Submitted by Ankit

Garg(2011UME1734), Kartik
Vai! (2011UME404"),
An!uman(2011UME173#)
Submitted t$
Mr% San&u '!aud!ary
Indian Air Force
Introduction
(!e )ndian Air *$r+e ()A*) t$day, !a +$m,-eted t!e .-atinum /ubi-ee $0 dedi+ated
er1i+e t$ t!e nati$n, i a m$dern, te+!n$-$gy2inteni1e 0$r+e ditingui!ed by it
+$mmitment t$ e3+e--en+e and ,r$0ei$na-im% Kee,ing ,a+e 4it! t!e demand $0
+$ntem,$rary ad1an+ement, t!e )A* +$ntinue t$ m$dernie in a ,!aed manner
and t$day it tand a a +redib-e air ,$4er +$unted am$ngt t!e 0$re2m$t
,r$0ei$na- er1i+e in t!e 4$r-d%
(!e )A* i t!e air arm $0 t!e )ndian armed 0$r+e% )t ,rimary re,$nibi-ity i t$
e+ure )ndian air,a+e and t$ +$ndu+t aeria- 4ar0are during a +$n0-i+t% )t 4a $00i+ia--y
etab-i!ed $n 5 6+t$ber 1"32 a an au3i-iary air 0$r+e $0 t!e 7riti! 8a& and t!e
,re0i3 Royal 4a added in 1"49 in re+$gniti$n $0 it er1i+e during :$r-d :ar ))%
A0ter )ndia a+!ie1ed inde,enden+e 0r$m t!e United Kingd$m in 1"47, t!e 8$ya-
)ndian Air *$r+e er1ed t!e ;$mini$n $0 )ndia, 4it! t!e ,re0i3 being dr$,,ed 4!en
)ndia be+ame a re,ub-i+ in 1"90%
Sin+e inde,enden+e, t!e )A* !a been in1$-1ed in 0$ur 4ar 4it! neig!b$uring
.akitan and $ne 4it! t!e .e$,-e< 8e,ub-i+ $0 '!ina% 6t!er ma&$r $,erati$n
undertaken by t!e )A* in+-ude 6,erati$n Vijay = t!e in1ai$n $0 G$a , 6,erati$n
Meghdoot, 6,erati$n Cactus and 6,erati$n .$$ma-ai% A,art 0r$m +$n0-i+t, t!e )A*
!a been an a+ti1e ,arti+i,ant in United >ati$n ,ea+ekee,ing mii$n%
(!e .reident $0 )ndia .ranab Muk!er&ee er1e a t!e '$mmander2in2'!ie0 $0 t!e
)A*% (!e '!ie0 $0 Air Sta00, an Air '!ie0 Mar!a- (A'M), i a 0$ur2tar +$mmander
and +$mmand t!e Air *$r+e% (!ere i ne1er m$re t!an $ne er1ing A'M at any
gi1en time in t!e )A*% 6ne $00i+er Ar&an Sing!, ;*' !a been +$n0erred t!e rank $0
Mar!a- $0 t!e Air *$r+e, a 0i1e2tar rank and t!e $00i+er er1e a t!e +erem$nia-
+!ie0%
)n it ,ub-i+ati$n t!e Mi-itary 7a-an+e 2010, )nternati$na- )ntitute 0$r Strategi+
Studie ())SS) etimate t!at t!e )ndian Air *$r+e !a a trengt! $0 127,000 a+ti1e
,er$nne-% ?$4e1er, 1ari$u re-iab-e $ur+e ,r$1ided n$tab-y di1ergent etimate
$0 it trengt! $1er t!e year% (!e air 0$r+e i etimated t$ !a1e m$re t!an 1,900
air+ra0t in a+ti1e er1i+e during 2011@2012%

The Indian Air Force Today
(!e )ndian Air *$r+e !a +$me a -$ng 4ay 0r$m it 0$ur :a,iti bi,-ane, i3 $00i+er
and nineteen airmen in 1"33 t$ being t!e 4$r-dA 0$urt! -arget Air *$r+e% (!e )A*
n$4 !$ue a mai1e 3" +$mbat Buadr$n, +$m,ared t$ .akitan 4!i+! !a 22
and *ran+e 4!i+! !a 30% (!e )A* t$day i re+ent-y in t!e +$m,etiti1e C$ne 4it!
$t!er nati$n, 4!en it +$me t$ 0ire ,$4er%
S$me $0 t!e 4ea,$n in t!e )A*A arena- are t!e *21#, Mirage 2000, *215 Su,er
?$rnet, 8a0a-e, SU230MK) Su,er Suk!$i, and t!e *222% .$eing u+! 0ire ,$4er
i a great en$ug! a+!ie1ement ite-0%
(!e *222 i t!e m$dern 4$r-dA m$t dead-iet 0ig!ter ,-ane and a-$ t!e bet 0ig!ter
t!at t!e United State $4n% *222 8a,t$r i a 0i0t! generati$n 0ig!ter ,-ane, 4ide-y
a,,re+iated 0$r it u,er2agi-ity, en$r 0ui$n, u,er+ruie ,eed and -et!a-
atta+king +a,abi-itie $n !ig!et ,$ib-e $,erati$na- a-titude% A +$mbinati$n $0
en$r +a,abi-ity, integrated a1i$ni+, ituati$na- a4arene, and 4ea,$n ,r$1ide
0irt2ki-- $,,$rtunity againt t!reat% (!e *222 ,$ee a $,!iti+ated en$r uite
a--$4ing t!e ,i-$t t$ tra+k, identi0y, !$$t and ki-- air2t$2air t!reat be0$re being
dete+ted% Signi0i+ant ad1an+e in +$+k,it deign and en$r 0ui$n im,r$1e t!e
,i-$t< ituati$na- a4arene% )n t!e air2t$2air +$n0igurati$n t!e 8a,t$r +arrie i3 A)M2
120 AM8AAM and t4$ A)M2" Side4inder%
F-22
(!e 8a0a-e i an$t!er ,e+ta+-e t$ be ,$ndered u,$n% A -et!a- air u,rema+y 0ig!ter
4ide-y kn$4n 0$r it un,ara--e-ed air2t$2air +$mbat +a,abi-itie, 8a0a-e i a ,r$du+t $0
;aau-t A1iati$n, a *ren+! air+ra0t manu0a+turer $0 mi-itary and buine &et% (!i
0ig!ter ,-ane u,,$rt an e-e+tr$ni+ 4ar0are ytem, S.E'(8A, 4!i+! de0end t!e
air+ra0t 0r$m gr$und and airb$rne t!reat% (!i 0ig!ter ,-ane a-$ ait t!e rea- time
generati$n $0 t!ree2dimeni$na- ma, t!at are ued in -$ng2range inter+e,ti$n and
targeting% (!e 8a0a-e i a t4in2&et +$mbat air+ra0t +a,ab-e $0 +arrying $ut a 4ide
range $0 !$rt and -$ng2range mii$n, in+-uding gr$und and ea atta+k, air de0en+e
and air u,eri$rity, re+$nnaian+e, and !ig!2a++ura+y trike $r nu+-ear trike
deterren+e%
(!e 8a0a-e +an +arry ,ay-$ad $0 $1er "t $n 14 !ard,$int 0$r t!e air 0$r+e 1eri$n,
and 13 0$r t!e na1a- 1eri$n% (!e range $0 4ea,$n in+-udeD Mi+a, Magi+,
Side4inder, AS8AAM and AM8AAM air2t$2air mii-eE A,a+!e, AS30F, AFA8M,
?A8M, Ma1eri+k and .GM100 air2t$2gr$und mii-eE and E3$+et @ AM3", .enguin 3
and ?ar,$$n anti2!i, mii-e%
Rafale
An$t!er 4ea,$n $0 ma detru+ti$n in t!e )ndian arti--ery i t!e SU230MK)% (!e SU2
30MK) 4a initia--y n$t deigned t$ +arry nu+-ear $r trategi+ 4ea,$n, but t!e ne4-y
de1e-$,ed )A* 4i-- re+ei1e 40 u,graded SU230MK) +a,ab-e $0 +arrying t!e 7ra!M$
+ruie mii-e ,$ib-y by t!e end $0 2012% )n additi$n, t!ere are a-$ ,-an t$
integrate t!e nu+-ear2+a,ab-e >irb!ay mii-e 4it! t!e air+ra0t a 4e--% )n May 2010,
8uia !ad 4$n a -arge +$ntra+t t$ u,grade 40 Su230MK) 0ig!ter 4it! ne4 radar,
$nb$ard +$m,uter, e-e+tr$ni+ 4ar0are ytem and t!e abi-ity t$ +arry t!e 7ra!M$
mii-e% (!e 0irt t4$ ,r$t$ty,e 4it! t!e <Su,er230< u,grade 4i-- be de-i1ered t$ t!e
)ndian Air *$r+e by t!e end $0 2012, a0ter 4!i+! t!e ame u,grade 4i-- be
,er0$rmed $n t!e -at bat+! +$niting $0 40 ,r$du+ti$n air+ra0t% (!e e3a+t 1a-ue $0
t!e +$ntra+t i undi+-$ed%
)ndia i ,-anning t$ u,grade it SU230MK) 0ig!ter 4it! 8uian .!aC$tr$n G!uk2AE
A+ti1e E-e+tr$ni+a--y S+anned Array AESA radar% (!e H2band radar +an tra+k 30
aeria- target in t!e tra+k24!i-e2+an m$de and engage i3 target imu-tane$u-y in
atta+k m$de% AESA te+!n$-$gy $00er im,r$1ed ,er0$rman+e and re-iabi-ity
+$m,ared 4it! traditi$na- me+!ani+a--y +anned array radar% )ndian ;e0ene
Miniter A%K Ant$ny ,r$,$ed e1era- u,grade 0$r t!e Su230MK) t$ t!e )ndian
.ar-iament, 4!i+! in+-uded 0itting t!e 0ig!ter 4it! 8uian .!aC$tr$n G!uk2AE
AESA radar tarting in 2012% (!ee u,grade 4i-- make Suk!$i230 MK) t$ I SU.E8
SUK?6)JI and in 0uture 4i-- bring t!em t$ be t!e e+$nd bet 0ig!ter in t!e 4$r-d%
Issues Faced by the IAF Today
:it! a-- t!e g-$ry $0 $4ning $me $0 t!e meanet 0ig!ting ma+!ine in t!e 4$r-d, t!e
)A* a-$ !a it !are $0 tainted 0ame% (!e )A* !a a-ready -$t $0 great number $0
0ig!ter 0r$m it 0-eet and !e-i+$,ter be+aue $0 mid2air +ra!e, 0au-ty eBui,ment,
and +are-ene% S$ 0ar t!e )A* !a been !e-d a++$untab-e 0$r 171 ,i-$t, 3"
+i1i-ian, a 4e-- a 5 ,e$,-e 0r$m $t!er er1i+e% A t$ta- $0 215 -i1e !a1e been -$t
due t$ neg-igen+e, by t!e )A*%
6n ;e+ember 2, 2011 an )ndian Air *$r+e MiG221 0ig!ter +ra!ed in ?aryana< Sira
ditri+t but t!e ,i-$t managed t$ e&e+t m$ment be0$re t!e ,-ane 4ent d$4n%
Sirsa
Crash Site

(!e tenden+y $0 a MiG air+ra0t t$ +$me +ra!ing d$4n 2 rig!t 0r$m t!e time it be+ame
t!e ba+kb$ne $0 t!e )ndian Air *$r+e $1er 0$ur de+ade ag$ 2 earned t!e 0ig!ter &et
e,it!et u+! a I0-ying +$00inI and I4id$42makerI% MiG +ra!e in t!e )A* !a1e
m$t-y been due t$ te+!ni+a- di00i+u-tie 0a+ed by ,i-$t, a 4e-- a ytem 0ai-ure%
6n Augut 30, 2012 >ine )ndian Air *$r+e ,er$nne- 4ere ki--ed $n (!urday a t4$
Mi217 !e-i+$,ter +$--ided midair and +ra!ed during a ,ra+ti+e 0$r a b$mbing
mii$n at Sarmat range in /amnagar at 12%09,m% (4$ $t!er $n b$ard t!e t4$
!e-i+$,ter 4ere in&ured in t!e +ra!%
Jamnagar Crash Site
(e+!ni+a- di00i+u-tie are t!e ,rime rea$n many 0ig!ter g$ d$4n, taking 1a-uab-e
-i1e 4it! t!em% (!e at$ni!ing 0a+t i t!at t!e )A* ne1er re1ea- t!e b-a+k b$3
re+$rding during t!e 0ina- m$ment% Su+! in0$rmati$n !$u-d be made ,ub-i+, $
t!at t!e rea$n $0 +ra! may be kn$4n%
IAFs New Era
(!e )ndian Air *$r+e tarted a mai1e m$derniCati$n and u,2gradati$n ,r$gram t$
re,-a+e@u,grade it aging and $utdated eBui,ment in+e t!e -ate "0A t$ ad1an+ed
tandard% *$r t!at rea$n it !a tarted ,r$+uring and de1e-$,ing air+ra0t, 4ea,$n,
a$+iated te+!n$-$gie, and in0ratru+ture% S$me $0 t!ee ,r$gramme date ba+k
t$ t!e -ate 50A% (!e ,rimary 0$+u $0 u,gradati$n i t$ re,-a+e t!e air+ra0t ,r$+ured
0r$m t!e S$1iet Uni$n t!at 0$rm t!e ba+kb$ne $0 t!e Air *$r+e%
(!e )ndian Air *$r+e began an u,grade $0 it MiG22" 0-eet in 2007%

)ndia a4arded
8uia a USK5#9 mi--i$n +$ntra+t t$ u,grade it air u,eri$rity MiG22" int$ mu-ti r$-e
MiG22"U.G tandard 4ar,-ane, $n M$nday 10 Mar+! 2005% A++$rding t$ t!e dea-,
8uia 4i-- re2arm t!e t4in2engined MiG22" 4it! air2t$2air mii-e, and t!e
u,graded MiG 4i-- 0eature in+reaed 0ue- +a,a+ity and 4i-- in+-ude -atet a1i$ni+%
(!e deign i a ne4 m$di0i+ati$n intended 0$r t!e MiG22" ued by )ndian Air *$r+e%
)t made it maiden 0-ig!t $n 4 *ebruary 2011% (!e tandard in+-ude t!e ne4 G!uk2M
radar, ne4 a1i$ni+, an )*8 ,r$be a 4e-- a ne4 en!an+ed 8;233 erie 3 turb$&et
engine% (!e m$derniCati$n i ,art $0 a K"00 mi--i$n +$ntra+t t$ u,grade t!e #"
0ig!ter 0-eet%
A-t!$ug! n$t initia--y deigned t$ +arry nu+-ear $r trategi+ 4ea,$n, t!e )ndian Air
*$r+e 4i-- re+ei1e 40 u,graded Su230MK) +a,ab-e $0 +arrying t!e 7ra!M$ +ruie
mii-e ,$ib-y by 2012% )n additi$n, t!ere are a-$ ,-an t$ integrate t!e nu+-ear2
+a,ab-e >irb!ay mii-e 4it! t!e air+ra0t a 4e--% )n May 2010, )ndia ($day re,$rted
t!at 8uia !ad 4$n a -arge +$ntra+t t$ u,grade 40 Su230MK) 0ig!ter 4it! ne4
radar, $nb$ard +$m,uter, e-e+tr$ni+ 4ar0are ytem and t!e abi-ity t$ +arry t!e
7ra!M$ mii-e% (!e 0irt t4$ ,r$t$ty,e 4it! t!e <Su,er230< u,grade 4i-- be
de-i1ered t$ t!e )ndian Air *$r+e in 2012, a0ter 4!i+! t!e ame u,grade 4i-- be
,er0$rmed $n t!e -at bat+! +$niting $0 40 ,r$du+ti$n air+ra0t% (!e e3a+t 1a-ue $0
t!e +$ntra+t !a yet t$ be di+-$ed !$4e1er%
)n Mar+! 2010, )ndia and *ran+e 0ina-iCed t!e -$ng de-ayed dea- t$ u,grade a-- $0
)ndia< Mirage 2000? t$ Mirage 200029 Mk 2 1ariant 4it! ne4 radar ytem, a ne4
4ea,$n uite, mii-e, e-e+tr$ni+ 4ar0are ytem et+% *ren+! +-aim t!at t!e +$mbat2
,r$1en air+ra0t 4i-- be u,graded t$ ne3t2generati$n 0ig!ter -e1e-% (!e 0irt 0$ur t$ i3
Mirage 4i-- be u,graded in *ran+e, 4it! t!e ret 90 $r $ being u,graded in )ndia by
?indutan Aer$nauti+ under tran0er $0 te+!n$-$gy% Under t!e u,grade, t!e entire
air0rame 4i-- be tri,,ed d$4n t$ be re24ired and re2eBui,,ed 4it! ne4 a1i$ni+,
mii$n +$m,uter, g-a +$+k,it, !e-met2m$unted di,-ay, e-e+tr$ni+ 4ar0are
uite and $0 +$ure 4ea,$n ytem t$ e3tend and en!an+e t!e $,erati$na- -i0e $0
t!e mu-ti2r$-e 0ig!ter by ar$und 20 year%
Conclusion
(!e )ndian Air *$r+e i an $rganiCati$n +ertain-y t$ be ,r$ud $0% 61er t!e year it !a
gained t!e +$n0iden+e $0 t!e )ndian ,e$,-e and !a +ertain-y gi1en u t!e ,ea+e 4e
need t$ -ee, at nig!t%
:it! 0ire ,$4er -ike t!e *21#, Mirage 2000, *215 Su,er ?$rnet, 8a0a-e, SU230MK)
Su,er Suk!$i, and t!e *222, t!e )A* !a t!e abi-ity t$ ri, it enemy t$ !red, but
un0$rtunate-y it i taking numer$u -i1e in t!e 0$rm $0 a++ident%
(!e )A* need t$ 0$+u m$re $n ,ur+!aing Bua-ity ,-ane t!at guarantee t!at t!e
-i1e $0 $ur ,i-$t are a0e 4!en t!ey g$ $ut 0$r training mii$n%
Bibliography
!tt,D@@indianair0$r+e%ni+%in@!$4L,age%,!,M,gLidN13
!tt,D@@en%4iki,edia%$rg@4iki@FitL$0La+ti1eL)ndianLmi-itaryLair+ra0t
!tt,D@@en%4iki,edia%$rg@4iki@)ndianLAirL*$r+e
!tt,D@@444%indiande0en+e%+$m@0$rum@indian2air20$r+e@19"732t$,2m$dern20ig!ter2&et2
2011220122$,erati$na-%!tm-
!tt,D@@444%t!e!indu%+$m@ne4@tate@$t!er2tate@arti+-e353"#07%e+e
!tt,D@@arti+-e%time$0india%indiatime%+$m@2012205230@india@334"5331L1L!e-i+$,ter2
indian2air20$r+e2mig22"
!tt,D@@indiat$day%int$day%in@t$ry@ia02-$t2!a-02$02mig20ig!ter2&et2in2dead-y2
+ra!e@1@1570#1%!tm-
!tt,D@@indiat$day%int$day%in@t$ry@mig2212+ra!e2!aryana2,i-$t2a0e@1@1#2933%!tm-
!tt,D@@indiat$day%int$day%in@t$ry@mirage2200020ig!ter2,-ane2+ra!e2b$t!2,i-$t2e&e+t2
a0e-y@1@179201%!tm-
!tt,D@@444%b!arat2rak!ak%+$m@S88@2009@02@122indian2air20$r+e22020%!tm-
!tt,D@@444%b!aratde0en+eka1a+!%+$m@>e4@19751L(!e2)ndian2Air2*$r+e2($day22
E1$-uti$n2and2*uture2'!a--enge%!tm-
!tt,D@@444%de0en+en$4%+$m@ne4@""#@indian2air20$r+e2aked2t$2+$m,-ete2,r$be2
int$2+ra!e%!tm-
!tt,D@@en%4iki,edia%$rg@4iki@*utureL$0Lt!eL)ndianLAirL*$r+e
!tt,D@@444%de0en+en$4%+$m@ne4@"54@ia02dea-20$r211i,2+!$,,er2under2+anner%!tm-