Upgradation of IAF jets finally taking off
RAJAT PANDIT

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2002 10:57:37 PM ]

NEW DELHI: Apart from inducting more new generation multi-role fighters like Sukhoi-30MKIs and Mirage-2000s, the Indian Air Force’s ambitious plans to upgrade its “deep strike” aircraft like Jaguars and MiG-27MLs to “modern avionics standards” are now finally gathering steam after several delays.

As many as 80 of these supersonic jets are being “modernised” at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) facilities in the first phase. “The aim, reinforced by the recent 10-month forward deployment in the western sector, is to acquire greater reach and penetration capability,” said an IAF officer.
The IAF, the fourth largest air force in the world, wants to upgrade the technology profile of its strike force, in terms of `high-tech’ compared to `medium and low-tech’ aircraft, to a 50:50 ratio over the next few years.
“The MiG-27s and the Jaguars form the backbone of our strike fleet. With upgradation including advanced radars, navigation, weapon and electronic warfare systems, and precision-guided munitions these jets should be viable till almost 2020,” he added.
French and Israeli companies are part of the upgradation programme for the deep-penetration Jaguars, which also includes integration of “autopilot systems” into the aircraft. Capable of delivering tactical nuclear weapons, the Jaguars were first inducted into the IAF in 1979 and subsequently manufactured by HAL under licence.
At present, 40 of the around 100 Jaguars in the IAF’s inventory which constitute four strike and one maritime squadrons are being upgraded. “Moreover, 17 two-seater Jaguars are already under production at HAL. Twenty more strike Jaguars have also being ordered. With the IAF now getting IL-78 flight refuelling aircraft, the Jaguars will be able to operate much beyond their combat radius of 1,400 km,” said an officer.
As for the `swing-wing’ MiG-27s, the “indigenous” upgradation work on 40 of the around 150 such jets in the IAF fleet is also well underway. “It will impart greater flexibility to the aircraft. In all, around 140 MiG-27s will be upgraded to match the standards of the upgraded MiG-21 `Bisons’,” said the officer.
The modernisation programme of the MiG-27, which can carry a 4,000-kg load, includes boosting performance parameters to undertake multi-mission tasks like accurate ground attacks and stand-off precision attacks, as also increase the fighter’s `combat radius’ with in-flight refuelling. The induction of the upgraded MiG-27s is likely to begin by 2005-2006.

Not to make any side angry. I hope you all will agree that this post is more leaning towards this topic then the other. Just a copy paste but with intresting details.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/FL03Df04.html

NEW DELHI – US President George W Bush’s first tenure was good for India, and Bush II promises to be even better, with the United States formally offering a range of military hardware, including an anti-missile radar system and maritime spy planes, to India. The offer includes the much-touted Patriot anti-missile defense system that tackles aircraft and also tactical and cruise missiles, C-130 stretched medium-lift transport aircraft, P-3C Orion maritime surveillance planes, and even F-16 fighters. The US has also offered Perry-class frigates and Sea Hawk helicopters, while special-operations forces will be looking at chemical and biological protection equipment.

According to reports in the Indian media and independently confirmed by Asia Times Online, Indian Ambassador to the US Ranendra “Ronen” Sen was in New Delhi last week and discussed the US offer – as well as a proposed US arms deal with Pakistan – with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee. Sen also met with the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson, Sonia Gandhi. The hardware offer will be discussed further when US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld comes to New Delhi next week (the highest ranking official since Bush’s election victory last month to visit the subcontinent) and will also travel to Pakistan.

The US offer to sell military hardware – including the Patriot missile system – to India comes with a much deeper strategic message. India has a constant gripe against the United States’ arming of Pakistan, with the ostensible reason of taking on al-Qaeda terrorists and patrolling the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. India fears that a militarily strong Pakistan in the wake of US sanctions against the supply of similar weapons to India is a threat to its own security. Last month the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which handles all government-to-government military sales, informed the US Congress of a weapons package for Pakistan. It includes TOW anti-tank missiles, Phalanx shipborne guns and P-3C Orion long-range maritime-patrol strike aircraft at a total cost of US$971 million.

The news came as a bit of a shock to India, with Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran conveying India’s apprehension over the proposed sale to incoming US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice. What was particularly galling was the fact that the Indian navy had been in negotiation for over three years for the purchase of 12 P-3C Orions to bolster reconnaissance capabilities. India instead was offered older hand-me-down P-3B models, which it turned down.

With the latest US offer, comparing the Indian military acquisition to Pakistan’s would be redundant: if the Patriot deal goes through, it will provide the necessary strategic depth to India’s defense arsenal, making it significantly different from that of either China or Pakistan. The US offer to sell P-3C Orion naval reconnaissance aircraft is also an upgraded one with the version being offered to India the “P-3C plus”, equipped with the latest avionics and equipment systems. US officials describe it as a “maritime patrol aircraft with offensive capability”, more advanced that what Pakistan will have at its disposal. Indeed, the US proposal comes during a period when India has been warming up to the Bush administration second term as well as an unprecedented level of US-India military ties over the past couple of years. Importantly, this break from the past, wherein the US has been reluctant to supply arms to India, comes when Rice is set to take over the State Department.

However, analysts here also warn against going all the way with the US. According to defense expert Bharat Karnad, “US arms supply policies are extremely fickle and hostage to not just the White House but also a number of committees and subcommittees in the US Congress, any of which could insert a rider to an Appropriations Bill negating at well a deal cut by the executive.” There is truth in this caution; in the past the Indian navy’s entire Sea King helicopter fleet – with US components – was grounded in the face of US sanctions.

But in the current context and by all accounts, the Indian government wants to move quickly on the United States’ offer. According to a detailed report that appeared in the Indian Express, the UPA government wants Raytheon, which manufactures the Patriot system, to give a presentation; it is likely that India will accept the offer of the 30J-30 Hercules aircraft, the only medium-lift plane in its class that carries tanks and troops to battle; on the F-16 planes also offered to Pakistan, the paper said the UPA government was not likely to be interested as India already has Russian Su-30 MKIs and French Mirage 2000s. The P-3C Orion aircraft is expected to be picked up, as the Indian navy is keen to have a long-range maritime surveillance platform, with anti-submarine capabilities. It is understood that F-16 manufacturer Lockheed Martin approached the Indian Embassy in Washington with an offer after New Delhi objected to F-16 sales to Pakistan. Lockheed Martin’s representatives said India was cleared by the Pentagon for the supply of F-16s, the P-3C Orion and C-130J-30 stretched Hercules transport aircraft.

Indeed, the latest India-US entente is a culmination of the two critical components through which India is being perceived by the Bush II regime. One is purely business, with India expected to tread the path of a reciprocal partner in other purchases such as the augmenting of Air India’s passenger aircraft, which is being keenly watched in Boeing headquarters in Seattle. It is also likely that India will pitch for the Arrow missile defense system, which is a joint US-Israel effort. India has already purchased the Green Pine radar system and the Phalcon early-warning aircraft from Israel. Between the Israeli offer and the US, India is likely to bend the Washington way because of the long-term political and strategic implications attached to the purchase.

The second reason is the role that the US expects India to play in the international security structure, once US Secretary of State Colin Powell is out of the picture and Rice takes command of the foreign office. Rumsfeld, Vice President **** Cheney and Rice have never been comfortable with Powell’s even hand to China with the intention of engaging the Asian giant in trade and security matters. Powell’s China-centric Asian approach has never gone down well with the neo-conservatives who control the Bush administration. The neo-cons prefer India to act as an effective check on the military and economic might of China. Rice has also never been comfortable with Powell’s mollycoddling of Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf. Under Rice, Musharraf (who is on his way to Washington to meet with Bush) will continue to be very important to the US, but not at the cost of relations with India. With Powell out of the way, the path is clear and the arms offer is the first real indication of a more proactive India policy under Rice.

Russia, meanwhile, is far from impressed with the deal. On Tuesday, officials told Delhi that Moscow would no longer transfer any high-technology defense system to India without a pact to protect intellectual property rights, and said India’s bid to buy the United States’ Patriot anti-missile system would not work on Russian-supplied platforms.

“If India will not fully honor our interests, then there is no need to attach strings, conditions and demands from Russia not to trade [in arms] with Pakistan,” an unnamed Russian Defense Ministry source was quoted as saying by the state-run RIA Novosti agency, ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India.

Pointing out that currently, at the request of India, Moscow is not cooperating with Islamabad in the defense sector, the official said that if India does not keep Russia’s interests in mind, military ties with Pakistan can be resumed.

Not sharp but still it is one of the best pics sofar! Thanks Nirav.

I agree that India has more to spend. Bigger nation so not very strange. I doubt that PAF would not able to buy 40 gripens. Those mirages were bought cause they are familiar and it is pretty cheap for the quality. I mean compared to Chinese alternatives. The mirages are upgraded and are not bad even for these days. BTW the mirages have the same role as the IAF Jaguars. Do compare both cocpits will ya. The reason the do not have the plane yet isn’t economics. It is the situation. But knowing Indian parameters of no boycottable product. I guess the Gripen is there just a hype. I am waiting for the 125 mirages. The rest is just to get the price down.

Where did you get info that India is not intrested in Gripen and Pak is that bad that it cannot afford Gripen? 😉 :diablo:

btw the nice mki pic is PS. Shadowd on plane sugest sun above. I don’t think that the sun is at that spot for the rest of the scenery.