Indian Air Force – Top news
Indian Airforce will also be getting 126 fighter aircrafts from French Rafale or Britain’s Eurofighter Typhoon from December 2014 onwards. It will cost $10.4 billion. IAF will also induct 132 more Sukhoi-30MKI aircrafts from Russia (already it has inducted 140 such aircrafts) at a cost of $12 billion. It is the most potent fighter in combat fight. India is jointly developing with Russia fifth generation fighter aircrafts with their super manoeuvrability, supersonic cruising ability, long range strike and high endurance air defence capabilities. But it may be ready only in 2020.
IAF is also upgrading Mirage-2000 with French help and this will be ready in 2021. IAF has also inducted 3 Israeli Phalcons and 2 more are planned. IAF will also acquire 22 attack helicopters armoured with guns, rockets and missiles in 2014 at a cost of $1.4 billion. India is also looking for advanced Surface-to-Air Missiles to detect and destroy hostile aircrafts at a cost of Rs.35000 crore in about 7 years time.
The repeated crashes of MiG aircrafts are causing concern to Indian defence. Russia is refusing to share data on crashes in their own country. Even Russia is phasing out MiG-27 aircrafts from its defence arsenal. India should reconsider its decision and should replace these aircrafts with more advanced aircrafts. Accident rate is high with 476 MiG aircrafts.
There are 470 existing MiG aircrafts with Indian Air Force. India has the fourth largest airforce in the world. But in terms of quality, much needs to be done with rusty fleet and operational maintenance problems. The new Air Force Chief Norman Anil Kumar Browne should concentrate on revamping our Airforce and bring in quality. His top priorities should be to enhance operational capability, continue with the modernisation drive and motivate the people with him. There is also a move to induct 120 Tejas aircrafts in 2013. Tejas are indigenous aircrafts to replace MiG 21 aircrafts. Each jet will cost Rs.200 crore. Overall cost will be Rs.30000 crore.
