Expanding the goal of IAF

Expanding the goal of IAF

   Indian air force slowly expanding his wings from primary air defense into major offensive force, with the induction of new generation fighter jets along with better missile systems. The Air force not only conduct air defense missions, also supports the ground troops by neutralizing ground targets, New procurement plans which include Rafale also known as best in terms of ground strike and primary air defense missions.

    IAF's first ground attack jet is the MiG 23, It's the bomb carrier, still won't hit targets in high precision, mostly it was used for making craters in the fields, the wide application is anti runway missions, taking out enemy runway means they wouldn't able to launch their fighter aircraft's. Nowadays such carpet bombings are not effective due to the raise of low level quick reaction missiles deployed in the air force bases.

    Jaguar is the first aircraft who comes with guided bombing capability. The Jagaur performed very well in NATO missions in Afghan and Iraq, So did in Indo Pakistani war's too. Specially in the Kargil war. Jaguar is the only certified fighter jet in IAF who can carry nuke bombs. Jaguar won't carry Radar's. however it uses the infrared and laser guidance kit mounted in it's nose. Jagaur also designed to fly very low aided by terrain following guidance system.

     Some of IAF Jaguar's modernized with Agave radar which will be replaced by Israeli radar. Those are used for maritime attack missions. One squadron of IAF's Jaguar IM armed with Harpoon anti shipping missile. IAF also plans to use the Jaguar till 2035 or the arrival AMCA. With new upgrades of Honeywell Engines and Israeli AESA radar's and newer air to air missiles and Guided bombs which include CBU 105 Cluster Bombs.

    IAF's key project is arming the Su 30 MKI with Brahmos cruise missile, The Sukhoi is not capable of conducting precision bombing, However Indian MKI can launch Russian made laser guided missiles like Kh 29 and other TV guided missiles with the guidance of Sukhoi's onboard  IRST. Adding the long range Brahmos cruise missile makes the Su 30 MKI can strike any targets inside Pakistan from safe distance, the term called Stand off missile strike.

    Modernized Indian Mirage's are another one who can capable to conduct precision bombing missions. The newer Mirages can capable to strike ground targets with high precision or pin point accuracy. Addition of AASM and PGM in Mirage 2000TI makes one of the best CAS platform in IAF. IAF can use the Mirage fighter for bombing close to friendly positions with it's highly reliable bombing capability.

    Tejas on the other hand also developed in the mind of multi role. ADA make the Tejas to perform all missions in Indian conditions. Who already performed laser guided ammo drop in firing range. LGB from Tejas can be guided by Israeli made Litening pods. which illuminates laser beam to the target and the bomb.

    Rafale is the key player who soon to be a part of IAF, also known as best in ground attack, Rafale is one of the best multi role attack aircraft along with F 15 Strike eagle. Rafale already performing missions in Afghan, Iraq Syria and Mali. Rafale's air power can be calculated in Baltic air policing missions and combat exercise with US fighter jets.

    All the said above fighter jets are better in terms of Aerial war fighting too, Nowadays due to the technology overlap, the one who identify the enemy and launch his missile first always wins the combat, Modern missiles are jam proof more agile and high speed than the fighter jets.

    IAF is known as one of the best air to air missile arsenal, It have missiles from Europe, Israel and Russia, IAF fighter jets already employed modern air to air missiles like ASRAAM, MICA, Derby, Python, and all kind of Russian missiles.

    A combination of Two variety of any above fighter jets networked with Phalcon AEWCS can kill any large modern column of enemy fighter jets. 

     The above points are clearly showing IAF changing it's primary air defense missions into multi role combat capable fleet. who is already in operational. 

India plans SEAD Exercise in Red Flag 16

India plans SEAD Exercise in Red Flag 16

   Indian Air force plans to send it's deep penetration attack aircraft Jaguar along with Su 30 MKI Air superiority fighter to participate US Red Flag Exercise in Alaska USA. The Indian Air force to learn many things from USA to perform SEAD/DEAD missions along with combat air patrol and Air superiority missions. Such exercise is very minimal since most exercise focus only one vs one or group fighting.

      To perform SEAD Missions, The Fighter jet need to penetrate the enemy air space by flying very low or below the radar coverage. after it will launch the anti radiation missile over the enemy Radar and air defense missile site. The Jaguar has similar capabilities and specially designed to perform such missions. IAF earlier used the Jaguar as bomb truck, mostly used to drop Bombs. The IAF not ready to retire the Jaguar aircraft, with many upgrades IAF plans to keep the Jaguar till 2035 or till the AMCA comes.

    The IAF also dispatches two C 17 globe master transporter aircraft. who carries more than hundreds of IAF's elite special operation commando's known as Garuds to perform the same SEAD mission. The C 17 will drop the Special forces deep behind enemy lines. where they would carry out sabotage missions in enemy radar sites.

     There were only two options to perform SEAD mission, One is via Jaguar aircraft other is using special forces to sabotage the radar site. Most of the nations used such kind of aircraft's to destroy enemy air defense batteries in first wave. Israel is the only other who send elite special forces along with heavy lift helicopters to perform SEAD missions deep behind enemy lines.

    In modern warfare, Forces not only face the Early warning Radar's, They eventually face more powerful electronic warfare systems like Jammers, communication and Radar interceptors and high power radio frequencies who disrupt missile and it's guidance. They were very powerful and highly mobile platforms.

     IAF wanted to penetrate highly defended Chinese Airspace, the upcoming Russian S 400 delivery to China threatens each and airborne platforms flying over Indian Capital in case of war against China. IAF tries many options to perform SEAD Missions which include Kamikaze drones, PTA Vehicles and Stealth drones, If all of the previous options failed IAF may send it's troops deep behind enemy lines to execute the SEAD mission.

    Once the SEAD mission is accomplished IAF need to patrol the Air space from enemy Intruders. IAF Plans to use the Su 30 MKI armed with maximum number of BVR and WVR missiles for combat air patrol. The Patrol supported by two IL 78 aerial tankers. IAF will send four Su 30 MKI to the Red Flag exercise, where they can perform CAP missions. Usually a Su 30 MKI can fly more than two hours without the need of aerial Tanker. with Tankers Su 30 MKI can fly more than eight hours.

   The Exercise clearly validates IAF's new operational capability of capturing enemy air space and keep the air space under IAF control. Such missions are top priority to conduct safe ground operations for friendlies.

    Indian Air force slowly expanding it's wings from primary air defense into Close air support missions, Offensive air missions and Capturing enemy air space's. Future ground operations must need such capabilities.

Patriot Air defense missile

     USA giving better opportunities to Indian Air force to exercise with Red forces and Blue forces. US may deploy Patriot or HAWK missile batteries along with AN TPS 75 Mobile radar and F 15 and F 16 fighters as Red forces or enemy forces. Where IAF will dispatch Jaguar aircraft's or C 17 with Garuds for SEAD missions and Su 30 MKI for Combat air patrol missions.

    The Exercise already get authorization from government, which will be scheduled to be happen Summer 2016.

IAF haunted by repeated crashes! What exactly is happening ?

 IAF jets are falling from the skies, what exactly is happening ?

        IAF top brass is worried, not for the depleting squadron numbers but it’s the repeated crashes that have for long haunted the air force. An answer to this is to be found in the near future if IAF has to keep up the morale. This year alone IAF has already lost six aircraft, even the most advanced jet of the fleet Su-30 MKI has crashed raising alarms.

       IAF has lost two Jaguar deep strike aircraft, and the advanced hawk trainers. Every year IAF loses around ten aircraft as a result of crashes for most of the crashes mechanical issues emerge as the main problem.  With a depleting force these crashes may prove costly and with every crash reduces the morale and confidence of the guardians manning their machines 24/7 come what may.

This year the crash pattern is very disturbing -

January - Mig 21

March - Jaguar

May - MiG 27

May - Su 30 MKI

June - Hawk AJT

June - Jaguar

      The very main reason for crash has been mechanical issues but there have been isolated cases when human error’s have also led to crashes.

First up the MiG 21

        India currently operates nearly 200 of the upgraded Bison and Bis variants, all these jets are scheduled to be phased out within the next two to three years. MiG 21 will be replaced by the home grown LCA Tejas. Mig 21’s have proven their might overtime and have completed some of the most difficult missions possible by a fighter jet. But the MiG 21 is a aging platform that has crosses its shelf life. The replacement program for MiG 21 was conceived but is materializing only now. A stop gap measure was totally out of question owing to the cost and the setback LCA would receive it was ever to happen.

 Many other nations currently operate MiG 21 in their fleet, notably Syria which is using it against ISIS. Syria has lost only three fighter jets over these years. The reason for crash was the missiles and rockets targeted at them by ISIS extremists. Is the maintenance of aircraft to be blamed for this? The facts themselves speak out, India lost over four MiG-21 at the same time Syria lost three but all three were lost in hostile environments. But out MiG-21 were on routine sorties and not on active combat duty.

Not much changes with the advanced version of Mikoyan series IAF operates. The back bone and the most advanced jets of our air force the ‘Flankers’ have their own story to narrate. Right from the induction phase flankers have had problems with their engines and fly-by wire technology. IAF has repeatedly raised this issue with HAL the primary maintainer for Indian jets. 

      HAL has in turn requested Russian firms to resolve the issue. The solution worked out by Russians is yet to be inducted in to our jets leaving them vulnerable. IAF flies more than 200 Su-30 which are to guarantee ‘air-superiority’ for the nation, six Su-30 have crashed so far since their induction into the force. Russian’s till date have lost only a single flanker till date which was attributed to a pilot error.  Again a question rises as to what is the issue?

What can be the reason for these crashes?

     The very first step in IAF has a huge and unaddressable problem, lack of training to the future guardians. IAF is the fourth largest air force in the world, yet lacks a reliable trainer jet. Basic, intermediate and advanced platforms are missing in the air force, the Hawk is being inducted in large numbers. Pilatus is also being induced but when the pilots are to operate the most advanced jets will this really help? Most of our jets are based on Russian technology but the training is held mainly in western jets, will this not compromise the knowledge and skill of our pilots? 

       Issue with maintenance is another reason IAF to worry of. The availability rate of Su 30 MKI is currently 50%, meaning of the 200 odd Su 30 MKI less than 100 jets are in flying condition. The aircraft are checked and re-checked before taking to the skies, soon after landing the pilots are required to note down even the minute changes in the system. And it is up to the maintenance team from then to get the aircraft to its best possible state. IAF has raised its concern with the number of ground staff available for maintaining these jets.

     The spare parts issue has also haunted IAF for years, with jets being imported from other countries IAF again has to depend upon these nations for maintaining the jets.  The contracts for the spare parts are contracted and sub contracted which turns out to be a big issue in the whole story. The procurement of these crucial parts is a long and cumbersome process and has to be cleared by various offices before being finally cleared for procurement. 

     These long pending delays usually cripple the operations of the jet. All IAF jets have to undergo scheduled maintenance at regular intervals to make sure the jets are in the best possible conditions. HAL usually contracts these key functions to private companies who in turn sub contract the work thus crippling the work cycle a certain authority is not maintained. The contracts rely upon HAL for procuring spares and HAL again has to look up to the base countries of the jet to dispatch the spares thus delaying the whole work.

     The other problem can be the flying hours attained by the jet, the service availability issue was a very critical problem in the last regime.  50% availability is extremely low considering the age of the jets. A single hour of flight can cost well over a million.  Are our jets really clocking the mandated flying hours?

      The new government is now drawing up plans to boost our aerospace industries. HAL is up for a major revamp at the same time the IAF has to receive a free hand in the maintenance issues. Just inducting newer aircraft to the fleet will not serve the purpose, IAF and the Indian government has to stress on maintaining these muscular beasts in the best of the possible forms.

Editor - Karthik Kakoor

Jaguar DARIN III

Jaguar DARIN III

The Jaguar from IAF

     

     Developed for close air support and deep penetration bombing primarily for the French and Britain forces is a very reliable piece of hardware. The jets were originally inducted as trainer jets in 1960. Soon the need was felt for using the jet as a fulltime war machine. The jet was equipped with supersonic capabilities, recon pods and tactical nuclear capabilities. The Indian forces were approached with the design as early as 1968 but India rejected the offer. In 1978, India choose Jaguar rejecting the Dassault fielded Mirage F1 and the Saab Viggen and ordered 40 jets in fly away condition and 120 jets to be built in India under licence by HAL at an estimated $1 billion.

        Jaguar is one of the best ground attack platforms. The Jags have had a very reliable operational history and there have not been a single loss of Jag during the operation. Most of the foreign countries already withdrew Jaguar from its front line without getting more advanced platform relying on the underperforming Tornado.

        But India acted more brilliantly; India is unknown to run aircrafts well above their shell life with regular mid life up gradation programs. The Jaguar has already completed two MLU, and is now heading for their third MLU. The Darin (Display Attack Ranging Inertial Navigation) is going to be one of the notable features to be clubbed to the existing avionics jaguar package, Jag currently lacks a reliable Radar system instead uses the IRST (Infrared Search and Track ) and state of the art OLS(Optical Locator Systems). India is currently equipped with three different variants, the maritime version charged with the surveillance of the coast and the Deep Penetration bomber currently in use with the Air force and the one under Strategic Forces Command for tactical nuclear strikes.

       The air force version is equipped with ground attack munitions, Martel ARM along with R 550 Magic Air to Air Missiles and two on board cannons.  Primarily used for deep penetration, SEAD DEAD and Close Air support one of the best platforms in Indian Air force with good Combat Radius. In lo lo lo profile mission with two Martel ARM missiles it can strike targets beyond 1000 km.

       The Darin III allows the Jaguar can carry new generation weapon systems like new generation ASRAAM Air to Air missiles more powerful AGM 88 HARM missiles for SEAD role, more powerful LGB/PGM's with CBU-105 (Censor Fuzed Weapon). The Jaguar comes with RLG inertial navigation and a digital terrain mapping system which is a very good alternative to terrain hugging and avoidance Radar systems.

         The Jaguar also comes with Israeli Litening pods for better recon and pin point ground attack missions with using of LGB/PGM. The DARIN III comes with IADS suites which allow the Jaguar escape from any kind of Airborne and Ground threats.

         The Maritime version comes with Radar named Agave which can fire Sea Eagle Anti Ship missile, a primary maritime strike aircraft for IAF. This can be upgraded into DARIN III Standard with newer Israeli ELTA Radar, which is capable to fire the new Generation Harpoon Anti Shipping Missiles from Jaguar IM Aircraft. HAL has already completed the DARIN III Upgrade of Jaguars and IAF has accepted its performance and IAF will soon receive the upgraded Jaguar from HAL.




          The SFC Jaguars comes with nuclear strike Missions. Currently IAF have only one certified Aircraft which can carry nuclear bombs. More than 20+ Aircraft's are under SFC control and are capable of carrying out nuclear Gravity bombs.

       The first flight of the Jagaur D3 took place in 2012, IAF was not satisfied with the mission computers and engines.  Rolls Royce or Honeywell Engine will be selected later and would power the aircraft with improved capabilities. HAL carried out successful first flight of Jaguar air force strike version in March 2015. The primary mission stat reports are awaited.

 

The Jaguar DARIN III Upgrade components

Jaguar DARIN III Upgraded Flight

Editor Kathik Kakoor 

Harpoon AShM and Jaguar

Harpoon AShM and Jaguar

               

The Maritime Jaguar

The AGM-84 Harpoon Missile

               With another leap of Boosting Sea Denial India Plans to Equip Harpoon Block 11 missiles on board the Maritime Fleet of Jaguar Air Craft . DRDO already making plans to integrate the Harppon Anti Shipping Missile into the Jaguar Aircraft soon we will see some of our Jaguar Aircraft's can carry such Missiles on Broad to make serious head Ache to the Enemy Fleet.

                      Initially Speaking Harpoon is a Sea Skimming Missile which fly just above the sea water .So it's hard to detect by Enemy Ship's Radar.And It using Active Radar Homing to keep track the Target vessel upto the Impact .with carrying a Bunch of some 200+ Kilo grams of High Explosives .the Harpoon penetrate the Hull to make Massive damage to the Enemy vessel.at range of Nearly of 120+ Kilo Meters which is a Safe distance of Launching the Missile at Stand off Range .Most of the Ship's SAM rang Just below some 60 Kilo meters .So the Air Craft can stay out of the  SAM Range.

                The Harpoon missile also carried by India's Latest ASW Plane the P 8 I Posiden .The P 8 can carry four of Harpoon Missile .Another in a row Indian Navy's HDW Class Diesel Electric Shishumar class submarines .The SSK uses Tube Launched version of Harpoon missile.

           Adding the Harpoon with Jaguar and Brahmos with MiG 29 and Super Sukhoi .Indian Sea's are more secured .

Indian P8 with Four Harpoon's on under wing Pylons

           Most of the American Allies use the Harpoon Anti Shipping Missile which is Developed by Boeing.Harpoon have Shore Based Ship Based Submarine Based and Fighter Based Variants.

US Navy F 18 with Four Harpoon . © Boeing