Ashley Again, IAF is in Crisis

Ashley Again, IAF is in Crisis

The famous think tank who behind the stronger military relationship between India and US, once again wrote a column focusing the Indian Air force's low number of operational fighters. He wrote this column with the proper inputs input ex IAF officials like AM Mathershwaran, and Indian Navy official like Adm Arun Prakash.

He comes with good points by showcasing how bad is the Indian air force, and what are the options left to revamp the modernization program. He not only blamed the low squadron number, he insisted the problematic force structure along with crippled acquisition and modernization programs. where rival forces Pakistan and China is in full swing to modernize their air inventory.

China and Pakistan field about 750 advanced air defense/multirole fighters against the IAF’s 450-odd equivalents. The airfield infrastructure limitations in Tibet, however, prevent China from bringing all of its air capabilities to bear against India. Yet after 2025, China could be able to deploy anywhere between 300 and 400 sophisticated air craft against India, in addition to the 100 to 200 advanced fighters likely to exist in Pakistan by then.

The IAF’s likelihood of reaching its 2027 goal with a high proportion of advanced fighters is poor. It is stymied by serious constraints on India’s defense budget, the impediments imposed by the acquisition process, the meager achievements of the country’s domestic development organizations, the weaknesses of the higher defense management system, and India’s inability to reconcile the need for self-sufficiency in defense production with the necessity of maintaining technological superiority over rivals.

All three tiers of the IAF are currently in trouble. The Tejas Mark 1 is handicapped by significant technological deficiencies; the prospects for expanding the MMRCA component to compensate for the Tejas’s shortcomings are unclear; and the IAF’s reluctance to proceed fully with the PAK-FA program could undermine its fifth generation fighter ambitions.

The IAF should revisit some aspects of its current approach. It should be cautious about expanding the Tejas acquisition beyond six squadrons and consider enlarging the MMRCA component with the cheapest fourth-generation-plus Western fighter available. India should also reassess the decision to develop the AMCA indigenously and avoid weakening the collaboration with Russia on the PAK-FA program.

India should expand its investments in advanced munitions, combat support aircraft, electronic warfare, physical infrastructure, and pilot proficiency all current strengths while being realistic about its domestic capacity to produce sophisticated combat air craft. Indian policymakers must especially guard against the temptation to prioritize indigenous design and manufacture over the imperative of providing the IAF’s able pilots with the best fighters available.

Like China, the IAF possesses various combat support platforms, but its airborne warning and control systems (AWACS) and its aerial refueling aircraft in particular are still too few in number to support effective air operations on a sustained basis around the Indian subcontinent. The IAF operates a small number of medium UAVs for tactical reconnaissance and maintains some armed drones, such as the Harpy, for the suppression of enemy air defenses.

When the number of aircraft actually operational on any given day is accounted for, the IAF’s numerical superiority over the PAF is less than two-to-one, way below the advantageous ratio necessary to underwrite the IAF’s obligations against both Pakistan and China and representing a considerable degradation in comparison to the 1980s, when the IAF enjoyed close to a three-to-one superiority over the PAF.

With all PAF F-16s likely to be eventually brought up to the Block 52 standard and equipped with the C5+ version of the potent AIM-120 A2A Missile, the force will have acquired a formidable BVR air combat capability.

If the PAF’s plans come to fruition with the acquisition of additional F-16s and new fifth generation
Chinese J-31s—something Islamabad is working frantically to procure—the Pakistani air arm could end up with a decent three-tier multirole force a decade or so from now. Based on discussions taking place between Pakistan and China and between Pakistan and the United States,

the PAF in the not-too-distant future could operate some 40 J-31 stealth fighters at the high-end; some 100 F-16s armed with among the best U.S. beyond visual- range air-to-air missiles and other advanced air-to-ground munitions, and possibly complemented by a smaller number of Chinese J-10s in the middle; and as many as 250 JF-17s at the low end.

Even the least capable fighter in this lineup, the JF-17, is an effective combatant: it is capable of all-weather operations against both air and surface targets, its aerodynamic performance compares favorably with that of the Indian Tejas, and the later units of its class will likely be armed with advanced Western sensors, weapons, and defensive systems.

The entire reports has lot of information's. and one can download the report from here 

Why IAF rejected MiG 35 Fulcrum F

Why IAF rejected MiG 35 Fulcrum F

Many in the social media claiming that the MiG 35 is the better low cost option to ramp up the number of fighter jets in Indian Air force, without knowing the actual reason behind why IAF didn't said any words about MiG 35. Russian fighters are good, but not suits for modern Indian requirements. The air fighting evolved since years that dog fighting replaced with long range BVR missiles.

During the initial days of MMRCA evaluation, IAF rejected American F 16 and Swedish Gripen as a reason of single engine. the first lesson for the contenders that IAF clearly looking the modern fighter should fight in the dense condition, even if the IR guided missiles burst the engine, the fighter need to be return to base without being crashed.

During evaluations, MiG 35 was forced out, without even tested by IAF in many conditions, This is recently declassified by the MiG CEO, which was published in IDRW .  This due to some reasons, one is during the evaluation trails two MiG 29's crashed in Russia, which forced all MiG 29 grounded. This issue also well addressed by live fist in early 2010. The detailed information explained by Shiv aroor and posted in Livefist .

The IAF's intentions is clear, that they don't want the MiG platforms so the Russian planes. This due to the IAF's serious discussion after the evolving ground threats and need of good close air support platform. Here many think dumb bombs can easily worked out. However this is not true, A fighter needs to be visually identifies the ground target before dropping bombs.

The Americans and the Western fighters doing this since decade after learning lessons in Gulf war. Pakistan and China has massive number of mobile platforms like Artillery's and Tanks. A good fighter with loads of LGB can only stop the enemy's offensive platforms.

The MiG or the Su 35 can't do this. Russians has different operating procedure, their main objective is defend the Russian air space from enemy fighters and provide air cover to the ground troops. The reason why Russia using so many Fighter jets and interceptors and operating very less number of ground attack jets like Frogfoots.

The Indian air force expanded it's capabilities from defensive mission into air offensive and close air support. Currently India has enough number of such fighter aircraft's. 300 of Su 30 MKI and another 60 MiG 29 UPG is enough for such mission. More over Indian air space is heavily guarded by long range missiles like Barak ( upcoming ) and Akash SAM systems. So the Indian air space is well protected by those layered defensive networks.

Those SAM's has highest availability rate and operating costs too very low, compared to a fighter jet. The Europeans are more smart in this field that they understand in the SAM theory, so they moved into multi role fighter jets and deploying more SAM systems.

The IAF is so happy with the usage of western fighter jets like Jaguar and Mirage 2000 and planned to keep those fighters upto 2030. those fighters are very good in precision bombing missions. they were upgraded and can provide close air support to the ground units in anytime, day night and any tough weather conditions.

Here too the Russian fighters do carry such precision guided munitions. But they were so costlier and they can't fly very low to drop those bombs. IAF can equip sixteen LGB's in a western platform with the cost of single MiG 29 or Su 30 MKI armed with one Kh 25 missile. hardly the Russians using the Missiles for precision strike and West uses bombs.

The Russians too tried GLONASS guided bombs, which is combat proven in Syrian civil war. However they were never comes closer to the western PGM's accuracy. PGM used to hit stationary targets, while LGB used to strike mobile targets. for both LGB and PGM, west uses Bombs, Russia uses Missiles for moving targets, and uses guided bombs for stationary targets. 

Lets assume a mission, a friendly forces operating with several armors and infantry units surrounded by large enemy column. The Infantry man calls for an close air support mission and the location also identified.  Fighter jets are usually very fast, they can cross some 400 kmph at minimum speed, The battle is encircled at some five square kilometers.

So the hard job for the Fighter jet is to identify the enemy targets, and escape from MANPAD threats. Usually two to eight fighter jets assigned to perform the task. So these fighter jets must be equipped with modern sensor suites to defeat the MANPAD threats and modern EO systems to identify the enemy targets in the grounds.

As one more the enemy targets are highly mobile, and they were close to the friendly units. One hard thing should be understand everyone, that our ground troops ill equipped to mark the enemy troops, the recent acquisition of multi purpose binoculars are the only option to laze the enemy target and directly feed into the fighter jets mission computer.

Once the identification acquired from the ground troops they cross check the info by checking their own. for that they need to be fly low and slow. Few fighter jets are performed this mission, like Tornodo, F 15, F 18 and the Rafale. Hardly no Russian jets can perform such mission. they hits many stationary objects in Syria, but no identities of mobile targets. US on the other side performed some good mission by destroying many mobile targets and convoy's.

India is not going to fight against militia or poorly equipped army's, India needs to fight against two modern army's even in tough terrain condition. So CAS will be achieved with modern multi purpose fighters like Rafale. not the air superiority fighters like MiG 29 or 35.

The US offers Fighter Jets under Make in India

The US offers Fighter Jets under Make in India

   From Sweden to France, now the Americans also stepping in to push co develop a fourth generation Fighter jet with India. the US ambassador to India Richard said just before the eve of Independence day, eying the  depleting squadron strength and numbers ,delay in the Rafale contract and delay in the LCA Tejas Projects. as government has no idea about what they doing, since one year zero number of new Aircraft's added, except the earlier signed Sukhoi productions from HAL's plant, and previously signed deal with US and Russia,

  So far the new government hasn't cleared a single aircraft deal, even Helicopters or the Cargo fleet and the said MMRCA, The IAF sounding about the depleting squadron strength and lack of new fighters to counter both Chinese and Pakistani Air force, after cancelling the Rafale deal, Sweden tried to push the Gripen for co develop by cancelling the LCA Tejas projects both mark 1 and 2 version, Sweden also promised to help the HAL and ADA to develop the AMCA later, Sweden tried as much as possible to seal the Indian Requirement of new fighter jets, But government neglected.

   As informed in the Parliament by the Defense Minister, during the period of May 2014 to Feb 2015, the Government signed 18 defense contracts with foreign vendors, without listing the deals, but it has no deal of procuring any helicopters Fighter jets or UAV's,

  

    It's something like if you have a requirement in huge numbers, then every sellers will comes out and offer something, the same earlier the US offered the Scorpion light attack craft, when defense minister announces, If Tejas fails some other light Aircraft will replace Required LCA numbers, the IAF rejected almost all foreign proposals of joint manufacturing and everything, they Just need the Rafale for medium and the improved Tejas for Light Aircraft, they don't want the Su 35 or anything, But the government still not acknowledged what the IAF wants, even the IAF top brass said we have no other plans.

  But Just now, the US ambassador sounded that US interested to build the proven F 16 platform in India, called the F 16 IN the block 60 variant, who was lost the MMRCA race with others, F 16 is a proven platform no doubt on this, even the newer Block 60 is much more good, and the Block 60 isn't a Light Aircraft but a good medium multi role Aircraft, with improved Engine and AESA Radar. Since IAF insists, the Light aircraft can be single engined that's the LCA Tejas, and IAF already plans to induct the LCA in big numbers, either Mark 1 or 1A or the 2, so there is no room for foreign Light Aircraft requirement in IAF arsenal.

   The requirement is the Medium Aircraft, where IAF already sticks with the Rafale, Just like as IAF policy, spend the money on Rafale or don't waste your money on other fighters, which is a Good Multi role Fighter, as Listed Rafale followed by Typhoon, F 18 Super Hornet and the American F 15 Strike eagle, the F 15 SE comes under the Heavy category.

   Even if the US offered the Super Hornet, IAF needs a major transformations, from IAF bases to IAF Personnel, The IAF pilots and ground crews are more familiar to the Russian and French Aircraft, but not with the American fighters, It's completely a new systems, as they need to learn about operating their missiles, storing in a safe location, hanger operation and Flight operations with US hardware's, also IAF need to invest another big round of money to buy the US standard Air to Air and Air to ground munitions, since IAF uses the Russian Missiles for Sukhoi and MiG variants, French missiles for Mirage 2000, European and Israeli missiles for Jaguar and Indian Israeli missiles for Indian made Tejas,

    IAF crew has enough training to operate with standard French aircraft and missiles since they use French systems in decades, so just a refresh training is enough them to operate with the Rafale, but same opposite when comes to American platform. so the American plans won't work for Indian MMRCA requirement.

IAF almost accepted the Rafale, so They will decline whatever fighters proposed by anyone.  

.

MMRCA Ver 2.0 Soon

MMRCA Ver 2.0 Soon

   There is a buzz doing the round at the Raksha Mantri establishment coming from a reliable source that government of India will soon announce a new MMRCA tender to procure some 90 Combat Jets under make in India scheme to replace the mother of all deals to procure 126 MMRCA which was officially scrapped some days back when the decision was intimated in written submission in parliament by the defense Minister.

   The new MMRCA tender to buy 90 combat Jets could be Light or a medium category or mix of both to be manufactured in India under Make in India campaign of the NDA govt. The present deal is not yet official and it's speculative in nature however the sources that leaked this information are very reliable.

   The real reason behind the cancellation of the earlier MMRCA deal or the Rafale deal is the cost issue, as French accepts all Indian conditions by transferring almost all top french latest state of the art technologies, they ask more money to transfer the said technologies. The actual Rafale deal was to buy 18 or a Squadron of fighters from French firm Dassault, the remaining balance some 108 numbers was to be built in India at HAL's production center, 50% of the deal value to be invested back in India, and 100% Transfer of Technology(ToT) under the make in India policy.

    Unfortunately because of the cost escalation, initial $12 billions to $15 billions, the government of India had issue with payment due to budgetary limitation, add to that was the bone of contention between HAL and Dassault. Dassault wanted to manage HAL's assembly line in India, where as HAL opposed Dassault's supervision in their work. Offset clause which Dassault disagreed was to take full responsibility of quality of HAL produced Rafale. A complex contract was under negotiation by both Vendors with no end in sight. Since IAF strongly pitches Rafale the reason being IAF's familiarity with the French made Mirage Aircraft for multi role mission more than the HAL made Su 30 MKI Aircrafts.

Let's look at the complex issues.

• The Government of India had budget limitation,
• HAL's wouldn't want direct Supervision,
• Dassault couldn't guarantee Aircraft's quality without direct supervision and
• IAF's was in urgent need of Multi role Combat Aircrafts

    The above negotiations hit the road block that led to the Government's cancellation of the earlier Rafale deal and went for a direct purchase of Rafale Aircraft. The direct purchase of the shelf of 36 Rafales has been valued around $5 billions including the weapon system (hundred each of MICA EM, IR and Meteor missile costs half a Billion, and the CNC ask Dassault to accommodate the Indian made Astra BVR missile in the Rafale's arsenal, that adds up additional cost while Countries like Egypt and Qatar signed deal within a month with Dasault it's only with India that the feal could not be finalised(We all know in the past during the UPA regime delay was amplified due to scam/kickback fear)

   The IAF insist the Government their requirement to field more than 8 squadrons of medium fighters as the current in principle arrangement of two squadrons is not enough.

    With the continuous pressure from the IAF, it's expected that the government will once again float a tender to acquire 90 aircrafts under make in India. It's clear that IAF will select the Rafale, there were many reasons why IAF selects the Rafale, from it's size to it's flying capability, multi role mission, 4++ generation platform etc. A simple example in favour of Rafale is most IAF hangers are built to house the early MiG variants, usually they are small and compact enough to fit in small size concrete shelters, but they don't have enough room to accommodate much larger fighters like Su-30 MKI.

    The Rafale is small in size which can perfectly fit in the existing shelters. Other Contenders like Sweden's Saab Gripen and MiG 35 is out of the race because of many reasons, in Gripen's case it's engine comes from the US and it's a single engine aircraft, when use in low level most single engine fighters have problems despite foreign objects in the jet intakes and jet air flow, but with the twin engines the survivability increases by 100%. The MiG 35 is still in production so combat worthiness is still a subject of debate Or in plain simple words it's not yet battle proven; there is no clear information about the AESA radar, major issues are the Russian Engine is not quite upto the mark when compare to their Western competitors, Russian electronic attack capabilities much lower than the western and American ones.

    The advantages of Russian Planes are they are more maneuverable than the western and American fighters and enjoy's aerodynamic superiority. Having said that those shortfalls were compensated by advance tracking and missile system possessed by the western and American fighter planes. If low cost fighter was the sole consideration the Mig 35 is the sure winner unfortunately IAF annual bill for maintenance cost more than the procurement cost as CAG Reports mentioned that and the combat readiness of the fighter Jets stays somewhere between 60% to 70%, meaning out of 100 numbers of MiGs which are operational only 60 or 70 are combat ready. For eg. if IAF asks the MiG 35 to do one more sortie before the Night, the ground crew will take another 2 hours to complete the ground clearance, the Rafale is the only fighter that can do more number of sorties than all other fighters, and can be configured quickly for different roles so it's a true multi role fighter.

.

'Make in India' for 90 medium combat jets

'Make in India' for 90 medium combat jets

    In another major step towards self reliance in the defence sector, a plan is being finalised to produce 90 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) in India, informed sources said.

   A Request for Proposal (RFP) is expected to be drafted soon after the new Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) comes in place.

   Expected to be one of the biggest projects under the Make in India campaign, the cost of the programme is expected to be around $30 million, the sources said.

   The Indian Air Force requires 126 MMRCAs. With India getting into an agreement with France to get 36 Rafale fighter jets in flyaway condition, there was a lack of clarity on how the rest of the gap will be filled.

   The sources said that now these remaining jets will be made in India, in what will be a major step in domestic manufacturing of such aircraft.

   According to the sources, the air force does not have enough squadrons in the event of a joint war with Pakistan and China.

   "An RFP is expected to be drafted soon for making 90 MMRCAs in India. A global tender will be floated. The private sector will also have an active participation," said an official from the defence ministry.

   As many foreign bidders were in the race when India set out to buy 126 MMRCAs, for which Dassault Aviation, the makers of Rafale, was finally chosen, the sources said all original bidders will be invited.

   The list of fighters that were in competition for the MMRCA bid included Russia's MIG-35 (RAC MiG), Swedish Gripen, Dassault, American Lockheed Martin and Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet and Eurofighter Typhoon made by a consortium of British, German, Spanish and Italian firms.

   The sources said that out of the 90 aircraft, 54 will be single-seaters and the remaining 36 tandem-seaters.

  There will be an option of acquiring 45 additional fighters as a follow-up order.

   The Indian Air Force is expected to be down to 32 squadrons by the end of this year, 576 fighter jets short of the 750-strong fighter jet fleet required as per vision documents to face simultaneous two-front wars with Pakistan and China.

    At least three squadrons of the vintage Soviet origin MiG-21 and MiG-27 single engine aircraft are scheduled to be phased out.

Article Published in  Times of India

Suitable MiG 21 Replacement

Suitable MiG 21 Replacement

MiG 21 Bison Aircraft

       The long awaited answers for the ever troubled MMRCA deal aka ‘The mother of deals’ has been officially announced by the Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar who has said the MMRCA will seize to exist. The Modi led government has lighted up the path for the landing of the crucially needed Rafale’s by negotiating a $4 billion deal with the French according to which IAF will be acquiring 36 Rafale’s in fly away condition from France. 

       But this bold move for doing away with 36 jets has failed to answer the needs of the IAF. The problem of replacing the MiG 21 with a reliable light combat aircraft has been unanswered, LCA Tejas designated as a replacement to the work horses MiG 21 is now years behind the schedule. 

   Tejas by now was expected to be serving the forces and if HAL has struck to the old plans the aircraft would have entered its first MLU (Mid Life Upgrade) but yet the program is to materialized and IAF waiting to receive its first squadron of the Tejas. Tejas is now in the lime light and received the crucial clearance for serial production and IAF will soon be armed with the first squadron of the Tejas in this fiscal year.

         HAL, the state owned aerospace pioneer has been struggling to provide India with a reliable LCA for long. HAL is already overburdened with projects that when completed promise to provide with a formidable punch. Any more projects awarded to HAL will only take out the dipping resources from the company’s work force.

    Hence asking HAL to build the MMRCA will result in further more delays than what has been witnessed till date. HAL would need 2.7 more times to build a single fighter jet than what is taken by Dassault in France. Dassault would be rolling out the third Rafale when HAL would just be completing a single Rafale. What the Indian population has to understand here is the technologies used in the manufacturing of a ‘Fighter jet’ is the best available in the industry.   

       Mr.Parrikar has stated LCA will replace the MiG 21 if no other single engine fighter can replace the existing fleet of the MiG 21 leaving enough pressure on the HAL to work will all its might to stick to the revised deadline for the LCA project.

        Light fighters have a unique set of capabilities, with light weight as its main stay the fighter enjoys a very high degree of maneuverability and the infrastructure required for the operation of these jets is too less.

        The requirements of IAF by these aircraft are not merely to replace what role the MiG 21 was playing the force but IAF expects these jets to perform wide array operations that will effectively reduce the need for other specialized aircraft. 

   The desired Combat Air Patrol (CAP) of the aircraft is around 100 minutes. The aircraft should be able to carry a wide array of armaments. The aircraft should accommodate around 10 A to A missiles and shall also make dedicated space for Ground attack munitions which are crucial for CAS missions. 

     Lighter platforms can turn out to be effective means for reconnaissance missions and provide continuous support to the forces. The combat radius of the aircraft is desired to be around the 1000 km circle from its base of operation, the aircraft is also desired to have a very less reaction time and the aircraft is believed to enjoy a very high QRA thus providing the support to the forces when it is crucial.

       The LCA Tejas is a multirole light fighter powered by a single engine capable of accommodating a single crew. The LCA is a supersonic fighter developed by the state owned HAL. Tejas is a product of the LCA program that was conceived in 1969 by the Indian government, for better management of this program the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) which was formed after the merger of over 100 defence labs, industrial organizations and various other eminent institutions which would guide HAL in the making of this indigenously developed jet. 

  The project was to be developed indigenously developed and the government expected about 70% of the components in LCA to be manufactured in India and the dependence on imported components used to be progressively reduced in the coming years.     

      The design for the LCA was completed by 1990 and was designed as a small tailless delta winged aircraft with relaxed static stability and modern control configurations that could provide a very high degree of maneuverability to the aircraft.

    Dassault aviation of France was selected as the consultant for the project and would manage the projects progress and would also provide assistance to India. The first phase of the project was started in 1993 and concentrated on the designing, development and testing of two technology aircraft. The aircraft finally took to skies by January 2001 promising India of an indigenously developed jet. 

      The second phase was started around November 2003 and would be the last stage in which prototype aircraft would take to skies and would be very technically advanced products which would incorporate the developed anomalies that were witnessed in the first prototype. The project after being delayed for long has now materialized and has enjoyed a good track record. 

      HAL has for now build various prototype that have evolved to a very technical advanced product, each new prototype has adapted battle deciding technologies. On 25th April of 2007 after a glorifying ceremony the first limited series production aircraft coded LSP-1 completed its first flight in Bangalore. 

      Extensive trials aboard this aircraft were carried out checking the reliability of the aircraft. The navy version also took to skies in 2010 paving the way for a naval version of the Tejas.  In 2010 LCA project had a major leap with four more LSP taking to skies and were awarded the crucial IOC.  

     Tejas received its all crucial IOC-II by the end of 2014. With various tests being conducted throughout India involving the weapons system, sensors, propulsion units and various other subsystems the aircraft is expected to handed over its FOC (Final Operation Clearance) by the end of this year. 

 

LCA Tejas in a Air to Air Config

Multirole Payload

 Editor Karthik Kakoor

36 Fly away Rafales for India

36 Fly away Rafales for India 

     The Prime Minister of India asked the French President to deliver 36 Rafale Aircraft's as soon as Possible, that means The PM wants those 36 Rafales quickly.

          The deal wasn't signed yet, but the Joint Announcement made the 36 Numbers, that's why there is no information about Price, Model, Delivery and Weapon Pacakages. 

         The French President Hollande said Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian would travel to India soon to finalise the deal.

            Also Dassault Cheif Eric Trappier also feels good about the Deal of Supplying Rafales to 60 years of long time customer India. 

        Some Indian Defence Officials said this contract is different from MMRCA, and the MMRCA still negotiations, 

          Some sources said the MMRCA grow from 126 to 144 , while the 18 Fly away condition Rafale doubled by 36. 

    The Rafael Model Expected as F 3 Version, also comes with Bunch of Weapons Package, along with Powerful RBE 2 AESA Radar  

      the Deal not yet signed, but the rush of urgency, IAF would recive atleast two Rafales before the End of the Year.

          Also some French Sources said, Dassault could deliver the current Indian, Egypt French Orders before 2019. 

         There were plenty of very important Nuclear, Energy, Counter Terrorism Agreements also Signed.