For a few years, the IAF has been upgrading its combat aircraft fleet to improve its operational capabilities and retain its aircraft as modern weapon platforms capable of meeting the current security challenges in our region. MiG-21, MiG-27, and Jaguar aircraft have already been modified, with Mirage-2000 and MiG-29 aircraft set to be upgraded shortly. The Indian Air Force is considering upgrading its medium-lift helicopters, which include the Mi-8, Mi-17, and Mi-17-IV, as well as the AN-32 transport plane, to improve their overall capability.
The IAF is currently undergoing a massive modernization program. More Su-30 MKI aircraft, as well as Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft, will be inducted into the force over the next few years (MMRCA). In addition, there are proposals to expand the helicopter and transport fleets. To complete its assigned tasks, the IAF is acquiring radars in different categories to meet Air Defence requirements, accurate and advanced missiles, Network Centric Warfare systems, and so on. The Indian Air Force is divided into seven commands, five of which are operational and two of which are functional.
- HQ Central Air Command in Allahabad
- HQ Eastern Air Command in Shillong
- HQ Western Air Command in New Delhi
- HQ Southern Air Command in Thiruvananthapuram
- HQ South-Western Air Command in Gandhi Nagar
- HQ Maintenance Command in Nagpur and
- HQ Training Command, Bangalore
Different Aircrafts used by the Indian Air Force:
AN-32: Russian-made twin-motor turboprop medium strategic transport airplane with a group of five and a payload limit of 39 paratroopers or 6.7 tons. It can cruise at a top speed of 530 km/hr.
AVRO: British-made twin-engine turboprop military transport and freighter with a maximum cruising speed of 452 km/hr and a capacity of 48 paratroopers or 6 tonnes freight.
Boeing 737-200: The Boeing 737-200 is a twin-engine turbofan VIP passenger plane with a seating capacity of up to 60 passengers. It was built in the United States. It will cruise at a top speed of 943 km/hr.
Cheetah: French-made single-engine turboshaft FAC/casevac helicopter capable of carrying three passengers or 100 kg external sling loads. It has a top speed of 121 km/hr and can accelerate from zero to one kilometer in four minutes.
Chetak: A single-engine turboshaft light utility helicopter from France with a seating capacity of six passengers or a payload of 500 kilograms. Its top speed is 220 kilometers per hour.
C-17: The C-17 can carry a payload of 40-70 tons over a distance of 4200-9000 kilometers in a single hop.
C-130J: The C-130J can conduct para drops, heavy drops, and casualty evacuations, as well as operate from short and semi-prepared surfaces. In August 2013, the C-130J was the heaviest aircraft to land at DBO.
Dornier: German-made twin-motor turboprop calculated air support work force transport airplane equipped for shipping 19 travelers or 2057 kg of freight. It has a maximum velocity of 428 kilometers each hour.
EMBRAER: The primary function of this executive jet aircraft is to transport VVIPs and VIPs to locations both within India and abroad. This aircraft is operated by the Air HQ Communication Squadron, which has a spotless incident/accident-free record to date.
IL-76: A Russian-made four-engine heavy-duty/long-haul military transport aircraft with a top speed of 850 km/hr. It has a twin 23 mm cannon in the tail turret and can transport 225 paratroopers or 40 tonnes of freight, as well as wheeled and tracked armored vehicles.
Jaguar: Somewhat English French twin-motor single-seater profound infiltration assault airplane with a maximum velocity of 1350 km/hr (Mach 1.3). It can carry two R-350 Magic CCMs (overwing) and 4750 kg of external stores (bombs/fuel) and has two 30mm weapons.
MI-17 V5: The Mi-17 V5 is a powerful helicopter platform with cutting-edge avionics and glass cockpit instrumentation. They have cutting-edge navigational equipment, avionics, weather radar, and NVG compatibility.
MI-26: Russian-made twin-engine turboshaft military heavy-lift helicopter with a payload capacity of 20,000 kg and a carrying capacity of 70 combat-ready soldiers. It has a top speed of 295 kilometers per hour.
MI-25/MI-35: It's a twin-engine turboshaft attack and an anti-armour helicopter that has a four-barrel 12.7 mm rotary gun in the nose barbette and up to 1500 kg of external ordnance, including Scorpion anti-tank missiles. It will cruise at a top speed of 310 km/hr.
MiG-21 BISON: The IAF's backbone is the MiG-21 BISON, a single-engine, single-seater multirole fighter/ground attack aircraft of Russian origin. It has a top speed of 2230 km/h (Mach 2.1) and is equipped with a single 23mm twin-barrel cannon and four R-60 close combat missiles.
MiG-27: Russian-made single-engine, single-seat tactical strike fighter with a top speed of 1700 km/hr (Mach 1.6). It has one 23 mm six-barrel rotary integral cannon and can externally hold up to 4000 kg of armament.
MiG-29: Russian-made twin-engined single-seater air superiority fighter capable of reaching a top speed of 2445 km/h (Mach-2.3). It has a 17-kilometer battle ceiling. It is equipped with a 30 mm gun, four R-60 close-range radar-guided missiles, and two R-27 R medium-range radar-guided missiles.
Mirage-2000: A solitary seater air guard and multi-job contender with a solitary motor fit for arriving at a maximum velocity of 2495 km/hr (Mach 2.3). On outer stations, it has two 30 mm indispensable cannons, two Matra very 530D medium-range rockets, and two R-550 wizardry II close battle rockets.
SU-30 MKI: Russian-made twin-seater twin-engine multirole fighter with a single 30mm GSH gun and 8000 kg external armament. It can carry a variety of medium-range guided air-to-air missiles with active or semi-active radar, as well as close-range Infrared homing missiles. It can reach a top speed of 2500 km/hr (Mach 2.35).
For Training purpose also, IAF replaced its old training Aircraft with the new one:
The Indian Air Force replaced its HT-2 primary trainers with the HPT-32 (Deepak), a new piston-engined trainer that has been in use at the Basic Flying Training School in Allahabad and the Air Force Academy in Dundigal since January 1988. After that, flight cadets go to the Air Force Academy in Dundigal for operational training on the HJT 16 Kiran, first on the Mk. I/IA, then on the armed Mk II variant or the Polish origin Iskra. Pilots are streamed to different conversion units after commissioning, depending on their range and proficiency.
HAL HPT-32 Deepak
Future fighter pilots are assigned to operational conversion units (now known as the MOFTU or MIG Operational Flying Training Unit), where they train on the MIG 21 for operational and tactical missions. Thus are born the IAF's leaders and even potential spacemen, such as Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma, India's first cosmonaut who flew with the Soviets in a joint space mission in 1984.
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