Indian Air-Force

The Indian Air Force or Bharatiya Vayu Sena was born in 1932, which makes it one of the younger Air Forces around has grown to one of the largest Air Forces in the world. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is a professional, highly-motivated force employing mainly western tactics and doctrine, it's combat effectiveness enhanced by Combined Air Operations (COMAO). Today, the IAF has a large number of elderly combat aircraft which need to be upgraded or replaced, lack of timely decision taking has resulted in major force level reductions over the next ten years, and modernisation programmes which are pilling up but not being realised. At the Forefront of nearly every IAF project is Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which is currently working on the Su-30MKI license production, Jaguar/Mig-27and Mig-21 Upgrades and developing indigenously aircraft like the LCA,ALH,HJT-36 IJT and MTA. If the Indian Air Force does go through with these projects, the IAF will become a very capable and dominant power in Asia. India's most important ongoing programme is Su-30 MKI Multi-Role aircraft, of which 50 will be delivered from Russia (28 already delivered) and 140 being licensed produced at Nasik, by HAL.

The first Su-30MKIs from Nasik are to be delivered to the IAF in 2004-05, with production increasing to a peak of 10-12 aircraft per year from 2007-08 onward. Production is expected to stretch to 2017-18. Implementation of Su-30MKI Project heralds a new phase in the current history of Indo-Russian military-technical cooperation. Designers and specialists from both countries have been working as the united team on development of technologically very sophisticated project. Another Joint-Venture between India-Russia is the co-development and co-production of a twin-turbofan transport aircraft called the MTA Cargo in Indian service.

Although it's not likely to fly for at least another five years, it will mainly satisfy Indian and Russian needs for a medium lift transport. Another ongoing programme is the LCA which has been continuously delayed and hit hard by the US Sanctions posed on India after it conducted Nuclear tests in 1998. Two Technology Demonstrator aircraft have succesfully flown and the Production Vehicle Aircraft PV-1 is in final stages of system integration tests at Aircraft Research & Design Center, HAL and will join LCA TD1 and TD2 in flight testing by the end of this year. HAL had already signed up a memorandum of understanding with ADA for a limited series production of eight aircraft with the first delivery scheduled for 2006. The IAF urgently needs to sign an order to purchase 66 AJT (Advanced Jet Trainers), so Indian Pilots can gain experience in lead-in fighter (Stage III) training.

Nowadays Indian pilots go through basic training (Stage I) on HPT-32 piston-engined trainers followed by (Stage II) on Kiran or Iskra basic jet trainer and lack a Stage III AJT for Lead-in-Fighter Training before advancing to high performance supersonic aircraft. This gap in advanced jet training is primarily responsible not only for unacceptable rates of flying accidents or incidents but has also contributed to a lower quality of flying training within the Indian Air Force. In a major step towards enhancing flight safety, the Indian Air Force has finalised plans to induct highly sophisticated flight simulators for transport and fighter aircraft for its training institutes, which will impart training in civil flying.

The IAF has also several upgrade projects planned, with the most important being the upgrading of 125 Mig-21bis aircraft to Mig-21-93 standard with improved avionics and BVR air-to-air missile capability which will bring the aircraft up to a 4th generation aircraft standard. India has recently decided to Phase out the Mig-23 and Mig-25 aircraft and no replacement will be purchased. Other additions to the Indian Air Force will include 10 Mirage 2000Hs, 37 Jaguars, up to 225 HJT-36 IJTs (Intermediate Jet Trainer), 6 Il-78s Midas Tankers and ALH 'Dhruv'. The Indian Air Force has an exciting future and will be watched closely by military observers around to world, as India is keen on a place among major players in the global aviation industry and producing very capable aircraft which will cause a concern to some of it's close neighbours.

Aircraft of the IAF :

Fighter/Attack Aircraft :

- SU-30K/MK-1/MKI Flanker

Delivery of the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters to the Indian Air Force commenced on on June 22, 2002 when the first two examples left the Irkutsk factory on route for India on board a An-124. Of the 50 Aircraft ordered in 1998, an initial batch of ten will be delivered in 2002 with a further with a further 22 following in two batches in 2003. Adding to the 18 basic Su-30s already in IAF service which are eight Su-30MK-1s delivered in 1997 at Lohegaon AFS which primarily air-superiority fighters fitted with mainly Russian avionics and ten Su-30Ks which had been cancelled by Indonesia delivered in 1999 will commence upgrade to Su-30MKI standard in 2004.

While at the same time license production of 140 Su-30MKIs will begin by Hindustan Aeronautics. The deal combines license production with full technology transfer of 140 Su-30MKIs and 920 AL-31FP engines. The first Su-30MKIs from Nasik are to be delivered to the IAF in 2004-05, with production increasing to a peak of 10 aircraft per year from 2007-08 onward. Production is expected to stretch to 2017-18. Recent reports say that production may be upped to 12 airframes per year. The Su-30MKI is highly capable Multi-Role combat aircraft armed with the latest BVR air-to-air missiles and Kh-31, Kh-29 and Kh-59 air-to-surface missiles, state-of- the art avionics including phased-array radar from India, France, Israel and South Africa.

The thrust-vector control capability and canards substantially increases its combat efficiency and maneuverability. The Su-30MKI 1,800 mile (2,900km0 un-refueled range is an important attribute for India, which allow it to conduct long-range high endurance combat operations. The First batch of 10 Su-30MKI aircraft were inducted into the Indian Air Force 20th Squadron at Lohagaon Air Base (Pune, Maharashtra, India) on September 27, 2002.

- Mirage 2000H/TH 'Vajra'

India was one of the first users of the Mirage 2000 when 42 aircraft were received from France in the late 80's. These form 2 squadrons being 1sq 'Tigers' and 7sq 'Battle Axes' operate with Central Air Command from Gwalior-Maharajpur. The IAF Mirage 2000s are equipped with a multi-mode Thales RDY doppler radar, which provides multi-targeting capability in the air defence role, and the radar also has look-down/shoot-down mode of operation. These can also be fitted with Rafael Litening laser designation pod, which provides the capability to fire laser-guided weapons by day and night.

Mirage 2000 has nine hardpoints for carrying weapon system payloads: five on the fuselage and two on each wing. The single-seat version is also armed with two internally mounted, high-firing-rate 30mm guns. The Mirage 2000s have gone through an upgrade in India which saw a new EW (Electronic Warfare) systems and new avionics being added. HAL units in Bangalore and Kanpur have been servicing Mirage 2000H/THs since 1998 and also manufacture some spare parts. In 2000, India placed an order for an additional 10 Mirage 2000s ( four single-seat Mirage 2000H and six twin-seat Mirage 2000TH).

- SEPECAT/HAL Jaguar IS/IM/IB

India looked long and hard at the Jaguar before ordering the type to fulfill it's Deep Penetration Strike Aircraft requirement in 1978. Once ordered, there was a rush to get the type into service with the Indian Air Force, resulting in the loan of 16 Jaguar GR.1s and a pair of T.2s from the RAF which were minimally modified for service in India. These aircraft were interim aircraft and were returned to the United Kingdom between 1982 and 1984. By this time British Aerospace and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited had worked out the particulars of Indian assembly of the aircraft. This was to be undertaken in several stages, the first batch of 40 new aircraft ( 35 Jaguar International IS single-seaters and 5 IT two-seaters) being built by BAe at Warton. The 40 aircraft were delivered between 1981 and 1982. They were powered by the Adour Mk 804 and were equipped with the NAVWASS, though India was working on a replacement for the NAVWASS in the form of DARIN (Display Attack and Ranging Inertial Navigation), which was fitted into the local assembled aircraft.

The next batch was for 45 aircraft and involved the assembly of the aircraft in India from kits supplied from the Anglo-French production lines, with progressively more Indian-produced sub-assemblies in the aircraft. These aircraft were powered by the Adour Mk 811 and were equipped with the DARIN system. In December 1982 a further batch of 31 single-seaters was approved. Included in the last 2 batches were eight Jaguar IM maritime strike aircraft, which were different from the IS in being equipped with Agave radar and Sea-Eagle anti-ship missile. In 1993 15 more Jaguar IS were ordered and is believed to have included four more IM versions, all 15 aircraft were in service by the end of 1999. Further orders have been placed for 17 Jaguar ITs, which are due to be delivered from 2002. An order for an additional 20 strike Jaguars has also been placed. Several upgrades are currently being pursued, HAL is believed to be replacing the Agave radar in the Jaguar IMs with the the ELTA EL/M-2022 maritime radar system.

The radar upgrade contract was signed in 1996. For the majority of the Indian Strike Jaguars, a phased upgrade is planned. Contracts have been signed with French (Sextant) and Israeli (Elta) companies to upgrade the avionics of the 'strike' Jaguars and the 35 BAe-built, NAVWASS-equipped Jaguars will be the first batch of aircraft to undergo the upgrade. These aircraft will also be fitted with a MIL-STD-1553B digital databus, like the HAL-built aircraft. A digital map generator is being developed by HAL, which will read onto a new head down display centered around a new Sextant MFD 66 active matrix liquid crystal display. A centralized threat warning system, including a new Indian-built radar warning receiver, will be incorporated into the aircraft. It is believed that Rafael Litening Designation Pod will be adopted for widespread use by the fleet to use precision munitions. India is presently the largest user of the type and as production is expected to last until 2006-2007, the type will last beyond 2010.

- Mig-29 B / S / UB

The Indian Air Force operates around 40 Mig-29s, in 3 versions : MiG-29B Fulcrum-A, MiG-29S Fulcrum-C and MiG-29UB Fulcrum-B. The MiG-29 forms three operational squadrons (No.28, No.47 and No.223) in the IAF. A fourth squadron was expected to be raised, however plans for that have been scrapped. The First IAF Mig-29 arrived in India in 1986. The IAF Mig-29s had a lot of technical and maintenance problems in their early life and this resulted in the Joint venture Indo-Russia Aviation Private Ltd. , for maintenance & support which was set by HAL and Mig-MAPO for the Mig-29 and fixed problems with the introduction of the Mig-29 in the IAF. The mission of the MiG-29 is to destroy hostile air targets within radar coverage limits and also to destroy ground targets using unguided weapons in visual flight conditions. The MiG-29 fighter is equipped with seven external weapon hardpoints. The aircraft can carry: up to two R-27 air-to-air medium-range missiles; six R-73 and R-60 air-to-air short range missiles; four pods of S-5, S-8, S-24 unguided rockets; air bombs weighing up to 3,000kg; and 30mm built-in aircraft gun with 150 rounds of ammunition.

The aircraft is equipped with an information and fire control radar system comprising: an N-019 radar developed by Phazotron Research and Production Company, Moscow; an infrared search and track sensor; a laser rangefinder; and a helmet-mounted target designator. HAL licensed produced 350 RD-33 turbofan engines for the Mig-29 and in July 1998, HAL delivered the first fully rebuilt and upgraded MiG-29 to the Indian Air Force. The upgrade has enabled the aircraft to fire the R-77RVV-AE (AA-12 Adder) air-to-air missile. Future upgrades are planned which will see a new a new avionics suite being fitted in the Mig-29, Phazatron Zhuk-M radar and air to air refueling probes.

- Mig-27ML Bahadur

A total of 162 Mig-27ML Bahadurs 'optimised' ground attack fighters were produced for the Indian Air Force by HAL. The Last of which was delivered in 1994 to re-equip squadrons which had flown the HAL Ajeet light fighter and, subsequently, to supplant Mig-21FL and Mig-21Ms. The MiG-27ML forms 8 operational squadrons in the Indian Air Force and is also part of TACDE (Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment).

The Indian Air Force is reported to have decided on a $650-million upgrade of it's Mig-27ML fleet, improving the electronic warfare (EW) and avionics system from international sources ( Primarily Israel & Russia ) of some 135 of the aircraft over the next six years. HAL will upgrade the Mig-27 aircraft in phases, commencing with a batch of 40. The Upgrade will include an advanced EW suite and modern avionics systems, such as secure communications, data-links, and night-vision goggles. Systems already selected for the upgrade are include the Thales, Vicon optical reconnaissance pod and the Rafael Litening II FLIR/Laser-designation pod, both already in service with the Indian Air Force. Elbit systems will provide a digital moving map display. The aircraft will be able to carry AA-12 Adder and AA-11 Archer air-to-air missiles obtained from Russia.

- Mig-23MF/BN/UM

The variable-sweep Mig-23 has had a relatively short service life with the Indian Air Force. In the early 1980s, the IAF received 40 Mig-23MF air-defence fighters and 80 Mig-23BN close air support aircraft which equip a total of 4 squadrons today, with the last MF squadron (No.224) due to retire by 2001. The BN squadrons are expected to soldier on for another five years, before being replaced by upgraded MiG-27s. The BN is expected to serve in an additional 'wild weasel' role and was recently upgraded with dedicated ECM equipment. An indigenous RWR developed by DRDO, called Tranquil, has been fitted.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has decided to phase out the MiG-23 and MiG-25 from its fleet of fighter aircraft. This is being done to reduce the types of aircraft in the IAF inventory in order to have a more composite force structure. The IAF has three squadrons of the MiG-23BN ground attack aircraft and one squadron of the MiG-23MF air defence fighter (interceptor). Besides, there are 16 MiG-23BN variants for the electronic warfare role and six combat-capable trainers of the type. There are eight MiG-25 R/Us in the IAF inventory. While the MiG-23 is likely to be replaced by a combination of MiG-27 ground attack and Jaguar deep penetration strike aircraft, there will be none for the MiG-25.

- Mig-21 FL / MF / UM / BIS / UPG Fishbed

Mig-21Bis

Mig-21-93

Mig-21UM

The Mig-21 has had a long ( 35 years plus ) career in the Indian Air Force since the first squadron was equipped with the Mig-21 in 1963. The metamorphis of the Mig-21 - from the limited endurance, lightly-armed day-interceptor Mig-21F version to the basic Mig-21FL version ( built under licence by HAL ), through the Mig-21M series to the definitive Mig-21BIS variant (220 built by HAL) has made the Mig-21 the most important combat aircraft type to serve with the IAF. The MiG-21M and BIS series incorporates several improvements over the earlier MiG-21FL in an attempt to fix some of the design shortcomings, most notably its short range, and the limited air search/ fire control abilities of its radar system. The MiG-21UM MONGOL is used by the IAF as a type induction/conversion trainer for its MiG-21 fleet. Its most prominent features are the double cockpit, and a large UHF antenna at the foot of the vertical stabilizer. Most of the MONGOL's are stationed at the MiG Operational Flying Training Unit at Tezpur. At it's peak some 20 squadrons were equipped with Mig-21 variants, the total number received by the IAF (both direct supplies from the Soviet Union and built under license by HAL) being nearly 1,000 over the period 1963 to 1985. Today some 16 squadrons survive mainly equipped with the latest Mig-21bis variant which equips some 10 squadrons.

India has signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG (RSK MiG), to upgrade 125 Indian Air Force MiG-21bis fighters to the MiG-21-93 version also known as the Mig-21UPG. The MiG-21bis upgraded aircraft are to form a bulk of the IAF's fighting force. Two Mig-21bis were upgraded by ANPK Sokol and later flown to India. ANKP Sokol is now sending the upgrade kits to Nasik's HAL facility, where 123 Mig-21bis will be enhanced with, amongst other equipment, a new Phazotron Kopyo multi-mode,multi-target pulse-doppler X-band radar and a Electronic Counter Measure ECM Suite.. The Main punch of the Mig-21-93 would be provided by advanced BVR (Beyond Visual Range) air-to-air missiles like theRVV-AE, R-27, R-73E, R-60M. It could also carry an array of precision, stand-off Air-Surface weapons like the KAB-500 KR guided bomb and Air-Surface missiles.After three years, however, upgrades of only four MiG-21 bis have so far been completed, and the IAF has continued to lose one or more per month of its older �Fishbeds� over the past decade in accidents totaling over 200 in all.

- LCA (Light Combat Aircraft)

LCA is an advanced technology, single seat, single engine, supersonic, light-weight, all-weather, multi-role, air superiority fighter designed for air-to-air, air-to-ground and anti-ship combat roles.India began pursuing the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project in 1983 seeking a lightweight, low-cost replacement for its aging fleet of MiG-21 fighters. Under the overall direction of India's Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the prime contractor HAL was given responsibility for most design and fabrication work while integrating the efforts of several government laboratories, educational institutes, and sub-contractors. Unfortunately, the development effort has run into several delays that have extended the development effort by at least a decade. On 4th January 2001, India's 'Light Combat Aircraft' or LCA flew for the first time. The maximum speed achieved was 400 kph and the maximum altitude was 3,000 m. It integrates modern design concepts and the state-of-art technologies such as relaxed static stability, flyby-wire Flight Control System, Advanced Digital Cockpit, Multi-Mode Radar, Integrated Digital Avionics System and a Flat Rated Engine imported from Israel, France and Sweden.

Currently, the protoypes are powered by the US made GE F404 engine. India's Defence Research and Development Organisation [DRDO] had purchased 11 F404 engines for the LCA project in the 1990s but further collaboration with the engine's manufacturers is no longer possible due to sanctions imposed by the US in the wake of India's nuclear tests of 1998. The US sanctions against India have now been lifted by the Bush Administration. The State owned Gas Turbine Research Establishment [GTRE] was to indigenously develop the Kaveri engine to power the LCA. But there have been major slippages in all the milestones apart from cost overruns of Rs 380 crore. It is now clear that the LCA will be inducted initially with GE engines and later be upgraded with the Kaveri. It is now certain that atleast the first couple of PVs will be powered by the F404.The maiden flight of the second LCA Technology Demonstrator (TD-2) aircraft KH 2002 occurred at 1145 hours on June 6, 2002. This is a significant milestone in LCA Programme at ADA and HAL and marks the entry of second aircraft into the Flight Test Programme. The third LCA aircraft PV1 with all composites structure is in final stages of system integration tests at Aircraft Research & Design Center, HAL and will join LCA TD1 and TD2 in flight testing by the end of this year. HAL had already signed up a memorandum of understanding with ADA for a limited series production of eight aircraft with the first delivery scheduled for 2006.

Trainers :

AJT (Advanced Jet Trainer)

BAe Hawk

L-159B

The IAF's Training Command has had a long struggle with ad hoc flying training schemes for over a two decades and urgently awaits the introduction of a suitable Advanced Jet Trainer for lead-in fighter (Stage III) training. The original requirement was for 160 aircraft but this was scaled down to 66 aircraft. On the 7th September 2002, Defence Minister George Fernandes said India has decided to opt for acquisition of 66 British aerospace hawks jet trainers for the Indian Air Force costing about Rs 7000 crore and the proposed deal had been placed before the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for approval. The Indian Air Force would receive the hawks in batches with the first 25 to be delivered by next year. Defence Ministry officials said though the trainers would be received in batches, these would all be upgraded versions. They said details of setting up of Assembly line for the hawks were still under discussion.

The Czech Republic's largest arms maker has made a last minute bid to trump a deal by Britain's BAe Systems to supply more than 66 jet trainers to India. "Aero Vodochody was assured that no decision had been made yet on the purchase of subsonic aircraft for the Indian army and that Aero Vodochody's proposal will be given appropriate attention and an equal chance in the tender," the company said in a statement."The L-159 project had the full support of the Czech government, US government, as well as the Boeing and Honeywell companies," it said.

- HJT-36 IJT (Intermediate Jet Trainer)

An Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) called HJT-36 is being developed by HAL to replace the aging HJT-16 Kiran trainers. (HAL) has been given the go ahead to develop two prototypes of the HJT-36 intermediate jet trainer, the successor to the ageing HJT-16. Funding amounts to Rs 1.8 bn ($42 mn) which includes flight trials and certification which should start in 2002. The aircraft will be powered by a single 3,170 lb Snecma/Turbomeca Larzac engine and three such engines are on order. HAL plans to produce up to 225 HJT-36s each priced at around Rs 200 mn. The new trainer will be lighter than the old one, have less components and better fuel consumption.

Smiths Aerospace and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have signed a contract for an undisclosed amount for the design and development of the Integrated Avionics System for the HJT-36 Intermediate Jet Trainer. The system consists of an open systems architecture mission computer, head up display, HUD repeater, rear data entry panel, attitude and heading reference system and air data computers. The HJT-36 should enter service within the Indian Air Force in 2005.

Transport :

- Ilyushin Il-76MD 'Gajraj'

Winner of the Heavy Transport Aircraft requirement to replace the Antonov An-12BK, a total of 24 Il-76MDs are operated by the Indian Air Force as the 'Gajraj' ( White Elephant ) in two squadrons. The Il-76 has boosted the heavy-lift capacity and will remain the IAF's mainstay for several decades. Deliveries to the IAF began in 1985 and they were used in the Maldives in 1987 and in Sri Lanka during 1987-1990 to great effect. The missions of the aircraft are: to drop paratroopers; carry troop forces and combat materiel with crews and armaments, including medium-sized battle tanks; to airlift cargo for troop forces; and transport for disaster relief operations. The aircraft is equipped with a defensive aids suite, comprising a radar warner, jammer, infrared flare cartridges, chaff dispenser and two guns with a fire-control radar.

The Il-76 would probably also be the platform for AWACS version which is reportedly under development with Israeli & Russian avionics including the Israeli Phalcon radar which would give India a great early-warning advantage over Pakistan or any other South East Asia country.

- Antonov An-32 'Sutlej'

The Antonov An-32 Sutlej replaced the C-119 Packet, C-47 Dakota and DHC-4 Caribou in service. Some 112 An-32s were contracted in the early 1980s and, at their peak served with seven squadrons, two of which have since been number-plated and their aircraft held in reserve.

The An-32 is the workhorse of the Indian Air Force, The missions of the aircraft are: to drop paratroopers; carry troop forces and combat materiel with crews and armaments, to airlift cargo for troop forces; and transport for disaster relief operations. The An-32s are often used to re-supply Indian troops which are stationed in remote area's or high up in the mountains.

- MTA

The Multi-Role Transport Aircraft (MTA) is HAL's most ambitious programme to date following the deal it signed on April 24 in Moscow for co-development and co-production of a twin-turbofan transport aircraft. Military roles could include tactical transport, VIP and Combi, disaster management, remote sensing and airborne surveillance. Under the second joint production program, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and Russia�s Irkutsk Aviation Industrial Association, JSC have signed a formal agreement, on April 24 in Moscow for co-development and co-production of multirole transport aircraft (MTA).

Referred to by Ilyushin as the IL-214 and by HAL as the MTA Cargo. Although it's not likely to fly for at least another five years, it will mainly satisfy Indian and Russian needs for a medium lift transport. According to sources, the $350 million programme will begin by September this 2002 . The project is being executed on a fifty-fifty basis and the assembly lines of the MTA will begin simultaneously in Irkutsk in Russia and HAL�s facilities in Nasik. The MTA will be both a passenger and a cargo aircraft. The price of the aircraft is estimated to be around $15 million and the first prototype will role out in 2006.

Tankers :

- Ilyushin Il-78 Midas

An agreement has been signed in February 2001 with Uzbekistan for procurement of six IL-78 Flight Refueling Aircraft. These aircraft would be delivered by December 2003. India will send its air force pilots and technicians to the Central Asian Republic of Uzbekistan for training on the IL-78 aircraft. The training schedules of the pilots and the technicians, including efforts by New Delhi to speed up the delivery of these aircraft, will be taken up by Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy in his talks with Uzbek Defence Minister K Gulyamov during the former's three-day visit to Uzbekistan starting September 4th, 2002.

Much like the Advanced Jet Trainers (AJTs), air-to-air refuellers have been a long-standing demand of the IAF. The IL-78s, which can carry 35 tonnes of fuel, will enable fighters like the newly-inducted multi-role Sukhoi-30MKIs to operationally cover a much larger area and add more punch to IAF's war-waging potential.

Helicopters :

- Mil Mi-8/17 Hip

Mi-8

Mi-17

The Mi-8 and Mi-17 serve in all theatres and are the virtual lifeline for personnel and logistic supplies for the Indian Army in difficult mountain terrain. About 150 Mi-8/-17s are in the IAF's inventory. The Mi-8s are being slowly replaced by the more advanced Mi-17 which has greater payload and improved avionics.

In May 2000, India and Russia signed a $170 million deal for 40 additional Mi-8TV (Mi-17) helicopters. The armed Mi-8TV helicopters are fitted with more powerful TV3-117VMA engines and the maximum slung payload of the armed helicopter is 4,000kg. These helicopters are to be armed with Vikhr-M (AT-16) air-to-surface missiles, delivered by the end of 2001.

- Mil Mi-26 Halo

The Mil Mi-26 is the world's largest helicopter and are valuable asset to the Indian Air Force. The Mi-26 equips just one unit No.126 Featherweights Helicopter Unit, based at Pathankot AFS. Mi-26s are used to ferry supplies & equipment for hard-to-reach Indian Army outposts along the Himalayan frontiers.

- Mil Mi-25/35 Hind

The Mi-25/35 were the first Helicopters to give the IAF serious anti-armour capability, three squadrons flying the type in close co-operation with the ground forces.The Mi24D (Mi-25) and the Mi-24V (Mi-35) are equipped with a YakB four-barrelled, 12.7mm, built-in, flexibly mounted machine gun, which has a firing rate of 4,000-4,500 rounds per minute and a muzzle velocity of 860m/s. The Mi-25/35 can be armed with anti-tank missiles, air to air missiles rocket pods and grenade launchers. The Mi-35 is an improved version of the Mi-25 with greater payload and improved avionics.

India signed a deal with IAI Tamam for the system upgrades of some 25 IAF Mil Mi-25 attack helicopters which includes HMOSP (helicopter multi-mission Optronic Stabilized Payload) with FLIR, TV and auto tracker, embedded GPS (global positioning system) and cockpit multi-function displays.

- ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter) 'Dhruv'

Built to meet the joint-user requirements of the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, the ALH was developed in Bangalore, initially with consultancy support from MBB of Germany (now Eurocopter Deutschland). The ALH is designed as a multi-role helicopter for both military and civilian uses. The Indian Air Force received two Advanced Light Helicopters from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. on Mar 31st, 2002. The Defence Minister, George Fernandes, who dedicated the ALH to the nation, christened them "Dhruv". The development of the HAL has been delayed by the sanctions imposed on India by the US after they cancelled the delivery of the LHTEC 800 engine, the ALH's intended engine. HAL chose the Turbomeca TM333 2B2 as the new powerplant for the ALH. To date, 82 Turbomeca TM333 2B2 engines have been ordered for the Dhruv.

An MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) was signed on 12 September 2000 between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Turbomeca to develop a more powerful version of the TM333-2B2 turbo-shaft. The new engine, called Shakti in India and Ardiden in France, will be available for flight tests in 2003 and certification by 2005. An airborne surveillance radar for mounting on Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) has been developed. The radar can detect airborne and sea surface targets.The availability of the helicopter with the new radar and the user trials are expected to take a year with production likely to start in 2004. The Air Force variant can carry a 20mm gun plus eight anti-tank guided missiles or four air-to-air missiles or 4 x 68mm rocket pods

Sources :

	BHARAT RAKSHAK
	MILAVIA
	Airforce Technology
	Defense Aerospace

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