Indian Air Force: News & Discussions

[ArjunMK1A]

The internal cargo width of IL76 is small 3.45 meter which is smaller than C17 width of 5.49m.

Even the much bigger C5 Galaxy width is only slightly wider at 5.8 meter. So the C17 design is really good for carrying wide payload.

Only the An-124 is substantially bigger at 6.4 meter width. Wonder why India never got these or has expressed interest in this. Russia since 2014 has started a seperate effort to make new bigger composite version, along with more powerfull engines without any help from Ukraine.

Surely this can come handy for India for transporting tanks, train sets and large sattelites.

Even UAE has one An124.

We tried the infamous IL-276 route. HAL dropped out of the project along with PAK-FA.

With Russians. It is the same route, where you will shafted out periodically by giving them money. Ends up with Plane where we need to buy avionics.


IAF transport fleets needs to be fixed.

1. We have C-295 and AN-32. From Chat GPT.




C-295 is newer and superior against an An-32. Bigger thing is TASL is manufacturing them in India. So we can completely switch to C-295 as low level tactical airlifter.


2. Next we have C-130J platform for Medium duties. Also we can getting some murmurs of Embraer wants an deal.




Now TASL is working as supplier to LM for C-130J. Also Embraer shown interest in setting up the plant in India. This is where diplomacy plays the role. Either we get the C130J production line by assuaging Trump or Discuss with Embraer and get an Indian Partner for setting up the C-390 Production line.


Now we have two production lines for Small and Medium size Cargo planes.


Now coming to big boys like C-17,IL-76. This is where the problem is. Russia is Russia and C-17 production ceased.

Either we can get scrap C-17 from UK reserves and call daddy trump for C-17 with extra money. Or work with UAC to get an IL-76 plane line in India. Question is can we do this with Russians. Generally they will scam them within few years.

 

[ArjunMK1A]

Congressi bastards have shot opening farts from their holes... but not against Stryker or Javelin... but against F-35 which would be a threat to their Cheeni abba.


View: https://x.com/INCIndia/status/1890711007946822134?t=CVASLhVdHKwHNjqw9KwdhQ&s=19

28 Lakhs per hour for an F-35 looks a steal.

Rafale based on chatgpt, giving 18 lakhs per hour.

Flaws in F-35 were known from its initial entry. LM is working on fixing them as reputed company. Compared to this we bought SU-30MKI with shit tier avionics and we forced to install French, Israel avionics.

 

[iNorthernerOn9]

28 Lakhs per hour for an F-35 looks a steal.

Rafale based on chatgpt, giving 18 lakhs per hour.

Flaws in F-35 were known from its initial entry. LM is working on fixing them as reputed company. Compared to this we bought SU-30MKI with shit tier avionics and we forced to install French, Israel avionics.

I was in 2 minds... not being able to support the case for F-35 mainly bcoz of that "daily password" reason... but if congress is opposing it... it's good for the country... I will support this deal(if it happens) and counter congis with my group.

 

[Ayan Barat]

Important update guys...

> LockMart and top US officials are all excited to offer F-35 to India
> Indian FanBois are in a state of utter shock and trying everything from cussing to memeing in an effort to maintain their sanity
> American FanBois are losing their s*it considering we've S-400 and how easily F-35's secret would leak to Russia
> And Indian FanBois are mocking them saying that China already has J-35s
> Some US lawmakers and veteran are writing threads about all the security risks of this deal
> Indian FanBois are countering them that we already operate everything from AH-64s to P-8s so this too would be safe and USA should sell it
> Meanwhile Turkish FanBois are angered to the point of conducting a Jihad against the damned CAATSA

What an amazing day it is

> Out of nowhere, Congress has emerged from its hibernation and started criticising F-35 deal and talking about Atmanirbhar Bharat
> To which BJP supporters have started to chip in on how game changing F-35 is and the usual "Cheen daanto tale ungliyan daba lega" stuff
> To which Indian FanBois (yup, those from point 2) are coming in support of Congress!? And are like "saalon kahan marr gaye the itte der se? Chalo koi baat nahi, ab hm tumko samjhte hain ki Stryker, amphibious, WhAP, MP-ATGM aur Javelin kya hota hai. Exam me kaam aayega"

God_damn_it!!!
I've no idea what kind of multiverse of madness we're in but whatever it is, I'm all in

Our C17s are also capable of Boom IFR.

Ahh yes, thanks.
Guess I had probably clubbed them together with the Super Hercules

 

[ArjunMK1A]

I was in 2 minds... not being able to support the case for F-35 mainly bcoz of that "daily password" reason... but if congress is opposing it... it's good for the country... I will support this deal(if it happens) and counter congis with my group.

I also not interested in having F-35, another aircraft in our Zero. But overall numbers will be supporting F-35.

Per Unit cost F35A -82 MIL USD, Even F35C is 102 MIL USD.

Rafale we purchased is 100MIL USD. May be we can get discount now. But at slightly higher price we are getting advance plane.


Running cost looks good, spare support will be there since huge countries were using it.

Only issue is IAF, IN does not like when things were getting poked. IN clearly done with US ships after Jalashwa. They are ok with Transport, ASW, drones from USA. Not capital ships. IAF historically shown displeasure with US aircrafts.

 

[ArjunMK1A]

Well an simple white paper scenario for IAF.


1. Mig 21 - Tejas MK1A. Better is every scenario.
2. Mirage 2000, Jaguar, MIG-29 -- Get that Tejas MK2. Can do the role of all three.
3. Medium, Heavy - SU-30MKI and Rafale. Junk MRFA and go for Rafale G2G. Order second tranche. Upgrade the Sukhoi fleet and if possible order extra jets from HAL.
4. Now 5th Gen - AMCA

Glorious things before us.

IAF fleet will made up

1. Tejas MK1A
2. Tejas MK2
3. Rafale
4. SU-30MKI
5. AMCA.

Based on HAL Wallahs, MK2 is here on jig. Only big roadblock is to get F414 manufacturing in INDIA. Balls on MOD and MEA guys.

If we get F414 manufacturing we can spawn out MK 2 and even AMCA (Lesser thrust but we can real aircraft instead of CGI)


Will need to fix the zoo.

 

[jaijaganath]

Congressi bastards have shot opening farts from their holes... but not against Stryker or Javelin... but against F-35 which would be a threat to their Cheeni abba.


View: https://x.com/INCIndia/status/1890711007946822134?t=CVASLhVdHKwHNjqw9KwdhQ&s=19

after all they are behaving like true opposition
no they should launch an attack on stryker deal too
F-35 will dent our domestic industry

 

[iNorthernerOn9]

If you are opposing F-35... well and good... do it... but don't bat for Su-57 in the same breath.

Number of F-35s manufactured till date: 1150+ (in service in 11 countries... many others waiting)... production rate: 150ac/annum... order book: 1700+

Number of Su-57 manufactured till date: 32!

 

[Azaad]

If you are opposing F-35... well and good... do it... but don't bat for Su-57 in the same breath.

Number of F-35s manufactured till date: 1150+ (in service in 11 countries... many others waiting)... production rate: 150ac/annum... order book: 1700+

Number of Su-57 manufactured till date: 32!

There was a time 2-3 years ago, immediately before the Ukrainian war began , I sincerely believed , if not the Rafales, the Su-57 would be the go to platform for the IAF to go up against the J-20 + J-16 combo but that would be the definitive version of the Su-57 the Mk-2 version with the Item 30 TF or whatever nomenclature the Russians use to describe both these entities.

Estimated time for FOC was 2025-26 & here we are with no news whatsoever of the Mk-2 version. Neither has the Russian Air Force shown much interest in it which is usually a tell tale sign .

As far as the IAF goes, I'd venture there are few armed forces today who'd know the Russian armed forces the way we do, inside out & vice versa.

After the various fiascos, especially the INS Vikramaditya with the MiG-29K air complement & the issues regarding the Su -57 co development , I don't think the IAF quite TRUSTS or even fancies Russian items anymore.

Quite frankly I don't even think they make the cut anymore. As of now the ONLY REALISTIC choice is the Rafale though having said that it's not clear the F4 version has what it takes to go up against the J-20. That's something the F5 will be able to do. However that's not due till post 2030.

So what do we do? Develop our IADS , ISR, Rocket Force capabilities, etc of which we seem to be doing only bits & pieces of this & that , moving at our own pace & on & on.

 

[jaijaganath]

If you are opposing F-35... well and good... do it... but don't bat for Su-57 in the same breath.

Number of F-35s manufactured till date: 1150+ (in service in 11 countries... many others waiting)... production rate: 150ac/annum... order book: 1700+

Number of Su-57 manufactured till date: 32!

ofc
Thats their IT cell chutiyapa but anyway its gonna benefit us let them shout against f35 and compare with su57 using their pea sized brain and iaf will never procure su57
Win-win for us

 

[Brood Father]

I am not sure why IAF is keen on MRFA , This made sense 20 years back but not now
Why IAF is willing to get 114 4.5 gen jets worth billions of dollars and that too of foreign OEM. Looks like IAF don't have proper vision . Given the speed of arms purchase in India the deal will be signed in two years and assuming it takes 3 years for India to get jets with 20 jets per year (optimistic) we are looking at 7 years to get those jets , by 2037 china and US will be moving to 6th gen and we will be running for costly spares for 4.5 gen ..what a visionary leadership we have ..

 

[Corvus Splendens]

I am not sure why IAF is keen on MRFA , This made sense 20 years back but not now
Why IAF is willing to get 114 4.5 gen jets worth billions of dollars and that too of foreign OEM. Looks like IAF don't have proper vision . Given the speed of arms purchase in India the deal will be signed in two years and assuming it takes 3 years for India to get jets with 20 jets per year (optimistic) we are looking at 7 years to get those jets , by 2037 china and US will be moving to 6th gen and we will be running for costly spares for 4.5 gen ..what a visionary leadership we have ..

With F-35 on the table, MRFA is dead. And Dassault is probably lying down right now. They might even lose the Rafale-M deal. The F-35C is 9.1 meters wide (wings folded), Vikrant's lift is 10.8 meters wide.

 

[Brood Father]

With F-35 on the table, MRFA is dead. And Dassault is probably lying down right now. They might even lose the Rafale-M deal. The F-35C is 9.1 meters wide (wings folded), Vikrant's lift is 10.8 meters wide.
View attachment 25308

So MRFA will only have 5 th gen jets ? .it does make sense ..in that case to reduce the timeframe India should consider on F35 and Su57.. Any other 4.5 jets would mean lack of IAF and MOD judgement..

 

[Operatorr]

 

[narasimh]

With F-35 on the table, MRFA is dead. And Dassault is probably lying down right now. They might even lose the Rafale-M deal. The F-35C is 9.1 meters wide (wings folded), Vikrant's lift is 10.8 meters wide.
View attachment 25308

that's not happening.. If at all f-35 is taken, it will be a token purchase.. mrca rafales will come. I don't think we want to give up our autonomy by getting fat amy as mrca

 

[Corvus Splendens]

that's not happening.. If at all f-35 is taken, it will be a token purchase.. mrca rafales will come. I don't think we want to give up our autonomy by getting fat amy as mrca

This has been discussed in the past few pages. A hypothetical F-35 purchase would be made with guarantees and integration with local weapons, systems and comm protocols in mind. With established line of spares and local MRO. Otherwise a non starter deal.

So MRFA will only have 5 th gen jets ? .it does make sense ..in that case to reduce the timeframe India should consider on F35 and Su57.. Any other 4.5 jets would mean lack of IAF and MOD judgement..

I mean what do you want for you buck ? IAF needs a drastic boost in capability right now. Lockheed is printing a 100+ of these every year.

 

[Srinivas]

I think India is close to engineer break through and can build fighter jets quickly in 4 years. If IAF recommends 5th gen fighter aircraft of a squadron or 2 India should buy them.

 

[Blademaster]

If you are opposing F-35... well and good... do it... but don't bat for Su-57 in the same breath.

Number of F-35s manufactured till date: 1150+ (in service in 11 countries... many others waiting)... production rate: 150ac/annum... order book: 1700+

Number of Su-57 manufactured till date: 32!

Lol more than half of the F-35s are basically limited in combat capability and therefore of dubious combat value. I would only say that about the last 300 F-35s produced actually have combat value.

The first 400 F-35s are basically worthless because they cannot even meet the required IOC before even achieving the FOC due to the inherent defects that were not resolved when Pentagon decided to go for full production in order to bring the costs down.

 

[Blademaster]

With F-35 on the table, MRFA is dead. And Dassault is probably lying down right now. They might even lose the Rafale-M deal. The F-35C is 9.1 meters wide (wings folded), Vikrant's lift is 10.8 meters wide.
View attachment 25308

It cannot do a STOVL on its own. It requires a catapult which India does not have.

 

[silentassassin265]

I

It cannot do a STOVL on its own. It requires a catapult which India does not have.

The b varient had vertical landing and takeoff