Undoubtedly there have been some questionable decisions made over time, but most of the diversity in India’s fielded platforms and programs is simply a consequence of its diverse relationships and strategic imperatives, and rapid economic and national development. On the latter point, China is the most comparable nation, and there too we see the consequences in the form of what would otherwise be a strange and eclectic mix of aircraft, ranging from J-7s and Q-5s through JH-7s, J-10s and J-11s, to J-20 and UCAV prototypes — all at the same time. Same in the field of AWACS where China has four or five different types. These are growing pains, and reflect the dynamism underlying both powers. It would be as foolish for India to try and replicate the consolidation and efficiency of e.g. the UK armed forces as it would be for the UK to emulate India’s eclectic mix.

You are right, India has had reason for such a diverse fleet, such as strategic considerations and diplomacy, but this has effected the IAF in a negatve wayas you then have the politicians running the show and not the IAF. I ‘m pretty certain any senior IAF officer would want to drastically cut back on the number of types.

The comparison with China is unfair. The J-20 and UCAVS are designed to replace the J-7s and Q-5s, as is the J-10. Furthermore almost of China’s efforts apart from it’s SU-27 rip offs, are home grown.

It seems IAF is turning into Arab airforce. start with Hawk trainer/C-130/C-17/A-330MRT/Rafale. This will proved to very costly to maintain and upgrade.

It will fly even higher with production engines and best options for high altitude operations.

I doubt that is the case, the IAF has trained and experianced manpower and reguarly deploys overseas for operations, considered very competent, but you do raise a good good point.It is increasingly buying different types of aircraft for what is almost extactly the same role

Last count was the below (not even including types they are replacing like MIG-21/27)

7 different fighter types (SU-30, M2K, MIG-29, LCA, FGA/T-50, Rafale, Jaguar)

3 different AWACS (IL-76, A330, Embraer)

2 different tankers (IL-76 and A330)

6 Different light/medium/Heavy transports (AN-32 upgrade, CN-295, C-130, D0228, IL-76, C-17

The training aircraft procurment is a mishmash of buying expeensive western types and trying to order the similar aircraft from HAL to fill the same roles with very mixed success.

Essentially this will mean very few IAF pilots can simply jump into any fighter or transport. Aircraft support will be limited to a very few bases for each type (due to no standardisation). You may also end up having a two tier air force to an extent. With many pilots/bases being mainly Russian/Indian and a few being western.

Of course this has its advantages as it means no one country can hold the air force to ransom via sanctions and it does make it a pain for any enemy regarding EW. However this must surely come at a huge cost in terms of money, efficiency and manpower. I mean, you will need experianced QFIs to train pilots on 7 different fighter types. How easy will that be!!!??? Not all the types will deploy on operations or international exercises, so leads back to what I was saying that the IAF may end up with essentially first and second class citizens within its ranks

I think this has come as a project that is “too big to fail”. Every independent report finds major flaws (not that in itself is a problem, as these will happen in new projects, it just seems that lessons never get learnt) and it seems that every IAF chief after they leave the service (obviously having to tow the party line whilst in uniform) shows utter disdain for HAL and the LCA should tell us all we need to know. This was a great attempt at helping India learn lessons and build an aviation industrial base, but in terms of delivering a fighter many were comparing to the Gripen and F-16C, this has failed.

Do you think PLAAF/PLANAF were happy with their J-8s and JH-7s? Do you think they are happy to still be flying J-7s and Q-5s? The services must make do with what is available, where what is available is dictated by the whole national situation including budgets, foreign relations, development objectives, etc. China has done the hard work over the course of decades and is now all but ready to join the first rank of aerospace nations, with engines alone the sole remaining deficiency. If India ever wants to be in the same position, it too will have to do the hard yards with less than ideal indigenous solutions in the interim.

Fortunately, India can also draw on the international market to address immediate requirements in the context of the strategic environment. Of course, such international solutions are expensive, so it must necessarily be a balancing act. The fundamental requirements have been met: India has both large numbers of modern and capable combat aircraft sourced from aboard (300 Flankers and upgraded MiG-29s and Mirage 2000s, rising to 400 over the next few years with delivery of additional Flankers and handful of Rafales) and has simultaneously brought an indigenous platform to production and service entry status.

We have already covered this. The IAF needs new airframes now, not 5-7yrs down the track when Mk. 2 is ready.

I see your point on numbers, but the problem is that these LCAs with deficencies and no EW will be up against Block 52/MLU F-16s with ALQ-187 pods and ALQ-211 AIDEW systems along with JF-17 Block II/IIIs with DEEC EW suit.

You are of course right about the very capable Flankers and upgraded MIG-29s and M2Ks. My point is that the LCA will be added to squadrons that even the IAF is unwilling to declare combat ready. They may never see combat and even if they do, they will have to be accompanied by other types.

I think its best for everyone they can the LCA soon…

In its report critical of India’s defence sector, the comptroller and auditor general (CAG) on Friday warned that the Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) Mark-I could prove to be the air force’s Achilles’ heel in battle.

A second CAG report on ammunition management pointed that the army faced a massive ammunition shortage with reserves that would barely last 20 days of intense fighting. The army needs to build up its war wastage reserves for 40 days of intense fighting.

“Stocking of ammunition even at ‘minimum acceptable risk level’ was not ensured, as availability of ammunition as on March 2013 was below this level in respect of 125 out of a total of 170 types of ammunition,” the report pointed out.

Also, in 50% of the total types of ammunition, the holding was “critical” — insufficient for even 10 days of fighting.

The locally-produced fighter, Tejas, given initial operational clearance two years ago, is riddled with 53 “significant shortfalls” that could compromise its survivability in combat, said a CAG report tabled in Parliament.

The 63-page report on the LCA — a project for which Rs 13,390 crore has been sanctioned so far — indicated that LCA Mk-I pilots would be like sitting ducks in battle, vulnerable to fire from 7.62 mm machine guns, specially at the front-end of the aircraft.

There are glaring deficiencies in the warplane’s electronic warfare capabilities that could dim its chances of survival in a hostile environment.

Cautioning against the fighter’s “reduced operational capabilities,” the CAG report stated self-protection jammers could not be fitted on LCA Mk-I due to space constraints and glitches in radar warning receiver had still not been sorted out.

“The IAF would be constrained to use 40 LCA Mk-I aircraft with limited operational capabilities,” the report said. The under-development LCA Mk-II is expected to be packed with several major improvements over its predecessor.

The CAG said delay in the manufacture and supply of the LCA — a project sanctioned in 1983 to replace ageing MiG-21s — had set the IAF back by Rs 20,037 crore as it was forced to opt for temporary measures such as upgrading its existing fighter planes to counter the problem of rapid force depletion.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/army-faces-massive-ammo-shortage-reserves-only-for-20-days-of-intense-fighting-cag-report/article1-1345376.aspx

What certainly helps is the fact that anyone seriously interested in the raf has to wait longer and longer as more people sign up. India has still not signed, so its planes will be behind Egypt and Qatar. If by some miracle UAE now decide they dont want to wait either that could add another 2 years to India getting to India getting its planes. Even the French Air Force wont be willing to give up that many of its own aircraft. Could be a little domino effect causing panic and helping Dassault….

China to deliver 50 more JF-17s to Pakistan

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/163136/china-to-deliver-50-more-jf_17-fighters-to-pakistan.html