Indian Air Force (IAF) has been upgrading its combat aircraft fleet since the last few years in order to remain a super power in the Indian subcontinent. With the number of threat increasing from china in the last few years India is increasing its aircrafts inventories and increasing the strike range of the fighters. With the landing of Super Hercules in daulat beg oldi sector in August 2013 and acquiring of C-17 globemaster are some of the examples of flexing of its muscles.
For meeting the present challenges in the region from china India is enhancing its operational capability and maintaining its aircraft on the modern platform.MiG-21, MiG-27 and Jaguar aircraft have already been upgraded and Mirage-2000 and MiG-29 aircraft are planned for upgradation. The Indian Air Force is also planning to upgrade its medium lift helicopters comprising Mi-8, Mi-17 and Mi-17-IVs, as also the AN – 32 transport aircraft.
The IAF today is in the process of a most comprehensive modernisation plan. Over the next few years, the force would induct more Su-30 MKI aircraft, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and the Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA). There are plans to augment the helicopter and transport fleets too. The IAF is also in the process of acquiring radars in various categories to meet the Air Defence requirements, accurate and advanced weapons, Network Centric Warfare systems, etc, to meet its assigned tasks.
- C-130J Super Hercules: It is a tactical aircraft of the Indian air force and has the capability of performing evacuation, paradrops.. One of the important feature of this aircraft is that is has the capability to operate from short airstrip and landing strip. Super Hercules recently landed on the daulat oldi beg sector in August 2013.
- C-17 Globemaster: Boeing C-17 Globemaster is a military transport aircraft of Indian air force and it has been purchased by the United states of America. Right now India is operating with 4 C-17 and will get 6 more by the end of 2014. C-17 is capable of carrying a payload of 40-70 tons up to a distance of 4200-9000 km in a single hop.
- IL-76: IL-76 is also a military transport aircraft of Indian airforce purchased from Soviet union. Indian airforce is operating 17 IL-7. It is a four engine heavy duty aircraft with a max speed of 850 km/hr. It has a twin 23 mm cannon in tail turret and capacity to carry 225 paratroopers or 40 tones freight, wheeled or tracked armored vehicles.
- EMBRAER 145: Embraer 145 airborne is used as a early warning and control aircraft. It comes under the airborne early warning and control project of defence research and development organization. It was acquired by brazil in 2012.
- Antonov AN-32 Cline: It is a military transport aircraft. The best part of this aircraft is that it can operate in extreme weather. India is operating with 109 AN-32 and 20 is being upgraded by ukrain. Twin engine turboprop, medium tactical transport aircraft of Russian origin with a crew of five and capacity to carry 39 paratroopers or max load of 6.7 tones. It has a max cruise speed of 530 km/hr.
- AVRO: Twin engine turboprop, military transport and freighter of British origin having a capacity of 48 paratroopers or 6 tonnes freight and max cruise speed of 452 km/hr.
- Dornier: Twin engine turboprop, logistic air support staff transport aircraft of German origin capable of carrying 19 passengers or 2057 kg freight. It has a max speed of 428 km/hr.
- Boeing 737-200: Twin engine turbofan, VIP passenger aircraft of American origin with total seating capacity of upto 60 passengers. It has a max cruise speed of 943 km/hr.
Also Read
Anurag Joshi, Editorial Team
