Misc
MODERNISATION OF DEFENCE FORCES : FUTURE VISION OF INDIAN AIR FORCE
The number of aircraft in the IAF has been decreasing from the late 1990s due to retirement of older aircraft and several crashes. To deal with the depletion of force levels, the IAF has started to modernise its fleet. This includes both the upgrade of existing aircraft, equipment and infrastructure as well as induction of new aircraft and equipment, both indigenous and imported. As new aircraft enter service and numbers recover, the IAF plans to have a fleet of 42 squadrons
The IAF has placed orders for:-
120 HAL Tejas fighters
36 Dassault Rafale multi-role fighters
112 Pilatus PC-7MkII basic trainers,
72 HAL HJT-36 Sitara trainers,
72 Pipistrel Virus SW 80 microlight aircraft,
10 C-17 Globemaster III strategic air-lifters,
65 HAL Light Combat Helicopters,
139 Mi-17V-5 helicopters. And
the IAF has also ordered 18 Israeli SPYDERSurface to Air Missile (SAM) units.
IAF has also ordered 6 Airbus A330 tanker aircraft,
22 AH-64E Apache Longbow heavy attack helicopters
15 CH-47F medium lift helicopters[196][197] and IAI Harop UCAVs.
The IAF has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for 16 C-27J Spartan medium military transport aircraft
A new Request For Information has been issued to replace Hawker Siddeley HS 748 for $2.4 billion
The IAF also submitted a request for information to international suppliers for a stealth unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV)
Indian defence companies such as HAL and DRDO are developing several aircraft for the IAF such as;-
the HAL Tejas Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA),
DRDO AEW&CS(revived from the Airavat Project),
HAL HTT-40,
HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH),
HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH),
DRDO Rustom and
AURA (Autonomous Unmanned Research Aircraft) UCAV.
DRDO has developed the Akash missile system for the IAF and is developing the Maitri SAM with MBDA.
DRDO is also developing the Prithvi II ballistic missile
HAL has undertaken the joint development of the Sukhoi/HAL FGFA (Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft) (a derivative project of theSukhoi PAK FA) and the UAC/HAL Il-214 Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA) with Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC).HAL is also close to develop its own fifth generation fighter aircraft HAL Amca which will be inducted by 2028. DRDO has entered in a joint venture with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to develop the Barak 8 SAM. DRDO is developing the air-launched version of the BrahMos cruise missile in a joint venture with Russia's NPO Mashinostroeyenia. DRDO has now successfully developed the nuclear capable Nirbhay cruise missile.
Network-centric warfare
The Air Force Network (AFNET), a robust digital information grid that enabled quick and accurate threat responses, was launched in 2010, helping the IAF become a truly network-centric air force. AFNET is a secure communication network linking command and control centres with offensive aircraft, sensor platforms and ground missile batteries. Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), an automated system for Air Defence operations will ride the AFNet backbone integrating ground and airborne sensors, weapon systems and command and control nodes. Subsequent integration with civil radar and other networks shall provide an integrated Air Situation Picture, and reportedly acts as a force multiplier for intelligence analysis, mission control, and support activities like maintenance and logistics. The design features multiple layers of security measures, including encryption and intrusion prevention technologies, to hinder and deter espionage efforts