The next step, Stocking anti armour missiles

The next step, Stocking anti armour missiles

IAF found way good moves to provide close air support to the ground troops, by employing precision guided munitions and glide bombs for stand off strike. now they looking for anti armour missile for destroying enemy armored vehicles in the battlefield, IAF already signed a contract with US to supply more than 1000 Hell fire missiles, which going to be employed in the Apache gunships. 

During the Kargil, India found that there is no proper munition to strike the enemy column, They used large amount of dumb bombs, which is not effective, while later they adopted guided muntions which shows good effective. Even they were procured from the west. Since the Indian arsenal comprised by Russian munitions which is not useful in such situation, they were heavy in size however unguided dumb bombs.

IAF found that, guided munition is the future and stop producing more dumb bombs, Instead of that they built guidance kit, like GPS guided or Laser guided heads for bombs. which guide the bomb into the target. Here too those PGM - Precision guided munition can strike stationary targets only. like key building and supply dumps. The LGB- Laser guided munition can strike less mobile systems like artillery's and others. 

For high mobile targets like Tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, one need a guided missile to chase and kill the target. Mostly tanks can travel at the speed of some 40 km as average. It's hard to bomb them with exiting LGB or PGM. So here wee need a anti armour missile to strike such high mobile targets.

Nag is the missile who uses the millimeter wave seeker to attack enemy armored vehicles. Just like all other counterparts like Hell fire and Spear. mmW seeker can guide the missile exactly where the tank is and whats it's position. Missiles employed with mmW seekers are highly reliable, however shorter range, due to it's spectrum characteristics.

Indian Nag program is running in slow but steady. However they can be employed in Indian made helicopters like LCH and armed Dhruv only. The upcoming Apache's comes with Hell fire missiles, However so far there were no good such missile in fixed wing aircraft. Since IAF's fighters are not have such characteristics to launch such missiles.

However one IAF jet can employ anti armour missiles, Recently upgraded Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft is the only IAF fighter can employ such missile. Mirage can carry upto six anti armour missile in two hard points. Those anti armour missiles are less in weight compared to other missiles, they were barely weights some 60 kilo grams. Mirage with multiple ejector rack can hold upto three missile in one port. However IAF didn't have any such missiles for Mirages, Since they plans to use the mirages for launching guided munitions and glide bombs only. 

Rafale is the only other aircraft can carry anti armour missiles, as French already offered the latest Brimstone missile with the Rafale package.  Brimstone comes with dual seeker for high probability of detection it uses laser guidance and mmW for high probability of intercepting fast moving vehicles. Same like how Hell fire missile operates.

IAF need large number of such missiles for Rafale. Since the Rafale can carry more payload and higher sortie rates. for better close air support mission IAF may use the Apache helicopters. However in contested airspace IAF need to use the fixed wing aircraft's for aircraft survivability. Since helicopters can be shot downed very easily inside contested airspace.

The Rafale comes with better weapon packages like guided munitions, anti armour missiles, and better air to air missiles. The IAF uses the Flankers for stand off strikes. As it's soon to get 100km range glide bombs from Israel.

It's better to see, IAF may overcomes from the past issues and now looks formidable force with pretty decent air to ground arsenal too.

Russia confirms Pakistani interest of Mi 28 NE

Russia confirms Pakistani interest of Mi 28 NE

Pakistan once again looks into the Russian military hardware to expand it's military's fighting power. A Pakistani diplomat confirmed the Mi 28 NE interest to the Janes. Pakistan already operating wide range of attack helicopters, again looks for another Russian attack helo. As Russia express defense cooperation with Pakistan on two grounds, Air defense and counter terrorism.

Pakistan increasingly looking to expand the relationship with Russia, by buying modern attack helicopters and other military hardware's. Earlier Russia and Pakistan concluded a deal to buy four new Mi 35 attack helicopters, where the deliveries soon to takes place.

The Mi 28 is modern dedicated attack helicopter, even can withstand from large caliber bullets like 23mm and 30 mm. The Mi 28 NE has dual control. The helicopter can be controlled by either the pilot or the weapon officer. one of the known unique features in the Night hunter series, which was recently entered into serial production.

The Mi 28 comes with mutli purpose 30mm machine gun for dedicated ground attack. along with rockets and anti tank missiles for close air support missions to the ground troops. the advanced sensor suits easily filters the threat and engage it with high precision, where Russia showcased such capability in Syrian theater by attacking Syrian rebel targets.

Modern self protection suits and hardened armored structure can protect Mi 28 from advanced AAA systems and MANPAD's. along with a 360 degree situational awareness system. Pakistan will get the modern Mi 28 NE the same which will be ordered for the Russian forces who currently in serial production.

Heavy weapons fitted in the Mi 28 can makes the helicopter best for convoy protection and escort missions. the Mi 28 can provide close escort for more than two hundred kilometers. which is very low combat radius compared to it's competitor AH 64 E. which was chosen by the Indian air force over the Mi 28.

However the Mi 28 can carry more payloads than the Apache, Mi 28 can carry 16 anti tank missiles along with 40 rockets in two pods. while the Apache can carry eight anti armour high performance Hell fire missiles along with thirty six 70 mm rockets. In performance wise the Apache leads in all missions.

The gun fitted in both helicopter has 30mm caliber comes with more than 1000 rounds. The gun in the Apache can be controlled by the Pilots eye vision. while the same not available in the Mi 28.

The Americans never give the Apache's to the Pakistan who has long range and high performance compared to all other attack helicopter. Apache is the only attack helicopter whose combat radius is more than 400 kilometers, while other helicopters like AH 1 Z viper and Mi 28 has a combat radius of 200 km and 180 km respectively.

In earlier the Russians first offered the Mi 28 NE to the Pakistani's, however later it was withdrawn after heavy pressure from the Indian government. However nowadays the growing deeper relationship with Russia, even Pakistan gets handful numbers of Su 35 S from Russia.

Apache AH 64 D Block III

Apache AH 64 D Block III

   Apache AH 64 D Block III

Another addition to the stables of the Indian Air force, it’s the American Apache attack helicopters this time which promise to annihilate the enemies at their tracks. These Apache’s will be replacing the Soviet era attack helicopter the Mi 35 Hind. The deal was in turbulent waters since the last decade and has finally arrived at a solution after much delay. IN the mean time owing to the delays an MLU was signed to modernise the aging Mi’s. They were provided with additional upgrades which concentrated mainly on the avionics, the Mi’s received new sensor suites and DIRCM countermeasure suites owing to these upgrades the Mi’s are battle ready till 2025. The void left by these attach helicopters is huge and the Apache’s promise to fill this cap efficiently thus serving as the back bone for any offensive operations in the future.

When the tenders were floated for procuring a rotary attack platform the Apache and Mi 28 were the forerunners for the program. Apache’s state of the art The Apache ruled out the Russian attack helicopter Mi 28, with its superior performance and network. US has offered India the latest generation AH 64 D Longbow Block III series helicopters, which is also called as AH 64E. The Apache are one of the best products to be rolled out from the Boeing lines, there are nearly two thousand Apache’s serving nearly fifteen other nations throughout the globe.Though the Apache’s will be charged with providing CAS to the army they will still be operated under the IAF and will not be joining the Army aviation corps.

The current deal between the US and Indian government aims to field twenty two Apache helicopter under the Air force. India along with the helicopters will receive fifty additional engines, 1500 Hell fire missiles for anti armour operation, 250 Stinger missiles which will counter the aerial threats. India will also be provided with 12 addition fire control radar and 22 night vision equipments. The total deal is calculated to cost around $1.2 billion.

The Defence Ministry has also taken inputs from the Indian Army to raise a separate squadron of attack helicopters lead by AH 64 and the home grown LCH and ALH Rudra, Rudraarmed with unguided rockets have already been delivered to Army Aviation.

The AH 64 E is capable of guiding unmanned aerial vehicles from itself, the WCO can operate  any of the UAV's under the army, and can also uses its advanced JTDIS to guide the Artillery's to fire with pin point accuracy.


Apache is capable to fly low, and is an all weather helicopter that can make sorties even in the worst conditions. Equipped with state of the art Electronic countermeasures and defensive suites, any threats standing against these copters can be neutralized with a moment’s notice. The Infrared warning systems help Apache to carry out night missions without any major hindrance. Apache also uses thermal and IR camera, these technologies help the Apache serve as an eye in the sky. Apache's formed the first wave of attack in operation Desert Storm, flying low they destroyed several Iraqi early warning Radar sites.

       The deal will be finalized during the visit of Secretary of Defense, USA , Ash Carter. Boeing will deliver the helicopters by 2018 and the Apache's promise to be a force multiplier providing the crucial CAS to the infantry. 

Editor- Karthik Kakoor