Future of the Indian Air Force

The Indian Air Force has been undergoing a modernization program to replace and upgrade its aging and outdated equipment since the late 90s to advanced standards. For that reason it has started procuring and developing aircraft, weapons, associated technologies, and infrastructures. Some of these programs date back to the late 80s. The primary focus of current modernization and upgrades is to replace aircraft purchased from the Soviet Union that currently form the backbone of the Air Force.

The Indian Airforce plans to attain 45 squadrons strength by 2035 & deploy 450 fighter jets each along the Northern & Western borders with Pakistan,China & Eastern Borders with China. The IAF will also acquire large numbers of stealthy autonomous UCAVs(DRDO AURA), swarm drones(ALFA-S) and unmanned aircraft to transform into a fully advanced Network-Centric Force capable of sustained multi role operations along entire spectrum.

Upgrades

The Indian Air Force began an upgrade of its MiG-29 fleet in 2007.[1] India awarded Russia a US$865 million contract to upgrade its air superiority MiG-29 into multi-role MiG-29UPG standard warplanes, on Monday 10 March 2008. According to the deal, Russia will re-arm the twin-engined MiG-29s with air-to-air missiles, and the upgraded MiGs will feature increased fuel capacity and will include latest avionics. The design is a new modification intended for the MiG-29s used by Indian Air Force. It made its maiden flight on 4 February 2011. The standard includes the new Zhuk-M radar, new avionics, an IFR probe as well as new enhanced RD-33 series 3 turbojet engines. The modernisation is part of a $900 million contract to upgrade the 66 fighter fleet.[2][3]

Although not initially designed to carry strategic weapons, the Indian Air Force will receive 40 upgraded Su-30MKIs capable of carrying the BrahMos cruise missile possibly by 2020.[4][5] In addition, there are also plans to integrate the nuclear-capable Nirbhay missile with the aircraft as well.[6]

As part of a different effort for modernisation, the 'Super Sukhoi' programs aims to modernise the entire Indian air force Su-30MKI fleet with new active electronically scanned array (AESA) Zhuk radars, onboard computers, and advanced electronic warfare systems.[7] The exact value of the contract has yet to be disclosed however.[8][9]An initial 42 fighters will be upgraded before the rest of the Indian Air Force Su-30MKI fleet.[10]

In March 2010, India and France finalised the long delayed deal to upgrade all of India's Mirage 2000H to Mirage 2000-5 Mk 2 variant with new radar systems, a new weapon suite, missiles, electronic warfare system etc.[11] French claim that the combat-proven aircraft will be upgraded to next-generation fighter level.[11] The first four to six Mirages will be upgraded in France, with the rest 50 or so being upgraded in India by Hindustan Aeronautics under transfer of technology. Under the upgrade, the entire airframe will be stripped down to be re-wired and re-equipped with new avionics, mission computers, glass cockpits, helmet-mounted displays, electronic warfare suites and weapon systems to extend and enhance the operational life of the multi-role fighters by around 20 years.[12]

The SEPECAT Jaguar remains an important element of the Indian military as, along with the Mirage 2000, the Jaguar has been described as one of the few aircraft capable of performing the nuclear strike role with reasonable chances of success.[13] As the aircraft aged, the avionics were viewed as lacking suitable components for the ground attack mission such as terrain-following radar, GPS navigation, and modern night-flight systems;[14] consequently, several upgrades were carried out in the mid-1990s, including the addition of the Litening targeting pod. India placed an order for 17 additional upgraded Jaguar aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics in 1999 and a further 20 in 2001–2002.[15] The Indian Air Force plans to upgrade up to 125 Jaguars starting in 2013 by upgrading the avionics (including multi-mode radar, auto-pilot and other changes) as part of the DARIN III programme and additionally is considering fitting more powerful engines, Honeywell F125IN to improve performance, particularly at medium altitudes. However, in the early 2019 IAF dropped the plans to upgrade the engines of Jaguars due to high cost demand by the engine manufacturer. The early variants of the Jaguar will be eventually retired starting from 2023. [16]

Under procurement

Fighter Aircraft

HAL Tejas

HAL Tejas MK1/MK1A

HAL has already received orders for 40 aircraft of MK 1 variant which will be delivered by 2021. The DAC approved procurement of 83 advanced Tejas jets of MK 1A variant with advanced multi-mode AESA Radar, Jammers, superior avionics, next gen BVR missiles, better payload and enhanced combat range. The induction of 123 Tejas MK1/MK1A will be completed by 2026.

Dassault Rafale

Rafale

On 10 April 2015, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Paris, it was announced that India would buy 36 Dassault Rafales in fly-away condition. The IAF plans to acquire 114 additional Rafales by 2030.[17] The deal was finalised in November 2015. However, it got stalled for a considerable amount of time in terms of price negotiation. Finally, the deadlock has been resolved.

On 23 September 2016, India's Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian signed the contract for the purchase of 36 Rafales in a deal worth 7.8 billion Euros. The first Rafale warplanes are slated to be delivered roughly within three years of the signing of the deal. The first aircraft was delivered to the IAF in 2019, with the full complement of aircraft to be delivered by 2022.[18]

Transports

IAF C-130J aircraft

In early 2008, the IAF signed a deal to acquire six C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, modified for special mission roles, for US$1.06 billion.[19] The aircraft are a part of No. 77 Squadron based at Hindon Air Force Station and Lockheed Martin has delivered all six by October 2011.[20][21] On 16 September 2011, the Government of India sent a Letter of Request to the United States to price out the purchase of an additional six C-130Js which will be based in the eastern theatre. The deal for these additional aircraft was signed in December 2013.[22] The new C-130Js form No. 87 Squadron based at Panagarh Air Force Station in Panagarh. All six aircraft were delivered by August 2017.[23][24] IAF is also looking to buy an additional C-130J aircraft as a replacement for the one crashed in 2014 near Gwalior.[25][26]

On 24 July 2012, the IAF issued a Request For Information for 56 transport planes at $2.4 billion. These will be the replacement for an ageing fleet of 55 Hawker Siddeley HS 748. The first 16 planes under the deal will be directly procured from the vendor. The winning company will have to tie-up with an Indian private or a public sector firm to acquire components for manufacturing the remaining 40 planes.[27] On 28 October 2014, Airbus Defence and Space announced it would bid for the contract with its EADS CASA C-295 transport; the bid would involve a partnership with Tata Advanced Systems. Alenia Aermacchi also submitted a bid, offering their Alenia C-27J Spartan, but withdrew it on 6 November.[28][29] An order for 56 was finalised on 13 May 2015 by the Indian Ministry of Defense. The first 16 C-295s will be brought in fly away condition; the remaining 40 will be manufactured in India in partnership with Tata Advanced Systems.[30] In March 2019, as price negotiations were concluded, the order was raised to a total of 62, with 6 aircraft for Indian Coast Guard.[31]

Two Air India Boeing 777-300ER aircraft will be transferred to the Indian Air Force for VIP transport duties of the Prime Minister and the President. These aircraft will be owned and operated by the Air Force unlike the previous Boeing 747–400 VIP transport aircraft that were operated by Air India. The transfer of the aircraft was expected to be complete by the end of 2015.[32][33]

Trainers

The IAF was planning to acquire 181 basic trainer aircraft & IAF selected Switzerland's Pilatus Aircraft to supply 75 PC-7 Mk.II trainer planes for $1 billion.[34] The Indian Ministry of Defence wanted to buy an additional 106 basic trainer aircraft from Pilatus in a separate deal.[35] However, on 28 February 2015, it was reported that Ministry of Defence has selected 70 HAL HTT-40 trainers and 38 Pilatus trainers to replace its current trainer aircraft fleet stating that this move was "commercially viable" under the "Make in India" programme.[36] In 2017, HAL CMD reported that HAL will soon sign a contract for 106 HTT-40 aircraft and deliver it to the air force.[37]

In May 2020, Chief of the Air Staff ACM Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria announced the plan to shelve the order for additional Pilatus PC-7 for the indigenous HAL HTT-40.[38]

Helicopters

AH-64 Apache and CH-47 Chinook

CH-47F Chinook in IAF

On 26 May 2009, the Ministry of Defence invited bids for 22 combat helicopters and 15 heavy-lift helicopters in a deal worth US$2 billion. Companies which have expressed their interest in the tender include — Russia's Kamov and Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, Europe's AgustaWestland and Eurocopter and United States' Bell Helicopter and Boeing.[39][40] Boeing submitted its initial bid on 23 October 2009 offering the AH-64D Block-III Apache Longbow attack helicopter (later, Redesignated as AH-64E) and the CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift, twin-rotor helicopters.[41] In 2011, it was reported that the American AH-64 Apache had emerged as the winner ahead of the Russian Mi-28N defence deal for 22 attack helicopters.[42][43][44] CH-47F has emerged as the "L-1 (lowest bidder)" in comparison to the Mi-26 after both the huge helicopters passed the extensive technical field trials conducted by Indian Air Force.[45] On 28 September 2015, a contract was formally signed; the first helicopter (both AH-64E & CH-47F) was expected to be delivered to India in 2019.[46][47] The first flights of both helicopters were conducted July 2018.[47]In February 2020,Ministry of Defence decided to procure 6 AH-64E Apache helicopters for the army in addition to the 22 already sanctioned for the Indian airforce. These are likely to be armed with Stinger air-to-air missiles and Hellfire Longbow air-to-ground missiles.[48]

HAL Light Combat Helicopter

The IAF will deploy indigenously developed HAL Light Combat Helicopters for its combat operations, complementing AH-64D Apache, after the Operational certificate is granted.[49] Limited Series Production of 15 LCH started in 2017 (5 for Army, 10 for Air Force).[50] Indian Air Force has placed an order for 65 LCHs.[51] The type is also intended to be sold upon the export market.[52]

HAL Rudra

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is now developing the HAL Dhruv Weapon System Integrated (WSI) helicopter named HAL Rudra. It is a variant of Dhruv (ALH) MK-4 to strengthen the fleet of attack helicopters. Indian Air Force place an order for 38 Rudra helicopters.

Mi-17V-5

In December 2008, India and Russia inked a deal for the supply of 80 Mi-17V-5 medium lift helicopters at a cost of US$1.2 billion. The two countries had earlier negotiated a price of $650 million, but early in 2008 Russia asked for a revision of the contract price. Russia was expected to deliver the Mi-17 to the IAF in 2010.[53][54] The deal also envisages a US$405 million "offset" obligation by Russia. The new choppers, which have an 18,000 ft operational ceiling, will replace 50 Mi-8s currently in service with the IAF, some of which are over 35 years old, and boost IAF's capability to support high-altitude posts in Siachen and Ladakh sectors. The helicopter will come with the circuitry and hard points to carry weapons. In December 2012, India signed another contract for 71 aircraft at a cost of US$1.3 billion. These helicopters were to replace its ageing fleet of the older MI-17s and MI-8s. [55][56] All 151 helicopters were delivered as of February 2016.[57] In July 2018, Indian Air Force was looking to place an additional order of 48 Mi-17V5 aircraft.[58]

HAL Dhruv

IAF operates indigenously developed Advance Light Helicopter HAL Dhruv for various purposes including Transportation of troops and logistics, to limited search and rescue operations. 46 have been delivered to IAF, with 65(+) on order with HAL.[59]

Kamov Ka-226T

In December 2014, Kamov Ka-226T was selected as a Light Utility Helicopter and an initial replacement for Chetak & Cheetah, while the LUH is under development. Kamov would set up a production plant in India and around 197 would be procured under the "Make in India" programme.[60][61] The agreement on manufacture of Kamov 226 helicopter in India is the first project for a major defence platform under the Make In India mission.[62]

Unmanned aerial vehicles

The Indian Air Force has submitted a request for information to international suppliers for an unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) with low radar cross-section, high service ceiling, an expected range of 500 nm (925 km) and the capability to carry precision-guided weapons in an internal weapons bay.[63] DRDO Rustom and DRDO AURA are the two UCAVs under development.

Surface-to-air missile systems

In June 2007, India signed a $250 million to purchase SPYDER (Surface-to-air PYthon and DERby) mobile air defence missiles from Israel.[64] The two countries signed an additional $4 billion deal for the joint development of a medium-range surface-to-air missiles.[65] However, the procurement of SPYDER missiles was delayed because of an ongoing investigation against Israel Aerospace Industries and RAFAEL by Indian intelligence agencies for its alleged kickbacks in the Barak-I deal with the Indian Navy.[66] In August 2008, a $2.5 billion deal was signed by India and Israel to develop an advanced version of the SPYDER.[67]

Cruise missiles

The air-launched version of BrahMos

DRDO is developing the air-launched version of the BrahMos cruise missile in a joint venture with Russia's NPO Mashinostroeyenia. The air-launched version for the Indian Air Force is ready for testing.[68] The IAF has signed a contract with Russia to upgrade 40 Su-30MKIs to give them the capability of carrying the BrahMos cruise missile by 2012.[4]

DRDO has also developed the nuclear capable Nirbhay cruise missile, which is capable of hitting target at 1000 km to 1100 km far at 2 m accuracy.[69]

Under development

Fighters

Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft

Model of HAL AMCA

HAL has also started design work on an Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), which is a twin-engined 5th generation stealth multirole fighter. It will complement the HAL Tejas, the Sukhoi Su-30MKI and the Dassault Rafale in the Indian Air Force. The main purpose of this aircraft is to replace the aging SEPECAT Jaguar & Dassault Mirage 2000 fighters.[70]

OMNI ROLE COMBAT AIRCRAFT (ORCA)

Omni Role Combat Aircraft is a concept to design & develop a twin-engine omni role fighter of Rafale category.The design of the Omni Role Combat Aircraft (ORCA), an Air Force variant of the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF), with significant design differences, was being studied as of 2020. The first flight of the TEDBF is targeted for 2025 with the fighter expected to be inducted into the Navy by 2030.[71]

MEDIUM WEIGHT FIGHTER (MWF AF MK2)

The HAL Tejas Mark 2, or Medium Weight Fighter or HAL MWF,[2] is a planned single-engine, delta wing, multirole fighter designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force (IAF). It is a further development of the HAL Tejas, or Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), programme which began in the 1980s to replace India's ageing MiG-21 fighters. The Tejas Mk 2 is being designed to replace multiple strike-fighters like SEPECAT Jaguars, Dassault Mirage-2000 & MiG-29 of Indian Air Force.[3][4][5]

It has a tail-less compound delta-wing configuration with a single vertical stabilizer with closed-coupled canards to provide static instability and high manoeuverability, and is equipped with fly-by-wire systems to control instability.

There is confirmation from the chief of Aeronautical Development Agency that MWF will shed its "Tejas" stamp and get a completely new name altogether[6] during or after its first flight.Its metal cutting will begin from 2021

M-MRCA 2.0

On 3 January 2017, Minister of Defence Manohar Parrikar addressed a media conference and announced plans for a competition to select a Strategic Partner to deliver "200 new single engine fighters to be made in India, which will easily cost around (USD)$45 million apiece without weaponry" with an expectation that Lockheed Martin (USA) and Saab (Sweden) will pitch the F-16 Block 70 and Gripen, respectively. An MoD official said that a global tender will be put to market in the first quarter of 2018, with a private company nominated as the strategic partners production agency followed by a two or more year process to evaluate technical and financial bids and conduct trials, before the final government-to-government deal in 2021. This represents 11 squadrons of aircraft plus several 'attrition' aircraft.

However,the plan to acquire foreign-made single engine fighters was replaced by planned induction indigenous Tejas aircraft of different variants.[72] In November 2017, India Today reported that the Indian Air Force told the government that the Tejas is inadequate for the single-engined fighter program with insufficient flight endurance, smaller payload capacity, increased maintenance hours, and higher costs for maintenance compared to other contender aircraft.[73]

Later the the competition was declared to be open for twin engine fighters.[74] The contenders were the same as MRCA which are Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Mig 35, Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Saab JAS 39 Gripen, Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon block 70 replaced by F21, the new contenders were McDonnell Douglas F-15EX, Sukhoi Su-35 and possibly the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.

Unmanned Wingman

HAL Unmanned Wingman is an armed stealth drone which will team up and fight alongside IAF fighters to hit high-value enemy targets. It is designed to carry out MUM-T Operations. It will be the first line of offense in operations against heavily defended, integrated air defence networks. An Indian defence startup is also a part of the mission team.

Each drone will initially be armed with a single precision-guided weapon, such as an air-to-surface missile or a laser-guided bomb. Future versions of the platform will also be able to fire air-to-air missiles to target enemy fighters.The Unmanned Wingman will be connected to a heavily-upgraded IAF Jaguar fighter bomber (called the Jaguar Max); pilots onboard which will assign specific tasks to each of the unmanned drones which fly alongside the fighter.The drone will also operate with other platforms.The first flight is expected by 2022 & induction by 2029.[75]

HAL is designing & developing AI powered, stealthy autonomous swarm drones known as ALFA-S in collaboration with a private firm in Bangalore.R&D work will be completed in 2 years & first flight is expected by 2022. The ALFA-S swarming drones will have two folding wings. They will be fitted inside canisters mounted under the wings of IAF aircraft. Each swarm could have dozens of individual drones. If detected, some of the drones would be shot down, but the sheer numbers of the swarm would overwhelm enemy defences such as surface-to-air missile units to ensure a high probability of mission success.The first drone prototypes are likely to be deployed from Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers being built, under licence, at Hindustan Aeronautics. Ultimately though, the drones are meant to be launched from any Indian Air Force aircraft - fighter jets and transports. The plan to develop indigenous swarming drones is a part of the Combat Air Teaming System project or CATS, which has three distinct elements. In addition to the ALFA-S swarm drones, a robotic wingman, meant to accompany a manned fighter jet into combat is being also being developed.

The final element of CATS is the development of an ultra-high altitude drone meant to remain flying for up to three weeks at a stretch while providing real-time images and video.

The government strongly backs the Combat Air Teaming System initiative as part of the Make in India programme, which encourages Indian defence manufacturers to focus on core research and development projects towards the next-generation requirements of India's armed forces. In 2018, the Defence Ministry set up iDEX, or Innovations for Defence Excellence under the Defence Innovation Organisation, a not-for-profit company meant to provide high level policy guidance for high-tech indigenous ventures working on India's defence and aerospace needs.[76]

Airborne early warning

DRDO AWACS

In 2004, Defence Research and Development Organisation revived the Airavat Project, which was India's first attempt in developing an indigenous AEW aircraft.[77] A $210 million deal signed with Brazil's Embraer in 2008 for the supply of three Embraer EMB-145 regional jets.[78] Embraer Defense and Security, on 16 August 2012, delivered the first EMB 145 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) class of aircraft. The delivery followed successful completion of ground and flight tests of the aircraft which met operational targets established by both Embraer and Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) of Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). Later, the aircraft will be delivered to the Indian Air Force after integration of missions systems of DRDO by CABS in India.