Indian Air Force: News & Discussions

[Anupu]

well operation Sindoor throws a huge spanner into the claim that chinku is ahead of us in tech.
Look at how badly their ADS failed compared to us. And its to be expected - ADS is a multi-system instrument, involving missiles, radar and tracker array - one finds the target, relays to the missile, missile locks on to target and then is guided by tracker array.

its MUCH more difficult to get competent in ALL 3 at the same time is probably why Chinese ADS is a hunk of junk - we meanwhile took piece-meal option. We first made missile.Then mated it with existing ADS. then we made radar, mated it with existing ADS...now we are working on tracker.

When you develop multi-layered system piece-meal, while using proven technology to jigsaw into it, you take longer, but you mitigate risk far better as you can isolate and develop individual system without compromising ADS needs.

One thing and I have said this earlier elsewhere as well. The reason for our success was our AD was our networking capabilities our integrated C4I networks like IACCS and Akashteer. Along with decent amount of platforms we have.

Pakistanis didn’t have a good networking infrastructure. They may have some collaborative targeting but it was not as extensive or integrated as ours.

While same can’t be said for the Chinese. They have what they call the ICP Integrated Command Platform. It integrates all three forces air defence, isr, electronic warfare basically bringing everything on the same platform.

Now this system was built top down and quite rapidly. Many reports have come out that Chinese troops barely understand how it works and it is made without thier consultation.

We have taken a more bottoms up approach where we are developing diversified systems like IACCS, Akashteer, project Sanjay, project Shakti the Trishul BMS, Trigun system. We are slowly integrating them into a combined c4I system

Anyways what I am trying to say is this. We should not assume that Chinese systems will perform exactly as they did in the Pakistani hands. Although I do believe there are some glaring gaps that can’t be solved with just better networking. When used under the Chinese Integrated command platform. The performance of these systems may be better.

 

[GaudaNaresh]

One thing and I have said this earlier elsewhere as well. The reason for our success was our AD was our networking capabilities our integrated C4I networks like IACCS and Akashteer. Along with decent amount of platforms we have.

Pakistanis didn’t have a good networking infrastructure. They may have some collaborative targeting but it was not as extensive or integrated as ours.

While same can’t be said for the Chinese. They have what they call the ICP Integrated Command Platform. It integrates all three forces air defence, isr, electronic warfare basically bringing everything on the same platform.

Now this system was built top down and quite rapidly. Many reports have come out that Chinese troops barely understand how it works and it is made without thier consultation.

We have taken a more bottoms up approach where we are developing diversified systems like IACCS, Akashteer, project Sanjay, project Shakti the Trishul BMS, Trigun system. We are slowly integrating them into a combined c4I system

Anyways what I am trying to say is this. We should not assume that Chinese systems will perform exactly as they did in the Pakistani hands. Although I do believe there are some glaring gaps that can’t be solved with just better networking. When used under the Chinese Integrated command platform. The performance of these systems may be better.

Well one thing we know from indoor, is that chinese ADS will struggle no matter what, if we swarm-launch brahmos. Which means their mega dam they wanna build on Brahmaputra in medog county is a huge lemon. Look at geography of SE Tibet. It's not flat but kashmir like in deep mountain valleys and steep ridges. There are only 3 possible routes for China to put power cables down to connect this dam to their country's grid. So that means, we can literally shut down 20,000 mega watts of electricity at will, without even touching the dam: good luck putting ADS around 100s of kms of power cable and transformer relay stations in middle of nowhere.

 

[vin pahadi (kumauni)]

Not sure about quantity
Our bases are spread out throughout the country
In western bases our numbers might not be much higher than porks

bro let count both countries aircrafts (pre operation sindoor)...here we didnt include 3 nd 3.5 genration fighter of both countries. coz they r not used in air to air fight, but mainly bombing in unsecured enemy air space or from standoff distance. so they mainly act like bomber nd they r near their retirement also.

India air power:-
1:- rafale = 36.
2:- su 30 mki = 260.
3:- tejas 1 = 40.
4:- mirage 2000 = 57.
5:- mig 29 k = 69.
here we r not including jaguar nd i think we retired all mig 21. beside this no tejas mark 1A nd 12 additional su 30 mki (dont know we sign this deal or not).
total number = 462 fighters approx.

pakistan air power :-
1:- j10 C = 36 (although some claim they order 25 j10).
2:- f16 = 75.
3:- jf17 = 149+50 = 199 (they order 50 jf17 mark 3, but we dont know how many they got now)
total number = 310 fighter approx.

conclusion = india hv 1.5 times more 4 nd 4.5 genration fighters. keep in mind we didnt include india ordered 83 tejas mark 1a nd 12 su 30 mki in this. but we include j10 in 36 numbers, although some sources tells that Pakistan order 25 j10. beside this we added all 50 jf17 block 3, from which we dont know how many pakistan delivered right now.

about our aircraft deployed in chinese/bangladesh/myanmar border. most our fighters hv air refueling capabilities, so they can be shifted from chinese border to pakistan side. nd later return to chinese border. that kind of practice indian air force did in many exercises. keep in mind at chinese border we hv also sams (for defense), cruise nd ballistic missiles (for offence) also. so its not like our air space is open in other borders, even without our aircrafts deploy there.

southern state bases dont need guarding aircraft. they can all deployed in north or central india against pakistan war. north india aircrafts can attack both side of borders. only problems with east nd north east india deployed aircrafts. but they can also shift toward pakistan by refueling by air (air tankers) nd ground air bases. we should make more highways, which can operate fighter aircrafts also. which is very helpful in case of our forward air bases get destroyed.

 

[Tumba]

F-35 is obviously not going to be selected by IAF…

simply because no Indian weapons will be allowed to integrate by USA, this closes its case.

SU57 is obviously not anywhere close to RCS of F35 probably closer to Rafale with clean configuration. In future we will definitely get enough access to Rafale to integrate Indian weapons.

So SU57 doesnt offer much over Rafale for IAF, only way SU57 will be bought if Russians offer Turbine Inlet metallurgy they have mastered because India is not going to get it from French

 

[Ajatshatru]

Constructive criticism is essential for progress—criticize the Indian military where necessary, and commend it where it performs well.



View: https://youtu.be/xoN6rARVmAY?si=gj7vUd3I-2V6OzSk

 

[Ajatshatru]

bro let count both countries aircrafts (pre operation sindoor)...here we didnt include 3 nd 3.5 genration fighter of both countries. coz they r not used in air to air fight, but mainly bombing in unsecured enemy air space or from standoff distance. so they mainly act like bomber nd they r near their retirement also.

India air power:-
1:- rafale = 36.
2:- su 30 mki = 260.
3:- tejas 1 = 40.
4:- mirage 2000 = 57.
5:- mig 29 k = 69.
here we r not including jaguar nd i think we retired all mig 21. beside this no tejas mark 1A nd 12 additional su 30 mki (dont know we sign this deal or not).
total number = 462 fighters approx.

pakistan air power :-
1:- j10 C = 36 (although some claim they order 25 j10).
2:- f16 = 75.
3:- jf17 = 149+50 = 199 (they order 50 jf17 mark 3, but we dont know how many they got now)
total number = 310 fighter approx.

conclusion = india hv 1.5 times more 4 nd 4.5 genration fighters. keep in mind we didnt include india ordered 83 tejas mark 1a nd 12 su 30 mki in this. but we include j10 in 36 numbers, although some sources tells that Pakistan order 25 j10. beside this we added all 50 jf17 block 3, from which we dont know how many pakistan delivered right now.

about our aircraft deployed in chinese/bangladesh/myanmar border. most our fighters hv air refueling capabilities, so they can be shifted from chinese border to pakistan side. nd later return to chinese border. that kind of practice indian air force did in many exercises. keep in mind at chinese border we hv also sams (for defense), cruise nd ballistic missiles (for offence) also. so its not like our air space is open in other borders, even without our aircrafts deploy there.

southern state bases dont need guarding aircraft. they can all deployed in north or central india against pakistan war. north india aircrafts can attack both side of borders. only problems with east nd north east india deployed aircrafts. but they can also shift toward pakistan by refueling by air (air tankers) nd ground air bases. we should make more highways, which can operate fighter aircrafts also. which is very helpful in case of our forward air bases get destroyed.

lackluster attitude of the Indian Air Force and MOD is deeply frustrating. Maintaining fewer than 45 squadrons is a serious failure that compromises national security. In the event of a two-front war, this shortfall could cost thousands of Indian lives if not urgently addressed

 

[FalconSlayers]

IAF fighters launched precision missiles that struck Pakistan four times on May 10, with Rafale-launched SCALP missiles and SU-30 MKI-launched missiles taking out the northern air command-control network at Nur Khan airbase in Chaklala in the first strike itself, the people added.

The last strike was carried out at Jacobabad and Bholari air bases but by that time Pakistan had folded and was seeking US intervention for cease fire.

India’s S-400 air defence system in Adampur went into action no less than 11 times during Operation Sindoor and destroyed a Pakistani SAAB-2000 airborne early warning system as far as 315 kilometres away deep in Pakistan.

Indian Air Force also has proof of its missiles having downed one C-130 J medium lift aircraft, a JF-17 and two F-16 fighters on ground and in the air, they added.

According to the people cited above, on May 10, the Indian strikes took out a Chinese-made LY-80 air defence system using a HARPY kamikaze drone at Lahore, while an Indian missile took out the prized HQ-9 (Chinese version of S-300) at Malir in Karachi.

It's outrageous how India doesn't have own air-launched cruise missiles simply because we never had any programme for building them at all. All we have is French SCALPs on 2 squadron Rafales and heavy BrahMos on a few dozen Flanker airframes. Even today it is HAL making an air launched cruise missile as it's own internal project (CATS Hunter) and not DRDO.

It will be hilarious that Indian Navy fighter jets will have indigenous cruise missiles (although anti-ship) while Air Force will be stuck with heavy BrahMos and the imported SCALPs if CATS Hunters are not upto the mark.

 

[Migflug]

Constructive criticism is essential for progress—criticize the Indian military where necessary, and commend it where it performs well.



View: https://youtu.be/xoN6rARVmAY?si=gj7vUd3I-2V6OzSk

Super Sukhoi was sabotaged to give an undue advantage to Rafale. On top of it, management is non existent in the MoD

 

[ArjunMK1A]

It's outrageous how India doesn't have own air-launched cruise missiles simply because we never had any programme for building them at all. All we have is French SCALPs on 2 squadron Rafales and heavy BrahMos on a few dozen Flanker airframes. Even today it is HAL making an air launched cruise missile as it's own internal project (CATS Hunter) and not DRDO.

It will be hilarious that Indian Navy fighter jets will have indigenous cruise missiles (although anti-ship) while Air Force will be stuck with heavy BrahMos and the imported SCALPs if CATS Hunters are not upto the mark.


View attachment 37095

NG was supposed to be Air launched Cruise Missile which can be hosted by every platform like Tejas, Mirage 2000, Mig29. I remember I saw them in Defence Expo 2017 in chennai. Till now nothing big news came about this project.

Also ITCM will also have Air launched variant.

NASM MR if worked well. May be it will be modified to work in different roles. Also Rudram 2 will do the same job as Air launched Ballistic Missile. CATS Hunter as stealthy CM.

 

[Kontakt5]

Su-57 strength lies in its 360 degree radar coverage with 4 x band arrays and 2 l band ones for stealth detection.

Not to forget the powerful engine and recent testing with proper 2d vectored flat nozzle.

Sure stealth is not optimal vs j20 or f-35 but it is vastly superior in range ,performance ,weapons it can carry in internal bay,active radar coverage.

The stealth part can be dealt with for some degree with superior RAM application and using frontal radar blocker.Anyways with internal weapon load the frontal rcs claimed by Russians is .1 metre square and should be exponentially better than rafale with external load and drop tanks.

We have no better options,get 2-3 squadrons before we make amca by 2035.

No the best option is to not buy 2-3 squadrons of foreign export equipment, and risk sabotaging or delaying domestic options. When money is spent for these 2-3 squadrons, the money that could've gone into promoting indigenous equipment is taken away. Why is there an obsession to match pak in equipment type? Like I said Paf J-35 could be super fighter, but they are still easy targets on the ground and in hangars. India strongest asset is powerful air defence network and missile technology. Strengthening and deveploying more domestic air defence and ground strike missiles can counter stealth fighters.

Despite being a military dictatorship pak can barely afford fleet of J-10CE. Only have like 20 jets. How many do you think bankrupt failed state can afford J-35E ? At most 10, that will be an insignificant number. India always win in the long game against paf, so what if they get stealth aircraft a few years ahead of India? They can only afford 10 of them. IAF in the future will have complete overmatch over paf, just need patience and investment, and not fall for foreign exports again.

 

[Okabe Rintarou]

No the best option is to not buy 2-3 squadrons of foreign export equipment, and risk sabotaging or delaying domestic options. When money is spent for these 2-3 squadrons, the money that could've gone into promoting indigenous equipment is taken away. Why is there an obsession to match pak in equipment type? Like I said Paf J-35 could be super fighter, but they are still easy targets on the ground and in hangars. India strongest asset is powerful air defence network and missile technology. Strengthening and deveploying more domestic air defence and ground strike missiles can counter stealth fighters.

Despite being a military dictatorship pak can barely afford fleet of J-10CE. Only have like 20 jets. How many do you think bankrupt failed state can afford J-35E ? At most 10, that will be an insignificant number. India always win in the long game against paf, so what if they get stealth aircraft a few years ahead of India? They can only afford 10 of them. IAF in the future will have complete overmatch over paf, just need patience and investment, and not fall for foreign exports again.

Indeed true that a limited purchase of foreign 5th gen FA would give MoD a false sense of security that might delay AMCA. I mean look at how AMCA funding has been upheld till recently.

Without a 5th gen fighter, there will be a hunger in the Indian establishment to see timely completion of AMCA. Especially if the Pakis get J35.

 

[he-man]

No the best option is to not buy 2-3 squadrons of foreign export equipment, and risk sabotaging or delaying domestic options. When money is spent for these 2-3 squadrons, the money that could've gone into promoting indigenous equipment is taken away. Why is there an obsession to match pak in equipment type? Like I said Paf J-35 could be super fighter, but they are still easy targets on the ground and in hangars. India strongest asset is powerful air defence network and missile technology. Strengthening and deveploying more domestic air defence and ground strike missiles can counter stealth fighters.

Despite being a military dictatorship pak can barely afford fleet of J-10CE. Only have like 20 jets. How many do you think bankrupt failed state can afford J-35E ? At most 10, that will be an insignificant number. India always win in the long game against paf, so what if they get stealth aircraft a few years ahead of India? They can only afford 10 of them. IAF in the future will have complete overmatch over paf, just need patience and investment, and not fall for foreign exports again.

What options do we have .

HAL should just focus on tejas mk1 and 2 ,they can't handle anything beyond that at this point of time.

It's better they do the research work of subsystems etc for amca in next 5 -6 years and only then proceed with something.

 

[samsaptaka]

They may have yuge industrial capacity but that will be wasted on India as compared to say Taiwan and breaking the 1st island chain

I think we should not assume they would want to go after Taiwan first. They might want a short sharp war and grab arunachal or Ladakh etc ..to keep their chest thumping commies placated in case Taiwan becomes too tough a nut to crack. They already tested the waters in Galwan and initially we were found lacking, ITBP not up to the task . So I am not buying this cope of Taiwan first bcos they don't want to be bogged down in Bharath. Commies are ruthless beasts, as long as a land grab works, they will throw bodies, jets, rockets by the 1000s just to announce they got some land to their brainwashed citizenry.

 

[midnight]

View: https://youtu.be/MkXrrlfZEIU?si=vaKYU2ds3--1CHyP%5B/URL

 

[samsaptaka]

It was imported S400 nd

Please...it was Akashteer indig AD system and Akash sams which scored max hits on incoming drones & missiles. Don't repeat aajtak reporting here. Does anyone use S400 against drones? Think before typing.

Also imported stuff didn't save the day as you call it. did most of the hits. Whatever scalp and rafalae accomplished could have been done with Tejas and SAAW if SEAD & DEAD were allowed from day one.

 

[liberalredditor]

ok

I am telling u will full confidence ,chinese ew is seriously good at this point of time.

Rafale alone won't cut for us.We would need 2 squadrons of 5 gen.

understood that chinese ew is good, but still not god level that all our airborne fighters would get grilled

chini would not give them their cream work, they know burger is baap dada of porkis, the export version which is cheap ass alibaba version would just be low observable, and with jazba, i know that their pilots wouldnt be able to do shit to any of our aircrafts

f3r and f4 ew >>>> chini j35 export version ew

no need to panic so hard that buy su57, buy f35, buy kaan, buy j35, buy kf21

relax, buy rafale and then mass produce tejas mk2 and use the pradhan mantri achanak din ho gayi yojana and pradhan mantri airbase renovation yojana

 

[Anupu]

Well one thing we know from indoor, is that chinese ADS will struggle no matter what, if we swarm-launch brahmos. Which means their mega dam they wanna build on Brahmaputra in medog county is a huge lemon. Look at geography of SE Tibet. It's not flat but kashmir like in deep mountain valleys and steep ridges. There are only 3 possible routes for China to put power cables down to connect this dam to their country's grid. So that means, we can literally shut down 20,000 mega watts of electricity at will, without even touching the dam: good luck putting ADS around 100s of kms of power cable and transformer relay stations in middle of nowhere.

Yes brahmos is one such glaring gap. There are others too.

However you are making the same mistake Pakis do when they believe that they can destroy Indian dams.

Dams are really difficult to destroy. You would need weeks long bombing with bunker busters or a tactical nuke.

Even then it would probably be repaired. Yes we can destrupt power generation.

The dam on Brahmaputra is a lemon anyways as long as we can build a dam downstream. Brahmaputra’s catchment area is mostly in India and, There is nowhere the water can be diverted to either.

 

[redpanda]

The indigenously developed Surya VHF radar can detect stealth/VLO aircraft like the USA's F35 & China's J-35A from distances up to 400 km by operating in the VHF band (30 to 300 MHz), which is less affected by stealth designs. Mounted on TATRA vehicles, it is highly mobile and can be deployed across diverse terrains. Its long-range detection offers early warning capabilities, allowing India to track stealth fighters soon after takeoff. The system enhances India’s air surveillance network and represents a major step toward self-reliance in advanced defense technology.

View: https://x.com/DefenceDecode/status/1926183807603908652

 

[samsaptaka]

View: https://x.com/Ray70409890/status/1925592288605987125

For the 2 account dalal here

As a contrast lookie how we integrated brahmos to Su30MKI quite quickly (took 3 years maybe ?) and blasted porks at stand off ranges. I think this was the most 'concerning' thing for the empire. They probably thought our brahmos integration on Su30MKI was a usual mnrega chai biskoot thing
UK is anyway a third rate power, but above thread goes to show if you don't have ctrl over your platform, even the simplest of things will take years. I hope that F35 dalal gets it, but being a dalal he will play dead & dumb no doubt

 

[Spitfire IX]

F-35 is obviously not going to be selected by IAF…

simply because no Indian weapons will be allowed to integrate by USA, this closes its case.

SU57 is obviously not anywhere close to RCS of F35 probably closer to Rafale with clean configuration. In future we will definitely get enough access to Rafale to integrate Indian weapons.

So SU57 doesnt offer much over Rafale for IAF, only way SU57 will be bought if Russians offer Turbine Inlet metallurgy they have mastered because India is not going to get it from French

If India could get enough hot section TOT to build a passable 85kN engine through an Su-57 deal, that would make Su-57 very appealing in my book. Several problems addressed - lack of 5G fighters, lack of medium/heavy fighter numbers at a reasonable price, lack of foreign fighters allowing India to integrate Indian weapons, lack of Indian engine for Tejas Mk1A.

I say that assuming that Su-57 is up to scratch. How many hours from the engines before heavy maintenance is required? How long is the engine life?