Im a novice in ABM, and have a question or two regarding this test.

Were the teacjectories for tow missiles pre planned in order for them to meet up somewhere along their pathway? If yes, then this successful testifies to the fact that Prithvi is capable of delivering its load with accuracy. If not, could it really be interpreted as part of ABM system since any anti-missile system would first have to determine the trajectory of any hostile missile itself instead of it being fed into it?

1. Yes. Preplanned trajectories. Remember, this is the first public test of this system. The second missile is NOT prithvi. There are news reports on that. Quoted as AXO, and does not fall under IGMP which consists of Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Akash, Astra and Sagarika (not acknowledged as a program).

2. Missile detection phase and trajectory calculations may be difficult, but this test decouples that phase with design of an actual missile capable of taking out a SRBM/IRBM. We are not talking about ICBMs here. With Green Pine in service, this may enable India to get a working ABM with current restrictions on Arrow 2 exports.

I thought the IOC was 2008-09? When was this pushed and how many aircraft will IOC by 2012?

Its from Farce. Enough said.

The Indian Air Force made the best use of the aircraft, but repeatedly overstated the aircrafts performance, presumably to irritate their neighbours in Pakistan.

Watchman

http://www.spyflight.co.uk/foxbat.htm

IAF’s MiG-25s were pure recc versions. Never had any capability to shoot down PAF. But it did buzz Islamabad on a few occasions.

Can it not use other assets in the area? A stealthy UAV or some such?

Pakistani Air Force: Parity with India?
It would appear ot me that Pakistan is finally getting a measure of parity with the Indian airforce. The PAF is acquiring additional F-16’s which will potentially bring the fleet up to 96 aircraft. The PAF is also set to receive 150 JF-17’s and 36 J-10’s. India on the other hand is struggling to replace older aircraft that are being retired (i.e. MiG-21FL/M, MiG-23). I seriously doubt that the LCA will enter service any time soon.

An interesting point is that most of the aircraft operated by both side are unproven. The JF-17 and F-10 are unknown quantities. The upgraded MiG-21’s of the Indian Airforce are also an unknown quantity as are the TVC Su-30MKI. We can all theorise given available statistics but these aircraft are unproven in terms of real combat experience.

I also think that the Indian airforce is hindered by the MiG-29. This aircraft has been proven to be useless in modern combat in 3 wars (Iraq 1991, Kosovo, Eritrea-Ethiopia). India’s MiG-29’s are basic 1980’s models without all the bells and whistles of the SMT or other upgraded versions and I think they’d be easy prey for PAF F-16’s. I know India is meant to be upgrading them but to what level?

You are not considering 126 – 200 (depending on which news source you follow) MRCA. There is no reason why these cannot start flying in in 3 to 4 years. IAF wants an additional 50 MKIs and M-2000s. The upgrade program for Mig29s is around $900mil. For 80+ birds, that is 12 million per plane. I know they will have newer engines (RD-33-3) and will get PGM capability. Don’t know the rest.

But the M2K actually makes use of canards

Devices placed at the front of the plane like canards, DSI and LERX spoil the air flow for the rest of the aircraft. Unless there is enough tolerances designed in the beginning to accept these things, they cannot be used. For the LCA, it would probably take a massive redesign.

M2K has canards? :confused: Where? Besides, N-LCA dropped canards as it did not provide any significant advantages

DEFEXPO on ACIG

There is another simple and genial solution developed in Warshaw pact many years ago. You just need on two or three civil or military satellites covered emmiters, that are able to emmit GPS like signals on free civil frequencies. Than everytime when you turn on GPS in selected area, you will receive chaotic and useless data about your position. You dont need to contact and ask anybody anything, you can solve it BY YOURSELF.

I think that this solution is very old and not secret anymore, so I can speak about it in public without restrictions.

Will this work with level 2 (mil grade) GPS signals? IIRC, they are encrypted.