Aviation Capibility of the Indian Armed Forces

	THE INDIAN Armed Forces are currently modernising their equipment to deal with threats from our adversaries. As far as military aviation is concerned India has the Air Force, Navy and Army Aviation. The Indian Air Force currently is widening its focus to include Aerospace and is a versatile organisation which is the fourth largest Air Force in the world.  Apart from the Indian Air Force, we have military flying machines with the naval aviation, coast guard and the Indian Army which has helicopters with the Aviation Wing and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles as a part of the Surveillance and Target Acquisition Wings of the Regiment of Artillery. Overall military aviation is in the process of modernisation and would be able to operationally match our country’s adversaries. Military Aviation in the Indian context primarily comprises the Indian Air Force (IAF). The IAF has strength of 170,000 with five operational Commands, one training Command and one Maintenance Command. In terms of equipment the IAF has roughly12 air defence squadrons, 17 strike/ground attack squadrons, one maritime strike squadron, three attack helicopter units, nine transport squadrons, one tanker squadron and one AWACS squadron. In addition, the IAF has UAVs and Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles (UCAVs). The Naval Aviation has 7,000 personnel and has a variety of aircraft. There are two fighter squadrons which are ship-borne. They are the Sea Harriers on INS Viraat and one squadron of MiG-29 K on the much awaited aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. There are four maritime reconnaissance squadrons, four helicopter squadrons, one EW squadron and two UAV squadrons. The Indian Army has an Aviation Branch whose primary task is to provide surveillance, direction of artillery fire on depth targets and where ever possible act as an Airborne Forward Air Controller (FAC) for fighter aircraft. Presently, there are about 60 Chetaks (Alouette III), 120 Cheetahs and 40 Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) manufactured indigenously. A weaponised version of Dhruv is under development. There is a deliberate effort on to get about 197 helicopters in conjunction with the IAF to replace the current lot of Cheetahs and Chetaks. This is proposed to be done at the earliest and hopefully will be completed by 2017. Recently the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has cleared the proposal that attack helicopters should be with the Indian Army. However, the IAF will retain 22 A-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters already on order with the Boeing Company of US. Also, the light combat helicopters (LCH) to be manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) would be used by both services with the quantities to be deterrmined individually to meet their respective requirements. There are other proposals which are being discussed by individual services. Apart from this, the Coast Guard which operates in conjunction with the Navy has 12 Dornier 228 for maritime surveillance and reconnaissance. Air Power has an important role in the Indian strategic environment. Large portion of the aircraft and helicopters in service with the IAF are about four decades old and need to be replaced by state-of-the-art equipment or upgraded. The IAF which is in its 81st year is currently the fourth largest Air Force in the World. With fighters undertaking air-to-air refuelling, the capability can be extended to about 10 hours of flying time which in terms of region makes it trans-oceanic. Age affects equipment severely especially with regard to security and safety. To ensure capability enhancement modernisation of the IAF is imperative. The fighter stream needs utmost attention as the number of squadrons has drastically dropped and the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence feels that steps must be taken to increase the number of fighter squadrons to 42 in order that we stand tall in meeting our operational challenges. The IAF has commenced upgrading three of its existing fighter fleets – the MiG-29, Jaguar and the Mirage-2000 – while procuring state-of- the-art fighters. This would enable the IAF to increase its fighter squadrons to about 40 by the end of the 14th plan (2022-2027) and eventually to 45 squadrons by the 15th plan (2027-2032). At the outset let us acquaint ourselves with the upgrades. The MiG-29s are being upgraded by RAC MiG of Russia at a cost $964 million. The entire process will be completed by 2014. The first three upgraded MiG-29s were handed over in December 2012. Three more fighters are to be upgraded in Russia and the remaining 63 will be upgraded in India with support of the Russian partner. The new components include mid-air refuelling, beyond visual range (BVR) combat ability and the Phazatron Zhuk-M radar. The overall life of the aircraft will be increased to 40 years. Jaguars are being upgraded to DARIN-III standard by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at the cost of `3,110 crore ($560 million). The first upgraded Jaguar was successfully test flown in November 2012. The new components will include Mission Computer, Engine and Flight Instrument System, autopilot and the multi mode radar. The project is expected to culminate by 2017. The upgradation of Mirage 2000 has commenced and entails a $2.4 billion contract with French companies Thales and Dassault Aviation. Improvements include new avionics, radars, mission computers, glass cock pits, helmet-mounted displays, weapon delivery and precision targeting systems. All aircraft are expected to be upgraded by 2021 and the life would be enhanced by 20 years. Two aircraft are being upgraded in France and the remaining in HAL. 450 MICA missiles are being separately contracted from MBDA at a cost of 959 million Euros. The IAF is procuring 600 new fighters that include five types of combat planes. These comprise the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Rafale Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), Russian Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA), 42 Su-30 MKI fighters and indigenously developed Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). Orders have been placed for 40 Tejas MK I version with GE 404 engines. The induction will commence possibly by the end of this year and would be completed by 2017. The MK II version would possibly see an order of 99 units, subject to timely development during the 13th plan period (2017-22). The Rafale MMRCA contract is still being negotiated and would hopefully conclude negotiations by this year end. As per existing plans the first Rafale Squadron of 18 aircraft will be inducted three to four years after signing of the contract, possibly around 2017-18.The remaining 108 aircraft will be manufactured by HAL in seven years. The FGFA programme is proceeding smoothly. The aircraft is based on the Russian structural design of the Russian PAF-FA, T-50. This aircraft features stealth, super cruise and ultra manoeuvrability. The initial proposal was to order 214 aircraft but is presently being scaled down to 144. The aircraft are likely to be inducted by 2020. 42 Sukhoi 30 MKIs, will be manufactured by HAL and the initial aircraft will be delivered by 2014. The AMCA is to be developed indigenously by DRDO and the induction was planned by 2020. Currently DRDO has started thinking about the project and it is too early to make predictions. While the acquisition for fighters is making steady progress, there is reasonable procurement with regard to the transport fleet. The big ticket expenditure has been the acquisition of six C-130JSuper Hercules transport aircrafts for movement of Special Forces at a cost of $962.5 million. While a repeat order for six additional aircraft is being processed an order for 10 C-17 Globe Master III strategic airlifters has been placed with Boeing at a cost of $4.116 billion. Further, joint development is taking place with Russia for production of 15-29 tonne class Multi Role Transport Aircraft. Further An-32s are being upgraded with assistance from Ukraine. There is a ‘Request for Proposal’ (RFP) issued for the procurement of 56 transport aircraft of six to eight-tonne class to replace Avro HS-748 fleet in the IAF. These aircraft would be made by a foreign vendor in collaboration with an Indian private partner. This would pave the way for growth of our private industry. The IAF is also procuring two to three more AWACS and additional six mid-air refuellers. While the AWACs order is in its final stages, the refuellers are being obtained from Airbus. In the field of helicopters, other than the attack helicopters, an order has also been placed for 15 Chinook Heavy helicopters. The order for 197 light helicopters is awaiting finalisation by the Ministry of Defence. Further the IAF is keen to procure additional UAVs, UCAVs and Aerostats. Naval Aviation The Indian Navy is today focussed on Net Work Centric Operations to effectively dominate the Indian Ocean Region. Maritime Reconnaissance (MR) is the bedrock of successful naval operations. Since the 90s, the Navy has been utilising the Ilushyn IL-38 and Tupolev Tu-142 for Maritime Reconnaissance as also the Sea Harrier fighter jets on the aircraft carrier plus helicopters and UAVs. The recent induction of MiG-29 K for the new aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya has been a shot in the arm for the Indian Navy. These aircraft are currently based at INS Hansa in Goa and are awaiting the arrival of the aircraft carrier. The other aircraft which deserves mention is the P-8I which has just arrived at INS Rajali, Arakonam (Tamil Nadu) and would replace Tupolev Tu-142. Eight aircraft will be delivered and these are fitted with state-of-the-art sensors and Block II Harpoon missiles. The Navy is currently in the process of procuring about 140 medium and multi role helicopters as also rotary UAVs and Aerostats. Army Aviation The Army Aviation has been playing a stellar role since its creation in 1986. The recent decision of the Ministry of Defence that attack helicopters should in future belong to the Indian Army is a shot in the arm for Army Aviation. There is also a need to replace the existing helicopter fleet which is being appropriately addressed by the Ministry of Defence. Conclusion Aviation resources currently held by the three services are aged and need upgradation or replacement. It is important the authorities wake up to this reality and take expeditious steps to enhance our Air Power. A ‘Gunner’, the writer retired as ADG (Additional Director General) from the Artillery Directorate in Army HQ in 2010.