Indian Air Force: News & Discussions

[Nutcracker]

Just to get a rough idea of how easy* it's to make an AWACS out of C-295.
Took me hardly 15min to doodle this.
View attachment 19601
*if you have the thing called ingenuity

Nothing cutting edge, almost all of the equipments (except radar) are COTS and can be added with minimal airframe modification. The only serious airframe modification that would be needed would be a new strengthened vertical stabilizer to support the additional weight of the radar...not a big deal. In case there's doubt about the feasibility of mounting radome on top of the vertical stabilizer then An-71s have already proven this concept.

C295 is nearly identical to E2 Hawkeye, just 10% smaller. Giving it a simple idli radar on top is more sensible no ?
We can even develop a catapult capable folding wing c295 platform in next 10 years. Our own E2 Hawkeye.

 

[Ayan Barat]

C295 is nearly identical to E2 Hawkeye, just 10% smaller. Giving it a simple idli radar on top is more sensible no ?
We can even develop a folding wing platform in next 10 years. Our own E2 Hawkeye.
View attachment 19633

I was just prioritising a clear LoS over everything

Why add the drag of additional struts when you can use the existing airframe more efficiently.

Because you'd get slightly better coverage as there won't be a vertical stabilizer in the LoS

Interestingly in E2s, the idli is just ever so slightly above the vertical stabilizer...clearing them from LoS

Replicating this thing with traditional planes like A-50 or C-295 would require a bit too janky of a set-up if you decide to mount it mid-fuselage

 

[DumbPilot]

Make, make is the keyword here me Guy.
How long are we gonna keep buying.
Especially when you guys are flying 5.5-6th gen planes back there

Interestingly it was developed especially for us with Phalcon radar

But with technologies that have matured during the past decade, we can definitely bring down the weight. Especially more energy efficient AESA technologies.

Why add the drag of additional struts when you can use the existing airframe more efficiently.

Because you'd get slightly better coverage as there won't be a vertical stabilizer in the LoS

Nope, it's not very far out from the horizontal stabilizers which are further lower.

was that post made in jest? because otherwise that design is NOT flying, LOL

 

[AbRaj]

Apparently Chinese are now flying not one but two 6th gen prototypes.

 

[Nutcracker]

I was just prioritising a clear LoS over everything


Interestingly in E2s, the idli is just ever so slightly above the vertical stabilizer...clearing them from LoS
View attachment 19634
Replicating this thing with traditional planes like A-50 or C-295 would require a bit too janky of a set-up if you decide to mount it mid-fuselage

Aisa stall hoga koi bachane nahi ayega.

 

[Ayan Barat]

was that post made in jest? because otherwise that design is NOT flying, LOL

I'd appreciate a better explanation than "LOL" on why that design won't be flying. You know if you put some effort in an argument then you kind of expect equal in the counter argument. Don't you?

By the way if flying is concerned then, Beluga too flies

Aisa stall hoga koi bachane nahi ayega.

Funny story, when I was a kid and saw a Nimitz Class carrier for the first time on Outlook's front page...I was completed bamboozled by E2 Hawkeyes. Helicopter I knew, fighters too but what's this plane like thing with helicopter like thing on top?
So for many years my theory was it uses the round thingy for VTOL and wings for level flight

So yeah, spin the radome at max RPM and get out of stall

 

[fire starter]

View: https://x.com/AdithyaKM_/status/1872283768024899686?t=W1cvxB4nDyAD5Rgh6lGhRA&s=19


View: https://x.com/AdithyaKM_/status/1872285541238186211?t=_csKRvxnfYAsPREv8f7w9A&s=19

 

[shiphone]

Apparently Chinese are now flying not one but two 6th gen prototypes.

the maiden flight of the other project took place days ago...as usual, few photo would be released.

 

[Fatalis]

Okay so China created history by flying not one but two sixth gen fighter aircraft in public for the first time. IDK how our IAF sleeps peacefully at night after witnessing this much progress from an adversary.

 

[iNorthernerOn9]

Nothing phenomenal is going to happen.

The shamelessness of this nation's political/bureaucratic/military leadership is beyond repair.

Even a 1962+ defeat may not change the ingrained "dhandhabaazi" tendencies among the majority hindu community and it's leaders.

F-35's aren't coming... those are not just any other aircraft... they are more dynamic than anything else that exists under so called 5th generation label.

Any incoming war in this decade with a determined enemy at the doorstep... has already been lost.

Each and every procurement that took place in last 10 yrs was on the 'minimal' side... minimum enough to make a news headline to keep the chu**** public deluded that 56 inch is indeed strengthening the forces.

Su-57's current production rate is <9 per annum.

The so called committee will come out with a suggestion of max 3-4 additional MRFA/Rafale squadrons off the shelf on emergency basis... that's it & that's all.

So 6th gen hints have came out of China

I will reiterate what I stated above.

All the noise and shivering is only on the likes of this forum & SM.

While everything is chilled out in Air headquarters & MoD... abhi to tea-snacks time hai... many would have left for some famous Delhi clubs as well to spend quality time and plan for new year parties.

_________________________________________

Coming to the point...

Best case scenario... AMCA's 1st flight would be in 2028 end. The actual capabilities this would bring is debatable and disputed.

What we can do now to avoid a foreseeable humiliation in case of war is to build extensive ground based capabilities to offset our lack of airpower.

Strengthening Air defences with top of the line Radars & EW Capabilities.

We have developed our own IRST... for Super sukhoi & MK2... why can't we place that on a 30m mast at all possible locations to supplement our radar coverage.

Many ideas can be worked upon.

We need stockpile of Pinaka-ER, Pralay and Nirbhay for standoff strikes... to offset lack of Airpower doing the same.

Likhte likthe lost the motivation to type further... kya faayda.

When the favorite line is "we will fight with what we have"... to phir humiliation milega hi.

 

[me_itsme]

Okay so China created history by flying not one but two sixth gen fighter aircraft in public for the first time. IDK how our IAF sleeps peacefully at night after witnessing this much progress from an adversary.

The political and military high command need to have some shame, a sense of responsibility or slight competency to not be able to sleep peacefully. But they all live in delulu land so they will be sleeping peacefully. Heck, they dont even care that we cant even manage to get 4.5 gen fighters from the last 20+yrs. Our system is so fucked up, even people who want to change the system gets sucked up and gets changed by the system. We are so fucked boys. This is what happens when you introduce democracy to illiterate backward sub humans.

 

[Ginvincible]

I think it's time to build asymmetric options.. this race cannot be won. IAF should heavily focus on anti air systems and drones than on fighters. We don't have the money nor the capacity to build at this rate. Also we must get rid of no first use policy on nukes as our conventional deterrence is depleting

This is the way. India needs more IADs, more domestic missile production capacity, drones, etc.

Trying to import 4th gen fighters to boost squadron strength will not work. Just keep domestic projects trudging along while improving economy and slowly reforming bureaucracy.

Go full porcupine. India will probably still lose the next war, but make every km they take as painful as possible.

 

[shade2]

Airbus already flew a C-295 AWACS prototype more than a decade ago, there were no takers for it.
It's flies far too low and is slow to become an effective AEW/AWACS platform.

Ahh, thanks for answering my question about why IL-76 is the better platform for Idli awacs mounting, guess the C-295 could be a better carrier for Netra style planar radar? or perhaps the current private jet is a better carrier?

 

[shade2]

So 6th gen hints have came out of China

I will reiterate what I stated above.

All the noise and shivering is only on the likes of this forum & SM.

While everything is chilled out in Air headquarters & MoD... abhi to tea-snacks time hai... many would have left for some famous Delhi clubs as well to spend quality time and plan for new year parties.

Okay so China created history by flying not one but two sixth gen fighter aircraft in public for the first time. IDK how our IAF sleeps peacefully at night after witnessing this much progress from an adversary.

The political and military high command need to have some shame, a sense of responsibility or slight competency to not be able to sleep peacefully. But they all live in delulu land so they will be sleeping peacefully. Heck, they dont even care that we cant even manage to get 4.5 gen fighters from the last 20+yrs. Our system is so fucked up, even people who want to change the system gets sucked up and gets changed by the system. We are so fucked boys. This is what happens when you introduce democracy to illiterate backward sub humans.

Yeah cool looking fighter

But what have I to do with it? I'm just a chill Guy

Political class genuinely seems to be in delusion of "ToDaY iS NoT ThE ErA oF WaR" and is genuinely clue-less when it comes to defense matters apart from the late Manohar Parrikar, perhaps that is the reason why he is late.

Now coming to Genrols and MoD babooze, who only have a laser focus on getting bribes and favours like getting their spawn into Western universities and jobs in Big MNCs in Western nations.

They sleep well at night because they don't care.

Perhaps among the 3 the Navy is the only force serious about it's warfighting capabilities and duties, I mean they too could have sat on their ass and played the tender-import game considering there are more warship merchants in the world than there are fighter jet merchants inspite of the low share of defence budget, IN is the last to actually get into a fight with Chinku so they don't even have to be serious about that, they too could have optimized for scraps of malai, but instead they are building ships today.

OTOH you have the other two arms that will be at the forefront of fight with Chinku and not a single fuck is given

Did everyone notice how few days back Gormint formed a Committee into looking IAF Capability. I can't help but believe they already knew and now the knee jerk reaction was that committee.

When you are a coalition Govt that is now scared by the barkings of at Italian mutt over RAFALE SCAM to do any more G2G Emergency Procurements, and you have an Air Force who's life-goal is to stonewall domestic fighter jet induction, and a malevolent foreign engine supplier country delaying your supplies on purpose, all you will get is (((committees))) till someone starts bombing Delhi with their 5th stealth jets just to flex on us.
By then it will be too late

 

[jaijaganath]

View: https://x.com/HTT40PRASHANT/status/1872273914073854460

How true is this as its coming from prashant sir

 

[Vikram314]

This is the way. India needs more IADs, more domestic missile production capacity, drones, etc.

Trying to import 4th gen fighters to boost squadron strength will not work. Just keep domestic projects trudging along while improving economy and slowly reforming bureaucracy.

Go full porcupine. India will probably still lose the next war, but make every km they take as painful as possible.

Are bhai. It's literally over. We have lost the race for air dominance. Earlier i used to think that with 42 squadrons we might just be able to deter any enemies but russian- ukraine war showed that We not only need numbers but we also need advanced fighters, right now we should have our own amca and mk2 flying but it's still in early stages. No push for domestic engines.

We have ageing fleet of fighters, even if we modernize entire su 30 it's still not enough, Tejas is waiting for engine deliveries, no new refuellers, limited number of heavy and medium transporters. Only saving grace is good quality air defence.

Army is yet to induct new artillery, keeps importing rifles, outdated ppe kits and warfighting capabilities, rudra is ready but will keep importing apaches, We have baba kalyani who has an entire range of artillery products and is just waiting for orders but army does not give a shit.
Hal luh is ready but still no order. They order indigenous stuff just for testing.

Navy does not even have required submarine they themselves said they require, but still it is one of the best branch among the three and literally have plans on what to build for future .

General, admirals, Marshal care about what language we used to criticize them rather than fighting the enemy

Once bjp gov is voted out you all can say bye bye to whatever indegenous programs we have.

Literally thank krishna that we have nuclear weapons.

 

[shade2]

View attachment 19659

At this rate they will throw America out of East Asia without firing a single bullet or missile
Like how the West did fuck all while USSR marched till East Germany, Czechoslovakia etc and refused to go back

 

[Corvus Splendens]

View: https://x.com/HTT40PRASHANT/status/1872273914073854460

How true is this as its coming from prashant sir

Then at the final moment the Americans will cuck us and slap a delay on F414 engines, they have more leverage on us now. The bureaucracy is not serious about National security. Evident by the peanut budget for the AMCA and Kaveri programs.

 

[shade2]

Keeping aside the "winning" part, what we can actually focus on is "not losing." The PLAAF’s tankers and forward airfields are what enable them to extend the combat ranges of their fighters. These should be our primary targets. It's high time we cancel the NGMBT and FRCV circus. Without maintaining air deterrence, these platforms are just sitting ducks and would end up being nothing more than target practice. Forget the Pinaka obsession and start mass-producing Shaurya missiles at a rate of 1,000 per month. With serialized automated production, we could potentially bring the cost down to around $0.5 million each, totaling $500 million or $6 billion per year. Similarly, accelerate the production of Nirbhay missiles in similar numbers. With Shaurya covering up to 1,500 km and Nirbhay up to 1,000 km, we would establish credible deterrence.

In addition, we need to build and deploy TEL trucks, distributing them across the northern regions in a way that mimics a distributed arsenal in rural or suburban areas. This would ensure survivability and readiness in case of conflict.

Strengthening Air defences with top of the line Radars & EW Capabilities.

We have developed our own IRST... for Super sukhoi & MK2... why can't we place that on a 30m mast at all possible locations to supplement our radar coverage.

Many ideas can be worked upon.

We need stockpile of Pinaka-ER, Pralay and Nirbhay for standoff strikes... to offset lack of Airpower doing the same.

This is the way. India needs more IADs, more domestic missile production capacity, drones, etc.

Trying to import 4th gen fighters to boost squadron strength will not work. Just keep domestic projects trudging along while improving economy and slowly reforming bureaucracy.

Go full porcupine. India will probably still lose the next war, but make every km they take as painful as possible.

Great suggestions for trying to make lemonade with the Lemons we have gotten but neither the Govt nor the armed forces care.

To add to your suggestions we also need to artillery maxx, both tracked and wheeled like DRDO TGS

 

[darkflame]

View attachment 19660

At this rate they will throw America out of East Asia without firing a single bullet or missile
Like how the West did fuck all while USSR marched till East Germany, Czechoslovakia etc and refused to go back

Lmao not happening China still operates over 400 desi copies of mig21.