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Old 3rd August 2018, 16:08   #301
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Re: Combat Aircraft of the Indian Air Force

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Taxi-in engagement as in? Tejas was moving on tarmac? How did the tail hook snag the cable, without the aircraft wheels touching it first?
Here is the video of the trial. I hope it answers your question.

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Old 6th August 2018, 22:15   #302
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HAL’s Light Combat Aircraft project to come under IAF control

HAL’s Light Combat Aircraft project to come under IAF control

As reported in The Hindu ,
Quote:
To prevent time and cost overruns, the IAF will soon have effective control over India’s indigenous LCA programme
Combat Aircraft of the Indian Air Force-th05lca.jpeg
The government is poised to hand over control of the Bengaluru division of State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to the Indian Air Force (IAF). This is to prevent more time and cost overruns on the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project. This comes at a particularly crucial time as the next phase of the LCA project, development of the MK2 variant, as well as the country’s next fighter aircraft programme, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), begin to take shape.

“The government has given the go ahead to hand over the entire Bengaluru complex of HAL to the IAF. With this, the fixed wing aircraft division will come under the IAF. The modalities are being worked out,” an official source told this reporter of the process that may take a few months.

HAL resists
HAL manufactures and assembles a range of aircraft and helicopters. However, it has faced criticism for its time and cost overruns and lack of professionalism in project execution. HAL has opposed this move for a long time, fearing erosion of its autonomy.

The LCA programme was sanctioned in 1983 and the aircraft made its first flight in 2001. The IAF had signed two contracts with HAL, one for 20 aircraft in the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) configuration signed on March 31, 2006, to be completed by December 2011, and another for 20 aircraft in the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) standard signed on December 23, 2010, which was to be completed by 2016. It is in the process of ordering 83 jets in the Mk 1A configuration.

The IAF constituted the first LCA squadron with just two aircraft in 2016 and, as of July 2018, has inducted only nine aircraft. Tejas has once again missed the FOC in June and the development of the Tejas-Mk 1A with specific enhancements has been delayed. With this development, HAL’s aircraft division will be headed by a serving three-star officer or an Air Marshal of the IAF, and effectively give the IAF control over the country’s indigenous LCA project.

In addition, three institutions — Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) and Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) — which are under the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) are likely to be brought under the direct control of the Chief of the Air Staff. Thus, the entire development cycle of the LCA will have the IAF’s oversight and will ensure timely execution and prevent blame games over delays, the source observed. Details of the specific contours of the move are awaited.

‘Long overdue’
“The IAF should have taken over the LCA programme two decades back, but [it is] good it’s happening at least now,” said Air Marshal M. Matheswaran (Retd), who oversaw the IAF’s fighter procurement in the past. He felt that to make a real difference, the IAF should get the entire cycle under its control, from design, standardisation, production and supply chain. Otherwise, just having one officer at the helm will not change things much, he added.

“Production for 20 FOC aircraft will be taken up after FOC clearance by the ADA, for which the current target is December 2018,” Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha last week.

However, a Defence Ministry official said this is likely to be delayed by another six months as several parameters like gun firing, air-to-air refuelling and new data-linked software defined radios, among others, are yet to be validated. The IAF wants new data links as a standard feature on the FOC variant as communications are an essential feature for an aircraft to operate in a network-centric environment.

HAL is setting up a second assembly line to ramp up production from eight to 16 aircraft a year, in addition to outsourcing major modules to private partners.

Design reboot
The LCA is powered by an American GE-404 engine, which the IAF has stated is underpowered. This is to be corrected in the LCA-Mk2 which would be a larger aircraft powered by the GE-414 engine producing 98kN thrust compared to 84kN thrust of the current engine.

“The design change has been launched sometime back. We don’t want just some superficial changes, but a real increase in performance. The target is to meet or exceed the Mirage aircraft in performance,” an IAF official said.

To accommodate the larger and more powerful engine, which also needs more fuel, requires a larger wingspan for the aircraft. This calls for a major design and engineering effort.

“There are concerns and challenges but it is doable,” the officer noted.


The first prototype of the Mk2 is expected to make its debut flight in 2022-23, and complete the IOC and FOC approvals in the next five years. The current target is to have the first squadron ready by 2028.

The IAF intends to have several squadrons of the LCA-Mk2 as it has to replace three Mirage squadrons, three Mig-29 squadrons and six Jaguar squadrons. A squadron typically has about 18 aircraft, 16 fighters and two trainers. However, this can vary, depending on the type of aircraft and the necessity.
Article and picture courtesy : The Hindu

Cheers !

Last edited by Ironhide : 6th August 2018 at 22:21. Reason: Structure
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Old 7th August 2018, 19:28   #303
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Re: HAL’s Light Combat Aircraft project to come under IAF control

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Originally Posted by Ironhide View Post
HAL’s Light Combat Aircraft project to come under IAF control

As reported in The Hindu ,


Article and picture courtesy : The Hindu

Cheers !
I more than welcome the move. At last a MoD that walks the talk and is not willing to sacrifice national security on the altar of the backsides of a few general managers and trade union leaders. The Tejas has been sold down the river by quarrelling egoistical scientists. Through most of the 1950s and 1960s HAL was headed by an IAF officer. Sorry for the rant.
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Old 8th August 2018, 15:17   #304
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Re: Combat Aircraft of the Indian Air Force

I don't think your rant is at all unfounded Mr Narayan. It would be the penitent man indeed who would not vent their frustrations and fury or a combination thereof at the hilariously consistent ability of our defence apparatus to conjure up bungles.

https://www.livefistdefence.com/2018...ats-wrong.html

I'm normally quite reserved on Shiv Aroor's opinions, but I tend to agree with him here. I'm not sure how having a flag officer from the IAF would help to kick start the endemic lethargy of HAL, wrt a temperamental programme like Tejas. But I Do subscribe to his thinking about IAF finally taking a personal vested interest in what is the crucial future project for it, the AMCA.

I'm really not sure why, when the problem has been identified with the Mk1's we haven't cancelled the order and just expedited the completion and delivery of the Mk2 with a bigger engine, etc. I mean at this point it's already so late in the day we aren't saving anything by contemporaneously having old spec production and new spec development happening, when HAL has consistently shown an inability to get the task at hand done with any competence. I worry that we'll end up with the same concurrency nightmares the F35 program faces. By the time the later spec Tejas's (that are finally up to the mark) are delivered, we'd have to go back and need costly upgrades for the older limited capability jets that will have been in service at the time. That would only stretch the limited resources available.
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Old 8th August 2018, 15:45   #305
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Re: Combat Aircraft of the Indian Air Force

I wonder why Pakistanis and Chinese bother with intelligence gathering in India - they could just subscribe to CAG reports.

CAG: Boeing P8 Poseidon does not fully meet Indian Navy's requirements
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com...w/65306934.cms

CAG highlights shortcomings in safety facilities at forward IAF airfields
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com...w/65312689.cms

CAG points out significant delay in parachute orders from ordnance factories
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nati...s-1854748.html

CAG slams Indian Air Force for sub-optimal utilisation of AWACS
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com...w/50237761.cms
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Old 8th August 2018, 15:55   #306
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Re: Combat Aircraft of the Indian Air Force

CAG, CVC, CBI... the three C's why even well meaning and competent Govt officials hesitate to take decisions and act. These guys don't understand the many shades of an audit between recommendatory to procedural to investigative to crime detection. How morale boosting for the crew who fly and maintain the P-8I and the AWACS

Last edited by V.Narayan : 8th August 2018 at 15:56.
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Old 8th August 2018, 17:05   #307
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Re: Combat Aircraft of the Indian Air Force

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Originally Posted by smartcat View Post
I wonder why Pakistanis and Chinese bother with intelligence gathering in India - they could just subscribe to CAG reports.

CAG: Boeing P8 Poseidon does not fully meet Indian Navy's requirements
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com...w/65306934.cms
Why is there such a mention of the "UPA government" in the report/article? How does it even matter which government procured it? Wasn't the Naval senior brass involved in the matters? What about the finance ministry and the Defence procurement secretaries? We should imho first stop blaming the previous government or taking credits for what someone else has started and work towards a common goal of the well equipped defence forces. As such the A330M tanker has its own fair share of problems and Airbus Defence Systems (ADS) isn't a fair company either. Having worked in the development of the A330 M tanker, I can say it causes enough headache to the forces operating it. No machine is trouble-free and has certain operational limitations that deviate from the requirements it is supposed to meet.

Quote:
Originally Posted by smartcat View Post
CAG highlights shortcomings in safety facilities at forward IAF airfields
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com...w/65312689.cms

CAG points out significant delay in parachute orders from ordnance factories
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nati...s-1854748.html
Make the Defence equipment manufacturers jobs temporary or give them performance based contracts. Then see how they churn out work by themselves. When complacency kicks in, no matter who leads them, they still will find ways to not do their work.

Quote:
Originally Posted by smartcat View Post
CAG slams Indian Air Force for sub-optimal utilisation of AWACS
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com...w/50237761.cms
Sub-optimal utilization of Aircrafts that are not serviceable? Isn't this contradictory to itself?

As long as our NAL, HAL and ADA are going to be complacent and private industries like TATA aerospace or L&T or Mahindra aero are not involved in the production, we are going to end up buying foreign items for exhorbitant prices.
There was a discussion in the Rajya Sabha TV about LCA delays and one of the speakers made a valid point,

"Let ADA do the R&D and design the platform and HAL prepare the first prototype and plan the production line and the NAL do the civilian counterpart of what ADA does for defence projects. Finally, let the private industry bid for and handle the mass production."

We are far away from having our own Lockheeds and Boeings and Northrop Grummans but we do have our TATA defence/aerospace, L&T and Mahindra aerospace who are quite efficient and given the opportunity could be very smart and advanced in innovating.

Last edited by AlphaKilo : 8th August 2018 at 17:08.
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Old 8th August 2018, 17:48   #308
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Re: Combat Aircraft of the Indian Air Force

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Originally Posted by AlphaKilo View Post
Why is there such a mention of the "UPA government" in the report/article? How does it even matter which government procured it? We should imho first stop blaming the previous government or taking credits for what someone else has started and work towards a common goal of the well equipped defence forces.
That's why I changed title of the article before posting here
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Old 15th August 2018, 17:48   #309
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Re: Combat Aircraft of the Indian Air Force

In recent times, USAF has mostly operated in theatres with little or no threat from ground forces or other aircraft. That's why USAF is considering having a fleet of "light attack" aircraft.
https://www.military.com/dodbuzz/201...ack-fleet.html

The chief contenders are basically trainer aircraft, modified to carry bombs and rockets.

And in other news, looks like HAL Sitara (Intermediate Jet Trainer) will be back in business - with some help from BAE Systems.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com...w/56209445.cms
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Old 15th August 2018, 18:52   #310
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Re: Combat Aircraft of the Indian Air Force

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I wonder why Pakistanis and Chinese bother with intelligence gathering in India - they could just subscribe to CAG reports.
Nothing wrong with this - infact in a democracy like India, oversight is much stronger than countries like Pakistan or China.

The CAG reports and those by the parliamentary standing committee on defence and questions posed on defence in parliament (and indeed all other topics) - are all available in the public domain (should anyone want to read them) and are much needed as defence spending outstrips all other forms of spending in an impoverished country like India.

Quote from the Australian National Audit Office below - sums up perfectly

"Major Defence equipment acquisition projects (Major Projects) remain the subject of considerable parliamentary and public interest, in view of their high cost and impact on the economy, contribution to national security and the challenges involved in completing them within budget, on time and to the required level of capability."

Ajai Shukla has elaborated beautifully - http://ajaishukla.blogspot.com/2018/...-ask-dont.html

It is tax payers money that pays for all the equipment that we are proud to see the armed forces use - so no harm in strong oversight for these.

In fact, whenever, I have visited a military base - I have seen that armed forces are very conscious of the huge expenditure that goes into their equipment and they are maintained to exacting standards and used for 30-40 years and even more in many cases.

There is nothing top secret about what the CAG has shared - similar reports are available in most democratic countries and if anything, they are even more detailed than our CAG reports:

https://www.anao.gov.au/work/major-p...report-2016-17

https://www.nao.org.uk/search/sector...-armed-forces/

US audit reports on their most important fighter aircraft (and that of the Western world) - the F35 are very very detailed.

https://www.gao.gov/search?rows=10&n...ame=main&q=f35

It is more important that sensitive data stored within the military or with defence contractors be managed carefully - as China is a strong cyber threat - than depriving the policy makers/tax payers of their right to understand where defence procurements need to be managed better or other related issues.

Cheers!
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Old 15th August 2018, 21:40   #311
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Re: Combat Aircraft of the Indian Air Force

Warthogs and Floggers are my all time favorite ground attack aircrafts. Especially Floggers has always fascinated me with its variable sweep wings. Have seen countless videos of Tomcats and Floggers on the way wings swept back and then returned to its original position during flight and it always good to read what it is like to fly Mig27.

Here is the one such from our very own former IAF pilot Anshuman Mainkar.
Flying and fighting in the MiG-27

Combat Aircraft of the Indian Air Force-unnamed.jpg

Pic Courtesy- huskit

Last edited by DragonHawk : 15th August 2018 at 21:43.
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Old 17th August 2018, 00:01   #312
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Re: Combat Aircraft of the Indian Air Force

Combat Aircraft of the Indian Air Force-iaf-hunter-adv-1958.jpg

Combat Aircraft of the Indian Air Force-iaf-bell-47g3-adv-1962.jpg

Combat Aircraft of the Indian Air Force-iaf-caibou-adv-1964.jpg

Combat Aircraft of the Indian Air Force-iaf-rr-engine-adv-1960.jpg

The IAF in advertising - from 1958 - 1964
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Old 18th August 2018, 18:03   #313
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Re: Combat Aircraft of the Indian Air Force

Combat Aircraft of the Indian Air Force-iaf-boulton-defiant-large.jpg

Defiant all right, but no fire in the belly!

A Boulton Paul "Defiant" in Indian colours, Tezgaon, 1944.

This was converted from a MkII to a TT.

Last edited by travancore : 18th August 2018 at 18:05.
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Old 22nd August 2018, 16:47   #314
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Re: Combat Aircraft of the Indian Air Force

Interesting review of Mig 29 by Israeli pilots:
http://www.iaf.org.il/5642-35655-en/IAF.aspx

Combat Aircraft of the Indian Air Force-02d_sep2014_mig29moldovatransport_live.jpg

Quote:
Studies of the aircraft confirmed it as a serious opponent in air combat. “MIG’s abilities equals and sometimes even exceeds those of the F-15 and F-16 jets”, says Major N, a test pilot. “The aircraft is highly manoeuvrable, and its engines provide higher weight to thrust ratio. Our pilots must be careful with this aircraft in air combat. Flown by a well trained professional, it is a worthy opponent".

Lieut. Gen. M shares the appreciation for the Russian aircraft: “flying the MIG was one of a kind type of experience for a test pilot. Now I know that the result of an air combat between the MIG and an Israeli fighter jet depends on how the combat develops. In a tight battle, it is a real threat. It’s an advanced aircraft, and in close manoeuvring engagements it is absolutely terrific. It makes sharp turns, it’s quick, and to my opinion, as a platform, it does not fall short of our advanced fighter jets"

“The MIG has an excellent radar system”, says Major N. “I was also very impressed with the IRST system. The missile systems provide the jet with significant advantage. I made a good use of the Russian helmet, and I can say that it works fairly well.
Quote:
There is a major disadvantage: difficulty to fully utilize the jet’s abilities. “One of the greatest problems of the MIG is its human engineering”, explains Major N. “Most of the systems installed are good overall, but their combination, and the user interface is cumbersome, and begs for an improvement. On several occasions, I needed a certain piece of information which was not showing on any of the cockpit instruments".
Quote:
Lieut. Col. G. Concludes: “The jets had very few malfunctions, and like other Russian products the MIG-29 is trustworthy, strong, and massive. The F-15 and F-16 are much more delicate, compared"
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Old 22nd August 2018, 17:16   #315
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This is from 1997. So more than twenty years ago. How do current F15/16 hold out to current MIG 29versions?
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