IAF now has its own Youtube channel
I came to know just now
I came to know just now
Indian forces have finally gotten hands on experience of an bigger operation after a long time. Must have learnt a lot and hopefully they will make strides in improving the doctrine/ operational part.
Post-Op Sindoor, proposal to enhance IAF’s combat strength on cards - The Tribune
Delays set to plunge squadron numbers to a 6-decade low.
There is Enough Space for RAFALES and TEJAS MK 2, both , since we need more than 42 squadrons
Post-Op Sindoor, proposal to enhance IAF’s combat strength on cards - The Tribune
Delays set to plunge squadron numbers to a 6-decade low.www.tribuneindia.com
It will happen. Should've thought about it on the first year we imported these birds. Everything has a definitive timeframe for optimum use. No one can shirk from responsibility here. Not even IAF procurement officers.
Mod ki to baat hi karna bekar hai. Sabse moti ministry hai..
Can't IAF order more Su30mki (4-5 sq) to fill the squadron requirements.
They have already placed an order for 12 aircraft, Maybe order more.
Even if HAL hits it's max 24/30 aircraft per year production goal. F404 delivery will still affect the actual Tejas delivery.
If Rafale deal happens (all 114 aircrafts), and deliveries start only in 2028 (considering deal is signed in 2025)
Having a third production line producing more Su30mki, will help.
Is there anything wrong with ordering more MKI's?
They have already placed an order for 12 aircraft, Maybe order more.
Even if HAL hits it's max 24/30 aircraft per year production goal. F404 delivery will still affect the actual Tejas delivery.
If Rafale deal happens (all 114 aircrafts), and deliveries start only in 2028 (considering deal is signed in 2025)
Having a third production line producing more Su30mki, will help.
Is there anything wrong with ordering more MKI's?
Sooner or later, the IAF will need to invest in air-launched attritable drones like LongShot to give its 4G/4.5G jets a fighting chance against J-20/35.
www.twz.com
These can be launched from the rear ramps of C-130J/C-17 transports too. Allows you to get closer to a 5G jet before taking a shot and without putting pilots' lives at risk.
Perhaps we could adapt Newspace's CATS Hunter as a missile carrier with 2× Astra-1s in internal bays and a faster turbojet engine for 30k ft+ altitude performance.
F-15 Depicted Launching LongShot Air-To-Air Missile Carrier Drone In New Renderings
General Atomics has told us that LongShot, which can be launched by bombers and cargo planes, too, is not intended to be reusable operationally.
www.twz.com
These can be launched from the rear ramps of C-130J/C-17 transports too. Allows you to get closer to a 5G jet before taking a shot and without putting pilots' lives at risk.
Perhaps we could adapt Newspace's CATS Hunter as a missile carrier with 2× Astra-1s in internal bays and a faster turbojet engine for 30k ft+ altitude performance.
Interview with IAF chief by ADU media.
RAF to use Indian instructors amid pilot shortage
The RAF will use instructors from the Indian air force to train its next generation of pilots.
The “unprecedented” move, announced by Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, is part of a defence deal to bring Britain and India closer.
The RAF had faced a pilot shortage since a diversity hiring scheme backfired, with documents earlier this year revealing it needed a “higher number of pilots in training”.
Foreign instructors are often used to train British pilots. However, it is believed this could be the first time since the Second World War’s “Empire Air Training Scheme” that Indian experts have been used to coach RAF crews.
Air Marshal Edward Stringer, a retired fast-jet pilot, welcomed the news. “This is unprecedented. They should have done something like this years ago,” he said, adding: “However, the devil will be in the details.”
Tim Davies, a former RAF fighter pilot instructor, said the Indians would be an “asset” but warned it would take more than a year to get them to British standards.
He added: “This is just a stopgap to make up for the shortfall and loss of talent that the RAF has haemorrhaged over the last few years.
“It’s going to be 18 months before you see any of these instructors coming across.”
Defence chiefs hope the introduction of the foreign instructors will help improve relations and interoperability between Indian and British forces.
The RAF has faced challenges in pilot training in recent years, with delays and backlogs prompting concern among top brass.
The situation has been compounded with issues on the Air Force’s main training jet, the Hawk T2. It has been bedevilled by technical problems which have delayed UK-based jet training and led to the RAF sending “a small number” of student pilots abroad to train.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, who is now the Chief of Defence Staff, previously warned the T2 was outdated, unreliable and should be retired early.
“We don’t get what we need from Hawk today – we get about half of what we should get out of it,” he said.
“Speaking quite frankly, I would like to replace the Hawk T2 as soon as we can, to deliver a more modern, more reliable, greater capacity.”
Sir Richard Knighton previously warned the T2 was outdated and unreliable Credit: Andrew Wheeler/MOD
At the same time, the number of RAF instructors available to teach personnel has proven problematic, sources said.
The Telegraph understands that in December there were 17 qualified flight instructors on the Hawk T2. This figure increased to 23 in July, and is forecast to hit 26 by January with further increases planned, defence insiders say.
Efforts to speed up the time it takes fast-jet pilots to finish their training have also improved from 248 weeks in June 2022 to an “historic norm” of 187 weeks.
Mark Francois, the shadow Armed Forces minister, previously said: “The RAF’s availability of combat pilots has been hit by a perfect storm: including woke manipulation of recruiting practices, the revival of civilian airlines post-Covid and technical issues with training aircraft, particularly engine reliability on the Hawk T2.”
Last week it was announced India had agreed to buy £350 million worth of UK-manufactured air defence missiles and launchers for its army, in a deal that will secure 700 jobs in Northern Ireland.
Earlier this week the Royal Navy’s carrier strike group carried out a series of drills with the Indian military as part of its ongoing eight-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific, known as Operation Highmast.
Britain’s 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales was joined with the Indian Navy’s carrier group, led by the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant for the war games.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “The RAF currently has sufficient numbers of pilots and aircrew available for the front line.
“The plan to introduce Indian Air Force Instructors is not related to any previous issues within the UK flying training system but rather about improving international relations.”
Can anyone tell me about the Tajikistan air base story.
I only know GoI and IAF was intrested in an airbase in Tajikistan but Russians were opposing this deal.
(Interestingly, there are now 4 aircraft shelter and another one under construction)
I only know GoI and IAF was intrested in an airbase in Tajikistan but Russians were opposing this deal.
(Interestingly, there are now 4 aircraft shelter and another one under construction)
