Indian Air Force : Updates & Discussions

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Lol. It's safe to say judging by their failing campaign in Ukraine which should have been a cakewalk... or is it piece of cake? Nvm. Where was I.... Oh yeah I don't think the US is concern about Russia taking out US SATs. And even if they do get lucky and take out one do you know how many ISR SATs US has? Also that would be Russia's only shot as Russian launchers get taken out. I wouldn't be surprised if the US has already weaponized space with orbital kinetic weapons of some kind but more than likely a weapon do defend US SATs. US was almost ready to disclose a space weapon but "something" came up.

As satellites are destroyed, more are launched. But yes, it's a cat and mouse game, and slowly, the assets of both sides will degrade. This will eventually create plenty of blindspots where both sides will operate in. Plus space can be rendered useless in the long run due to the increasing debris field.
 
Russian planes do not have the reputation for longevity. Navy has already decided to wash its hands off the MiG-29Ks after engine pains and structural defects.

IAF opted to not go for the additional MiG-29 UPG offered. Very slowly but firmly, India is moving towards western designs supplemented by own production. Tejas becoming a MiG-21 replacement, along with western planes for more serious work.

I feel Su-30s will be the last bulk Russian design in our airforce. It will be very interesting to see when IAF kicks off the Su-30 replacement program and who comes out ahead.
 
So,

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Soviet MiG-21s ‘open a hole’ in Indian squadrons’ availability

India will have to prepare for a problem that is emerging but is not being clearly addressed. The Air Force of the Asian country is facing a reduction in the number of combat aircraft in one squadron. From the 42 fighters previously in the squadron, the Indian Air Force [IAF] remains with 36 today.

The reason is the MiG-21. This fighter is technically incompatible with modern requirements. Maintaining it is becoming increasingly difficult, if not impossible, given the war in Ukraine and Moscow’s inability to supply parts.

Realistically, the MiG-21 doesn’t have what it takes today to guard Indian skies or any skies at all. The point is that the MiG-21 does not have modern systems with built-in safety mechanisms, new radars, or an electronic warfare system. The engine cannot be upgraded for a long time. These and other maintenance issues prevent the MiG-21 from being armed with modern air-to-air or air-to-ground missiles, respectively.

All the lack of maintenance has resulted in downed MiG-21s in recent years. Three MiG-21 squadrons with 50 aircraft remain. By 2026, they will have to be decommissioned.

Yes, New Delhi has decided to withdraw these fighters from its Air Force. Their path will be followed by the retirement of several older Jaguars. 12 Su-30MKIs were also supposed to fill the IAF inventory, but the order was withdrawn.

Reduction in the number of Indian squadrons is also rooted in slow and cumbersome administrative decisions, which are not even taken with normal delay. Yes, it is about 114 multi-role fighters that India wants to buy, but the order [tender] has not even been published yet. And we have known about this order not for months, but for years.

India expects 73 indigenously produced Tejas Mk1A fighter jets, which are actually light combat aircraft. That’s almost two squadrons. However, they should come sometime in 2027. At this rate of decommissioning of MiG-21s and Jaguars, the dwindling number of combat aircraft will not be replaced quickly, thereby “opening a hole” in the stockpile and unbalancing the combat capability of the IAF.

Arguably, the reason for such a delay is New Delhi’s fault. The Tejas Mk1 program has been delayed more than expected. At the same time, political controversy arose over the purchase and subsequent deal with the French and their Dassault Rafale.

Realistically, if all plans and deadlines were met, the MiG-21 should have been grounded in the mid-1990s. You can see for yourself that almost three decades of delay in all preliminary plans cannot prevent the “huge hole” that has opened up from hanging over the Indian Air Force right now.

The Indian Air Force had four MiG-21 squadrons until a year ago. One is already in history, three more to go. Initially, New Delhi’s plans were to replace the aging and retired MiG-21 with another Soviet machine of the same manufacturer – the MiG-29. However, these plans fell through, either because of the war or because of the local production of the Tejas Mk1, but the fact is that this will not happen.
 

Soviet MiG-21s ‘open a hole’ in Indian squadrons’ availability

India will have to prepare for a problem that is emerging but is not being clearly addressed. The Air Force of the Asian country is facing a reduction in the number of combat aircraft in one squadron. From the 42 fighters previously in the squadron, the Indian Air Force [IAF] remains with 36 today.

The reason is the MiG-21. This fighter is technically incompatible with modern requirements. Maintaining it is becoming increasingly difficult, if not impossible, given the war in Ukraine and Moscow’s inability to supply parts.

Realistically, the MiG-21 doesn’t have what it takes today to guard Indian skies or any skies at all. The point is that the MiG-21 does not have modern systems with built-in safety mechanisms, new radars, or an electronic warfare system. The engine cannot be upgraded for a long time. These and other maintenance issues prevent the MiG-21 from being armed with modern air-to-air or air-to-ground missiles, respectively.

All the lack of maintenance has resulted in downed MiG-21s in recent years. Three MiG-21 squadrons with 50 aircraft remain. By 2026, they will have to be decommissioned.

Yes, New Delhi has decided to withdraw these fighters from its Air Force. Their path will be followed by the retirement of several older Jaguars. 12 Su-30MKIs were also supposed to fill the IAF inventory, but the order was withdrawn.

Reduction in the number of Indian squadrons is also rooted in slow and cumbersome administrative decisions, which are not even taken with normal delay. Yes, it is about 114 multi-role fighters that India wants to buy, but the order [tender] has not even been published yet. And we have known about this order not for months, but for years.

India expects 73 indigenously produced Tejas Mk1A fighter jets, which are actually light combat aircraft. That’s almost two squadrons. However, they should come sometime in 2027. At this rate of decommissioning of MiG-21s and Jaguars, the dwindling number of combat aircraft will not be replaced quickly, thereby “opening a hole” in the stockpile and unbalancing the combat capability of the IAF.

Arguably, the reason for such a delay is New Delhi’s fault. The Tejas Mk1 program has been delayed more than expected. At the same time, political controversy arose over the purchase and subsequent deal with the French and their Dassault Rafale.

Realistically, if all plans and deadlines were met, the MiG-21 should have been grounded in the mid-1990s. You can see for yourself that almost three decades of delay in all preliminary plans cannot prevent the “huge hole” that has opened up from hanging over the Indian Air Force right now.

The Indian Air Force had four MiG-21 squadrons until a year ago. One is already in history, three more to go. Initially, New Delhi’s plans were to replace the aging and retired MiG-21 with another Soviet machine of the same manufacturer – the MiG-29. However, these plans fell through, either because of the war or because of the local production of the Tejas Mk1, but the fact is that this will not happen.

Needs Single engine fighter to replace it, in forward bases . Seems like tejas mk1A responsibility.

It's getting clear why the capacity to build 24 fighters / year when only 83 ordered.
And mk2 hasn't been rolled out yet.

Seems like quick induction.
So 3 years before the 83 gets made, we are likely to see additional Mk1A orders / Mk2 orders

Seems
 
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The IAF currently has the following SAMs in its inventory:

1. Pechora* - 25 squadrons (being modernised)
2. Akash - 07/15 squadrons
3. Spyder - 18 squadrons
4. MRSAM - 02/18 squadrons
5. S-400 - 03 /05 squadrons

In near future (~5-10 years) Pechoras will be retired and most probably replaced by Akash-NG.

The number should look something like this in next 7-10 years:

1. Akash - 15 squadrons
2. MRSAM - 18 squadrons
3. Spyder - 18 squadrons
4. S-400 - 5 squadrons
5. Akash-NG - 15-25 squadrons
6. ERADS - 07-10 squadrons
 
The number should look something like this in next 7-10 years:

1. Akash - 15 squadrons
2. MRSAM - 18 squadrons
3. Spyder - 18 squadrons
4. S-400 - 5 squadrons
5. Akash-NG - 15-25 squadrons
6. ERADS - 07-10 squadrons
In one word, formidable. Plus, entire Air Defence working under single integrated command and control(IACCS) and fused into cyber network(AFNET) along with integrating air/space based assets. Add BMD with the aforementioned as well:)

Next step would be to integrate army air defence with IAF'S IADS to complicate things even further for enemy.
 
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The IAF currently has the following SAMs in its inventory:

1. Pechora* - 25 squadrons (being modernised)
2. Akash - 07/15 squadrons
3. Spyder - 18 squadrons
4. MRSAM - 02/18 squadrons
5. S-400 - 03 /05 squadrons

In near future (~5-10 years) Pechoras will be retired and most probably replaced by Akash-NG.

The number should look something like this in next 7-10 years:

1. Akash - 15 squadrons
2. MRSAM - 18 squadrons
3. Spyder - 18 squadrons
4. S-400 - 5 squadrons
5. Akash-NG - 15-25 squadrons
6. ERADS - 07-10 squadrons
Add 6 squadrons of OSA-AK too which needs replacing.
 
The IAF currently has the following SAMs in its inventory:

1. Pechora* - 25 squadrons (being modernised)
2. Akash - 07/15 squadrons
3. Spyder - 18 squadrons
4. MRSAM - 02/18 squadrons
5. S-400 - 03 /05 squadrons

In near future (~5-10 years) Pechoras will be retired and most probably replaced by Akash-NG.

The number should look something like this in next 7-10 years:

1. Akash - 15 squadrons
2. MRSAM - 18 squadrons
3. Spyder - 18 squadrons
4. S-400 - 5 squadrons
5. Akash-NG - 15-25 squadrons
6. ERADS - 07-10 squadrons

The numbers are wrong for some. Like Spyder is 9 squadrons, as is MRSAM.

And that's way too many Akash NGs. Because of S-400, the need for shorter range missiles has fallen drastically.
 
The IAF currently has the following SAMs in its inventory:

1. Pechora* - 25 squadrons (being modernised)
2. Akash - 07/15 squadrons
3. Spyder - 18 squadrons
4. MRSAM - 02/18 squadrons
5. S-400 - 03 /05 squadrons

In near future (~5-10 years) Pechoras will be retired and most probably replaced by Akash-NG.

The number should look something like this in next 7-10 years:

1. Akash - 15 squadrons
2. MRSAM - 18 squadrons
3. Spyder - 18 squadrons
4. S-400 - 5 squadrons
5. Akash-NG - 15-25 squadrons
6. ERADS - 07-10 squadrons
Only 10-12 squadrons of Pechora upgraded. Remaining being decommissioned.
 
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