Mirage 2000H, MiG-29UPG, Jaguar DARIN III - Medium Multirole Aircraft of IAF
- Thread starter Ashwin
- Start date
With MK 1A getting delayed as usual
AND MiG 21s getting phased out
We will need to order more MIG 29s
For maintaining desired number of
Squadrons
There were reports of actually fielding 34 new Mig-29s, but it seems 21 was the best we could manage.
Old Pictures from MIG just after first flight.
Jaguar DARIN-III FOC certified and production started.
By the time an indigenous engine gets certified the airframes will have completed their lives. Jaguars will continue to fly from restricted number of bases with limitations on their payload and fuel.
Jaguars are used in a Pack of 4 attack aircraft , as I have seen in Vayu Shakti Demonstrations
They just fly fast and low and are meant for Hit and Run Tactics in
Close Air Support Roles , while supporting the Army formations
They will not go deep in enemy territory
As it is the MiG-29s & the Jaguars see extremely limited usage in terms of flying hours much like the Mirages of Pakistan. Then there are our MiG-21s as well except that they'd be retired by 2024-25. We're carrying a lot of deadweights in the IAF.
Jaguars roles will be transferred to existing MKI squadrons, and retired.
MKI cannot do low level intrusion as effectively as Jaguars. It's airframe will suffer in such cases I guess. Experts can correct me if I am wrong.
Su 30 MKI for low level flights
Is it possible
This is why Tejas MK 2 is so crucial
To replace Jaguar , Mig 29 and Mirage 2000
Mig29 and M2000 are best in air defense.
The best solution to replace Jag's in air to ground mission is Rafale. It is not without reason that the main Rafale base in France, Saint Dizier, was the latest nest of the french Jaguar.
Low level deep penetration is history now. No functional AF in the world employs that in areas without air supremacy.