet on the Pakistani bases of Peshawar and Kohat. The PAF admits that the IAF came very close to wiping out the PAF B-57 fleet if not for a near miss by a Canberra on that raid.
At one stage, the IAF was operating 200 air missions simultaneously. IAF Gnats of No. 23 and 9 squadrons played a significant role in major air battles and helped to turn the tide after an initial Pakistani thrust. In addition to counter air sorties, the Indian Air Force also launched massive offences on the invading army.
The IAF also went in deep within the Pakistani territory and targeted Pakistan's airfields and missile launch centres. On these missions, sporadic air-combats occurred between IAF and PAF fighters. One Gnat was shot down on September 12, followed by a Sabre on September 14th. One Hunter and one Sabre were shot down in an air combat on September 16th, and three Sabres were downed by Gnats on September 18th and 19th. The last air combat of the war happened on September 20, when two IAF Hunters were shot down in exchange for one PAF Sabre. On the same day a F-104 intercepted a Canberra bomber on its way back from Sargodha and shot it down. On September 21st, IAF Canberras carried out a deep strike daylight sortie into Pakistan and destroyed the PAF Radar at Badin using rockets. The Ceasefire was declared on the night of Sept 22.
The PAF had claimed 104 IAF aircraft destroyed for a loss of 19 aircraft, while India stated a loss of 35 aircraft compared to 73 PAF aircraft destroyed. According to Globalsecurity.org, "Losses were relatively heavy on the Pakistani side, twenty aircraft, 200 tanks, and 3,800 troops. Pakistan's army had been able to withstand Indian pressure, but a continuation of the fighting would only have led to further losses and ultimate defeat for Pakistan. One of the major roles of the IAF during the 1965 war was the keeping the Pakistan army's mobile artillery and tank divisions in check, the results of these IAF operations contributed to Pakistan suffering one of the greatest tank losses in modern war history, losing over 200 tanks. Pakistan's mobile artillery divisions also suffered tremendously contributing to the high casualty rate on Pakistan's side due to incessant IAF air attacks."[1]
Bangladesh Liberation War 1971
After the 1965 War, the Indian Air Force went through an intense phase of modernisation and consolidation. With newly acquired HF-24, MiG-21 and Sukhoi Su-7BM aircraft, the IAF was able to measure up to the most powerful air forces in the world.
The professional standards, capability and flexibility were soon put to test in December 1971 when India and Pakistan went to war over (then) East Pakistan. At the time, the IAF was under the command of Air Chief Marshal Pratap Chandra Lal. On November 22, 10 days before the start of a full-scale war, four PAF F-86 Sabre jets attacked Indian and Mukti Bahini positions near the Indo-Bangla border in the Battle of Garibpur. In what became the first ever Dogfight over East Pakistan skies (present day Bangladesh), three of the 4 PAF Sabres were shot down by IAF Gnats, and hostilities commenced. On the 3 December, Pakistan Military initiated the formal war without declaration when the PAF attempted a series of preemptive strikes against Indian bases in Srinagar, Ambala, Sirsa, Halwara and Jodhpur on the lines of Operation Focus. But the plan failed miserably as Indians had anticipated such a move and not a single aircraft was lost to the bombing. The Indian response over Pakistan skies however produced severe blows to the PAF.
Within the first two weeks, the IAF had carried out more than 4,000 sorties in East Pakistan and provided successful air cover for the advancing Indian army in East Pakistan. IAF also assisted the Indian Navy in sinking several Pakistani naval vessels in the Bay of Bengal. In the west, the airforce demolished scores of tanks and armoured vehicles in a single battle - the Battle of Longewala. The IAF pursued strategic bombing by destroying oil installations in Karachi, the Mangla Dam and gas plant in Sindh. As the IAF achieved complete air superiority over the eastern wing of Pakistan within a few days, the ordnance factories, runways, and other vital areas in East Pakistan were severely crippled. In the end, the IAF played a pivotal role in the victory for the Allied Forces leading to the liberation of Bangladesh.
Operation Meghdoot
In 1984, Indian intelligence agencies detected Pakistani infiltration in the disputed Siachen Glacier region. The Indian Air Force launched Operation Meghdoot on April 13, 1984 under which thousands of Indian paratroopers were airlifted to the region. The operation was a resounding success with India regaining control of more than 80% of the glacier. The operation showcased IAF's airlift capability which allowed constant transfer of troops and material on the highest battlefield on Earth.
Operation Cactus
In November 1988, Tamil mercenaries from Sri Lanka invaded the Maldives, a small island nation south of India. After an appeal by the Maldivian government for help, India launched a military campaign to throw the mercenaries out of Maldives. On the night of November 3 1988, the Indian Air Force airlifted a parachute battalion group from Agra and flew them non-stop over 2000 km to Maldives. The Indian paratroopers landed at Hulule and secured the airfield and restored the Government rule at Malé within hours. The brief, bloodless operation showcased the capability of the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy in what was labelled Operation Cactus.
Kargil 1999
During the Kargil War with Pakistan, the Indian Air Force is said to have proved the decisive force in accelerating the end of the conflict. It successfully provided considerable air-cover for Indian troops fighting against Pakistani intruders and also carried out air assaults against enemy forces in Kashmir, but did not strike any targets in Pakistan. Most notable were the IAF's Mirage 2000 aircraft, which carried out surgical operations to assist ground troops in securing the strategically crucial Tiger Hill from its Pakistani captors. The IAF also carried out several operations to provide essential supplies to the ground troops. During the conflict, one IAF MiG-27 and an IAF MiG-21 were claimed shot down by Pakistani air defence missiles However the Indian Air Force had stated that the MiG-27 had an engine flameout in the initial stages of attacking the mountain top targets with its cannon. This is confirmed by an Unofficial Pakistan Air Force Website - PAF Combat.com, maintained by a serving Air Commodore of the PAF. The MiG-21M was on a search operation to find the MiG-27s crash site, when it was shot down. Later, an Mi-17 helicopter was shot down by a shoulder-held missile with the loss of all its crew.
On August 10 1999, a PAF French-built naval Breguet Atlantic was caught spying over the Rann of Kutch area and was shot down by two IAF MiG-21 jets killing all 16 aboard. (See Atlantique Incident)
IAF air staff
With its headquarters in New Delhi, the Indian Air Force has a strength of 170,000 personnel and 1129 combat aircraft (2005 figure).
The administrative branch of the IAF is divided into three main branches:
- Flying Branch
- Administration
- Logistics and Training
and five sub-branches:
- Account Branch
- Technical Branch
- Education Branch
- Meteorological Branch
- Medical & Dental Branch
Rank structure
The head of the Indian Air Force is known as the Chief of the Air Staff (currently Air Chief Marshal Shashindra Pal Tyagi). The highest rank in the IAF is Marshal of the Air Force, which is conferred by the President of India only in exceptional circumstances. Arjan Singh is the only officer to have achieved this rank (See Field Marshal (India)).
Officer
The various ranks of personnel within the Indian Air Force are listed below in descending order:
- Marshal of the Air Force
- Air Chief Marshal (Chief of the Air Staff and equivalent to General and Admiral)
- Air Marshal (equivalent to Lt. General in the Army)
- Air Vice Marshal (equivalent to Major General in the Army)
- Air Commodore (equivalent to Brigadier in the Army)
- Group Captain (equivalent to Colonel in the Army)
- Wing Commander (equivalent to Lt. Colonel in the Army)
- Squadron Leader (equivalent to Major in the Army)
- Flight Lieutenant (equivalent to Captain in the Army)
- Flying Officer (equivalent to Lieutenant in the Army)
- Pilot Officer (equivalent to Second-Lieutenant in the Army--abolished since 2005)
Airmen
During its formation, the rank structure of airmen was based on the British model. Over the years the rank structure has seen significant changes.
- Master Warrant Officer
- Warrant Officer
- Junior Warrant Officer
- Sergeant
- Corporal
- Leading Aircraftman
- Aircraftsman I & Aircraftsman II
Structure of the IAF
The head of the Indian Air Force, Chief of the Air Staff, is assisted by six officers: the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, the Air Officer in Charge of Administration, the Air Officer in Charge of Personnel, the Air Officer in Charge of Maintenance, and the Inspector General of Flight Safety.
Commands
The Indian Air Force currently operates seven Commands. Each Command is headed by a Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief in the rank of Air Marshal.
| Commands | HQ Location | Current AOC-in-C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Air Command | Subroto Park, New Delhi | Air Marshal A K Singh | |
| Eastern Air Command | Shillong, Meghalaya | Air Marshal Fali H Major | |
| Central Air Command | Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh | Air Marshal J.S. Gujral | |
| Southern Air Command | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala | Air Marshal Sharad Yeshwant Savur | |
| South Western Air Command | Gandhinagar, Gujarat | Air Marshal SS Dalal | |
| Training Command | Bangalore, Karnataka | Air Marshal BN Gokhale | |
| Maintenance Command | Nagpur, Maharashtra | Air Marshal KS Chaturvedi |
Wings
Wing is a static formation below the level of the Commands and is an intermediate between Command and Squadron. A Wing generally consists of various IAF Squadrons and Helicopter Units and along with the Forward Base Support Units (FBSU), it is responsible for maintaining the installation. FBSUs do not have or host any Squadrons or Helicopter units but act as transit airbases for routine operations. In times of war, they can become full fledged air bases playing host to various Squadrons.
Currently, 47 Wings and 19 FBSUs make up the IAF.
Squadrons
Squadrons are the field units and formations attached to static locations. In other words, a Flying Squadron is a sub-unit of an air force station which carries out the primary task of the IAF. All fighter squadrons are headed by the Commanding Officer with the rank of Wing Commander. Some Transport squadrons and Helicopter Units are headed by the Commanding Officer with the rank of Group Captain.
IAF Aircraft
See List of aircraft of the IAF which includes a list of current, future and historical aircraft of the IAF.
The Indian Air Force has a strength of 750+ combat aircraft and presently operates with a total of 42 squadrons. Most of the IAF's fighter jets are of French, Russian and British origin, with designs by the latter two countries being constructed by Hindustan Aviation under license. The indigenously-built HAL Tejas (formerly Light Combat Aircraft) is expected to enter service by 2010.
The various types of combat aircraft in the IAF are listed below.
Current aircraft numbers
| Current Aircraft | ||||
| Role | Type | Squadron Numbers | Estimated Combat Aircraft | Estimated Trainer Aircraft |
| Air Superiority and Multi Role | MiG-29 | 28, 47, 223 | 68 | 6 |
| Air Superiority and Multi Role | Mirage 2000H 16 | 1, 7, 9 | 36 | 10 |
| Air Superiority and Multi Role | MiG-21 Bison | 3, 21, 32, 51 | 64 | 8 |
| Air Superiority and Multi Role | Sukhoi-30 MKI | 20 , 30 | 32 | 0 |
| Air Superiority and Multi Role | Sukhoi-30 MK | 24 | 18 | 0 |
| Air Superiority and Multi Role | MiG-21Bis | 4,15, 23,26,35,45 | 64 | 8 |
| Ground Attack | MiG-27 ML | 2,10,18,22,29,222,TACDE(0.5) | 104 | 13 |
| Ground Attack | MiG-23 BN | 221 | 16 | 2 |
| Ground Attack | MiG-21 M/MF | 17,37,101,108 | 72 | 9 |
| Ground Attack | Jaguar IS | 5,14,16,27 | 64 | 8 |
| Ground Attack | Jaguar IS | 6 | 10 | 2 |
| Reconnaissance | Canberra | 106 'B' Flight | 9 | 0 |
| Second Line Combat Aircraft | MiG-23 MF | 224 | 16 | 2 |
| Second Line Combat Aircraft | MiG-25R | 102 | 3 | 1 |
| Second Line Combat Aircraft | MiG-21FL | 8,52,MOFTU A, MOFTU B,OCU | 80 | 10 |
| Helicopters | Mi-8 | 105,107,109,110,112,118,119,121,122F | 102 | 0 |
| Helicopters | Mi-17 | 127,128,129,130,152,153 | 72 | 0 |
| Helicopters | Mi-24/35 | 104,125 | 20 | 0 |
| Helicopters | Mi-26 | 126HF | 4 | 0 |
| Helicopters | Chetak | 111,116,141SSS F, 142SSS F, HTS | 48 | 0 |
| Helicopters | Cheetah | 114,131F,132F | 24 | 0 |
| Helicopters | Dhruv | ? | 12 | 0 |
| Transport Aircraft | Il-76 MD (24) | 44,25 'A' | 24 | 0 |
| Transport Aircraft | Il-78 MKI (6) | 78 | 6 | 0 |
| Transport Aircraft | An-32 (119) | 12,25'B',33,43,48,49,,PTS, TTW | 112 | 0 |
| Transport Aircraft | HS-748 (68) | 11,41 'A',59,106 'A',6 Cmd Flts(2 A/c) | 64 | 0 |
| Transport Aircraft | Do-228 (24) | 41,TTW,6 Comm Flts(2 A/c) | 40 | 0 |
| Transport Aircraft | Boeing 737 | Air HQ Flt | 4 | 0 |
| Transport Aircraft | Embraer 135BJ | Air HQ Flt | 4 | 0 |
| Trainer Aircraft | HJT-16 Kiran | AFA(A), AFA(B) , FIS , FTW | 0 | 84 |
| Trainer Aircraft | HPT-32 Deepak | BFTS, FIS, AFA | 0 | 70 |
Figures taken from Indian Air Force Fleet Page
Air superiority aircraft
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The Sukhoi Su-30MKI (MKI: 'Multifunctional Commercial - Indian') is the IAF's prime air superiority combat aircraft. The Su-30K variant was first acquired in 1996. In October 2004, the IAF signed a multi-billion US$ contract with Sukhoi according to which Hindustan Aeronautics was given the license to manufacture 140+ Su-30MKI's with full technology transfer. HAL plans to manufacture about 15 of these aircraft annually. The twin seater, multi-role fighter has a maximum speed of 2500 km/h (Mach 2.35) and has a service ceiling of 17,500 metres. The aircraft with a normal fuel load 5270 kg can travel up to 1900 miles and can carry 8,000 kg external armament.
Multi role combat aircraft
These are aircraft for strike, offensive support and air defence purposes. The IAF currently possesses several multi-role fighter jets that perform these functions. Single-seater Mirage 2000 and MiG-29 serve both strike and defense squadrons. The MiG-29 (fulcrum) has a top speed of 2445 km/h (Mach 2.3) and is armed with a 30 mm cannon along with R-60 & R-27 R missiles. Capable of flying at 2500 km/h (Mach 2.3), the Mirage 2000 is the IAF's prime ground-attack fighter jet. This aircraft can carry a wide range of weaponry including two 30 mm integral cannons, two Matra super 530D medium-range missiles and two R550 Magic close combat missiles. 175+ multi-role MiG-21 (Fishbed) combat aircraft have been serving the IAF for the past two decades. The air force plans to eventually replace MiG-21s with the indigenously-built LCA HAL Tejas by about 2010.
Strike, attack and offensive support aircraft
Squadrons of Jaguar IS, MiG-27 and MiG-23 aircraft serve as the IAF's primary strike force. The twin-engine Jaguar IB, with a top speed of Mach 1.3, is capable of carrying nuclear warheads. The IAF currently possess 100 Jaguar IS and 8 maritime strike Jaguar IM aircraft. The single-seater MiG-27 carries one GSh-6-30 six barrelled 30 mm cannon, 4000 kg of general purpose SPPU-22 and SPPU-6 gun pods, and various guided air-to-surface missiles.
Reconnaissance aircraft
Besides various unmanned aircraft for reconnaissance, the IAF also possess several MiG-25 (Foxbat) R, U reconnaissance aircraft. The high-speed interceptor aircraft carries four R-40 (AA-6 'Acrid') air-to-air missiles, two R-23 (AA-7 'Apex') and four R-60 (AA-8 'Aphid') or R-73 (AA-11 'Archer'). The MiG-25, in service since the late 1980s, were decommissioned from service in 2006. In 2003, the IAF bought 6 IL-78 aircraft from Russia. The aircraft's primary role is mid-air re-fueling. Later on, the IAF fitted the aircraft with Israeli IAI Phalcon early warning and communication systems, making the Il-78 capable of carrying out reconnaissance missions.
Unmanned aerial vehicles
The IAF currently operates IAI Malat-built Searcher MkII and Heron UAVs. IAF units are being provided with these UAVs progressively and projected to bolster one of the largest UAV fleets of the world.
Israel Aircraft Industries and Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), India's leading unmanned aerial vehicle research agency are also jointly developing three new UAVs.
HAL Lakshya, indigenously-developed pilotless target aircraft, was inducted into the IAF in July 2005. Israel has also bought a few of the Laksya PTAs. Another UAV, the Nishant Remote Piloted Vehicle (RPV) has also been developed, with an endurance of over 3 hours. It will be inducted into the Indian army by 2007. The 380 kg Nishant UAV does not require a runway to launch, and is launched by rail-launching from a hydro-pneumatic launcher. Launches at a velocity of 45 m/s are carried out in 0.6 seconds with 100 kW power. Another smaller mini-UAV, called Kapothaka is also being developed by Aeronautical Development Aagency. DRDO's Vehicle research Development Establishment (VRDE) also developed a UAV based on the Nishant engine.
Support helicopter
An important objective of the IAF is to support ground troops by providing air-cover and by transporting men and essential commodities across the battlefield. The list of helicopters currently in service with the IAF:
Training aircraft
The Indian Air Force currently operates more than 175 MiG-21 aircraft. Nearly 50 of these are the older Type-77 variant (MiG-21FL) which are used for operational training. The IAF initially planned to replace the MiG-21 fleet with indigenously-built HAL Tejas aircraft by 2006. However, the target could not be met due to developmental delays and a U.S. sanction, following the Pokhran tests, which blocked the delivery of GE F404 engines- a crucial component of the aircraft.
In 2003, the IAF placed an order for 66 Hawk T1 training aircraft in a deal worth over 1 billion GBP. The supply of these advanced trainer aircraft will bring to an end the use of the MiG-21 as a training jet. India also manufactures less-sophisticated HAL HJT-16 Kiran and this aircraft will be replaced with the advanced HJT-36. IAF uses HPT-32 Deepak for basic training.
Future Aircraft
The Indian Air Force currently operates more than 175 MiG-21 aircraft. Due to its aging equipment, several MiG-21s used in training roles have crashed over the past six years, killing over 50 IAF pilots. The IAF initially planned to replace the MiG-21 fleet with indigenously-built HAL Tejas aircraft by 2006. However, the target could not be met due to developmental delays and a US sanction, following the Pokhran tests, which blocked the delivery of GE F404 engines- a crucial component of the aircraft.
Eager to end its dependence on the MiG-21s, the IAF announced that it intended to purchase 126 aircraft worth over US$6 billion in 2004. The air force sent a Request of Information (RoI) for the following aircraft: Russian MiG-29 M2, French Mirage 2000-5Mk2, Swedish Gripen and the US F-16C. Besides the F-16Cs, the US has also offered the sale of F-16 Block 70 and F/A-18 Hornet 18E/F combat aircraft. However, the IAF seemed inclined towards purchasing the MiG-35 (MiG-29OVT). In 2005 it planned to purchase 12 Mirage 2000-5 from Qatar but Doha ceased negotiations with New Delhi for the sale of the aircraft claiming the bid quoted by India was too low. IAF has placed an order for 29 upgraded versions of indigenously-manufactured Jaguar IM strike aircraft.
Experts estimate that for India to exert influence over South Asia and the Indian Ocean region, it would require at least 60 squadrons of aircraft performing multi-role combat, deep penetration strike, air superiority, air defence, reconnaissance and electronic warfare tasks. However, the IAF presently operates only 42 squadrons, making the acquisition of these, and other aircraft all the more vital. In November 2005, the Indian Defence Ministry decided to purchase 200 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft instead of the initial proposal of 126 aircraft, opening the door for more than one supplier. The value of the original contract was 6 Billion USD; the revised plan brings the total value of the contract to 11 billion USD. The new aircraft will not only increase IAF fleet but would also replace aging Jaguars, MiG-23s and MiG-27s.
It is reported that most IAF officers favour the MiG-35 and the Mirage 2000-9 over the F-16s and F/A-18 Hornets. MiG and Dassault have historically been reliable suppliers in terms of transfers of technology, licensed production in India, personnel training, supply of spare parts, maintenance and upgrading. IAF pilots and technicians are familiar with earlier aircraft from MiG and Dassault and would need minimal retraining. Infrastructural and logistical support for maintenance and spares would also be easier for these aircraft compared to the unfamiliar Gripens, F-16s and F/A-18s.
Apart from the 200 multi-role combat aircraft and 120+ Light Combat Aircraft, the Indian Air Force was recently given a clearance by the Indian Ministry of Defence to purchase 80+ combat helicopters, six to eight air-refuelling planes and some additional medium-range transport aircraft. India is eyeing to buy 10 to 15 C-130 HerculesJ aircraft.
In Development
Besides 200 medium multi-role combat aircraft, the IAF will also buy 120+ indigenously-built HAL Tejas light combat aircraft in a deal worth US$ 1.5 billion. These aircraft are expected to enter service by 2010. The HAL HJT-36 Intermediate Jet Trainer carried out its maiden test flight in 2003 and is all set to enter service within the next 5 years. HAL recently signed a deal with Russian company Saturn DDB for supply of a specially designed engine for the trainer. The 66 Hawk T.132s will begin arriving in India from 2007. The Hawk, along with the HAL HJT-36, will serve the IAF's future fighter training needs. Apart from combat and training aircraft, India is also developing un-manned surveillance aircraft in collaboration with Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI).
In 2001, the Ministry of Defence signed a deal with Russia to jointly develop and fund the Perspektivnyi Aviatsionnyi Kompleks Frontovoi Aviatsyi (Future Air Complex for Tactical Air Forces) program. The program was initiated to develop a fifth generation fighter aircraft to fill a role similar to that of Lockheed Martin's F-22 Raptor in all aspects. Initially, Mikoyan-Gurevich's Project 1.44 was expected to get the contract. However, Sukhoi Aviation Corporation came up with a more cost-effective aircraft and won. Design work has commenced on Sukhoi's experimental Su-47 Berkut aircraft. PAK FA proves to be a very ambitious program and the estimated costs for developing the aircraft vary between US$15-20 billion. As of 2003 it was undergoing flight testing. The aircraft is set to go into production for the Russian and Indian Air Force in 2009. The Su-47 Berkut is currently under development by the Russian Sukhoi aircraft company and PAK and is expected to enter service for India in 2009-2010.
India is also planning to construct a fifth generation aircraft named as the Medium Combat Aircraft or MCA. The MCA is presently in early stages of development and production is expected to commence in 2015. Hindustan Aeronautics has already commenced the development of a medium-range transport aircraft which will replace the IAF's ageing fleet of Antonov An-32s.
Missile systems
Besides conducting air-based warfare, Indian Air Force also bears the responsibility of protecting Indian skies making anti-aircraft and surface-to-air missiles an important component of the IAF. The most notable missile systems under the IAF are Prithvi 2 ballistic missiles and the SAM 3 Pechora air defence system. The IAF also operates several OSA-AK Air Defence batteries for airdefence of airfields, in addition to several flights using the SA-16 Igla MANPADS missiles.
The IAF and the Indian Army are currently developing Akash and Trishul surface-to-air missiles as a part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program.
See also
- No. 7 Squadron, Indian Air Force
- No.22 Squadron, Indian Air Force
- No.35 Squadron, Indian Air Force
- Surya Kiran, Indian Air Force aerobatic team
- Sarang, Indian Air Force Helicopter formation display team
- List of aircraft of the IAF
External links
- Official website of The Indian Air Force
- Indian Air Force on bharat-rakshak.com
- Global Defense News, Discussions and Military Pictures @ Defense Talk.com
- Global Security article on Indo-Pakistani Wars
- Bharat Rakshak article on Jaisalmer AFS
- Interesting Indian Air Force Trivia - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6