Indian Air Force


The Indian Air Force (Bharatiya Vayu Sena) is the air-arm of the Armed Forces of India and has the prime responsibility of conducting air-based warfare and securing Indian airspace. It was established on October 8, 1932 as the Royal Indian Air Force. The prefix Royal was dropped after India became a Republic in 1950. It is the fourth largest air force in the world.

History

Formation and early pilots

The Indian Air Force (IAF) was established as the Royal Indian Air Force by the passing of the Indian Air Force act on October 8, 1932. Accordingly, IAF's Number 1 Squadron came into being on April 1, 1933. Initially, the IAF consisted of five fighter pilots, one RAF commanding officer and four Westland Wapiti biplanes.

The first five pilots commissioned into the IAF were H C Sircar, Subroto Mukerjee, Bhupendra Singh, A B Awan and Amarjeet Singh. A sixth officer, S N Tandon had to revert to ground duties as he was too short. All of them were commissioned as Pilot Officers in 1933. Subroto Mukerjee later went on to become the IAF's first Chief of the Air Staff. Subsequent batches inducted before World War II included Aspy Engineer, K K Majumdar, Narendra, R H D Singh, S N Goyal, Baba Mehar Singh, Prithpal Singh and Arjan Singh.



World War II (1939-1945)

The Royal Indian Air Force played an instrumental role in blocking the advance of the Japanese army in Burma, where its first air strike was on the Japanese military base in Arakan. It also carried out strike missions against the Japanese airbases at Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in northern Thailand. During the war, the Indian Air Force went through a phase of steady expansion. New aircraft, including the U.S.-built Vultee Vengeance, Hawker Hurricane and Westland Lysander, were added to its fleet.


Indo-Pakistani War of 1947

In a bid to gain control of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, Pathan tribesmen, armed and aided by Pakistan poured into Kashmir on October 20, 1947. Incapable of withstanding the armed assault in his province, the Maharaja of Kashmir, Hari Singh, asked India for help. The Government of India made its assistance conditional upon Kashmir's accession to India. The Instrument of accession was signed on October 26, 1947 and the next day Indian troops were airlifted into Srinagar. The agreement was later ratified by the British.

Taking off from Safdarjang, then known as Willingdon Airfield, the IAF landed Indian troops at Srinagar airfield at 09:30 hours IST on October 27. This was the most instrumental action of the war as the troops saved the city from the invaders. Apart from the airlifting operations and supplying essential commodities to the ground troops, the Indian Air Force had no other major role to play in the conflict. On December 31, 1948, both nations agreed to a UN mediated cease-fire proposal marking the end of hostilities. A Line of Control has since separated Indian Kashmir from Pakistani-held Kashmir.


Congo Operation (1961)

Belgium's 75-year colonial rule of the Congo ended abruptly on June 30, 1960. Unable to control the deteriorating situation in its former African colony, Belgium asked for UN assistance. In India, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was quick to respond to the initial appeal for help and sent IAF Canberra aircraft as a part of the UN-led mission in Congo.


Sino-Indian War (1962)

Indian Air Force's failure to provide air-cover to the ground forces during the Sino-Indian War was blamed on poor government policies. However, the IAF successfully carried out most of its assigned air-support missions. Shown here are 2 IAF Dakota aircraft carrying out a supply drop mission during the war.In 1962, China launched a sudden assault on Indian military ground positions in the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. The IAF was called to counter-attack the Chinese raid and to supply troops fighting near the Sino-Indian border. The IAF carried out several extremely demanding operations, including the bombing of Chinese helipads in Tibet's mountainous region and airlifting injured soldiers. A notable feature of IAF operations during the conflict was operating C-119 Flying Boxcars from airstrips 17,000 feet above sea level in the Karakoram, Himalayas.

However, the Government of India failed to organise the IAF assault efficiently- one of the primary reasons for the Indian defeat in the conflict. Without essential air support, the Indian Army faced overwhelming odds in their fight against well prepared Chinese troops. The Indian leadership grounded the IAF for the majority of the war fearing that if the IAF attacked Chinese forces, the PLAAF would retalliate on Indian cities. The IAF at the time possessed a superior force and could have won India the war if it was employed properly.

Soon after, the Indian government, learning from its mistakes, began a vigorous campaign to expand the IAF. An emergency flying scheme was started in Delhi, Madras, Kanpur, Nagpur and Patiala and more than 1,000 cadets received primary flying training by 1964. The IAF's strength was increased from 28,000 officers and men in 1961 to 100,000 officers and men by 1964. By 1965, the IAF had also added newly bought Antonov An-12B and C-119G transport aircraft to its fleet.


Sino-Indian War (1962)

Indian Air Force's failure to provide air-cover to the ground forces during the Sino-Indian War was blamed on poor government policies. However, the IAF successfully carried out most of its assigned air-support missions. Shown here are 2 IAF Dakota aircraft carrying out a supply drop mission during the war.In 1962, China launched a sudden assault on Indian military ground positions in the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. The IAF was called to counter-attack the Chinese raid and to supply troops fighting near the Sino-Indian border. The IAF carried out several extremely demanding operations, including the bombing of Chinese helipads in Tibet's mountainous region and airlifting injured soldiers. A notable feature of IAF operations during the conflict was operating C-119 Flying Boxcars from airstrips 17,000 feet above sea level in the Karakoram, Himalayas.

However, the Government of India failed to organise the IAF assault efficiently- one of the primary reasons for the Indian defeat in the conflict. Without essential air support, the Indian Army faced overwhelming odds in their fight against well prepared Chinese troops. The Indian leadership grounded the IAF for the majority of the war fearing that if the IAF attacked Chinese forces, the PLAAF would retalliate on Indian cities. The IAF at the time possessed a superior force and could have won India the war if it was employed properly.

Soon after, the Indian government, learning from its mistakes, began a vigorous campaign to expand the IAF. An emergency flying scheme was started in Delhi, Madras, Kanpur, Nagpur and Patiala and more than 1,000 cadets received primary flying training by 1964. The IAF's strength was increased from 28,000 officers and men in 1961 to 100,000 officers and men by 1964. By 1965, the IAF had also added newly bought Antonov An-12B and C-119G transport aircraft to its fleet.


Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

After the 1965 War, the Indian Air Force went through an intense phase of modernisation and consolidation. With newly acquired HF-24, MiG-21 and Sukhoi Su-7BM aircraft, the IAF was able to measure up to the most powerful air forces in the world.

The professional standards, capability and flexibility were soon put to test in December 1971 when India and Pakistan went to war over (then) East Pakistan. At the time, the IAF was under the command of Air Chief Marshall Pratap Chandra Lal. On November 22, 10 days before the start of a full-scale war, four PAF F-86 Sabre jets attacked Indian and Mukti Bahini positions near the Indo-Bangla border. Three of the 4 PAF Sabres were shot down by IAF Gnats, and hostilities commenced. By mid-December the PAF had carried out strikes against Indian bases in Srinagar, Ambala, Sirsa, Halwar and Jodhpur. IAF's initial strategy was defensive, but after witnessing Pakistan Air Force's aggressive assault it launched a vigorous campaign against Pakistan. Within the first two weeks, the IAF had carried out more than 4,000 sorties in West Pakistan and provided successful air cover for the advancing Indian army in East Pakistan. IAF also assisted the Indian Navy in sinking several Pakistani naval vessels in the Bay of Bengal. On the western front too, IAF inflicted heavy casualties on Pakistan and played a crucial role in thwarting the Pakistani invasion. During the Battle of Longewala, the IAF destroyed over 50 Pakistani tanks and armoured vehicles. Not until the Gulf War would so many tanks be neutralised with little to no air losses. The air superiority was such that Richard Sisson in his book noted: "in the Sindh sector... [the Pakistan troops] were left unsupported by an [Pakistan] air force fearful of losing planes and unsympathetic to the military's cause". In three weeks of intense fighting the IAF rapidly gained the initiative and dominated the skies, securing an Indian victory.


Operation Meghdoot

In 1984, Indian intelligence agencies detected Pakistani infiltration in the disputed Siachen Glacier region. The Indian Air Force launched Operation Meghdoot on April 13, 1984 under which thousands of Indian paratroopers were airlifted to the region. The operation was a resounding success with India regaining control of more than 80% of the glacier. The operation showcased IAF's airlift capability which allowed constant transfer of troops and material on the highest battlefield on Earth.


Operation Cactus

In November 1988, Tamil mercenaries from Sri Lanka invaded the Maldives, a small island nation south of India. After an appeal by the Maldivian government for help, India launched a military campaign to throw the mercenaries out of Maldives. On the night of November 3 1988, the Indian Air Force airlifted a parachute battalion group from Agra and flew them non-stop over 2000 km to Maldives. The Indian paratroopers landed at Hulule and secured the airfield and restored the Government rule at Malé within hours. The brief, bloodless operation showcased the capability of the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy in what was labelled Operation Cactus.


Operation Safed Sagar

During the Kargil War with Pakistan, the Indian Air Force is said to have proved the decisive force in accelerating the end of the conflict. It successfully provided considerable air-cover for Indian troops fighting against Pakistani intruders and also carried out air assaults against enemy forces in Kashmir, but did not strike any targets in Pakistan. Most notable were the IAF's Mirage 2000 aircraft, which carried out surgical operations to assist ground troops in securing the strategically crucial Tiger Hill from its Pakistani captors. The IAF also carried out several operations to provide essential supplies to the ground troops. During the conflict, one IAF MiG-27 and an IAF MiG-21 were shot down by Pakistani air defence missiles. The latter was on a search operation to find the former's crash site, and the downed pilot, when it was shot down. An Mi-17 helicopter was shot down by a shoulder-held missile with the loss of all its crew.

On August 10, 1999, a PAF French-built naval Breguet Atlantic was caught spying over the Rann of Kutch area and was shot down by two IAF MiG-21 jets killing all 16 aboard. (See Atlantique Incident)

IAF Air Staff

With its headquarters in New Delhi, the Indian Air Force has a strength of 170,000 personnel and 1129 combat aircraft (2005 figure).

The administrative branch of the IAF is divided into three main branches:

• Flying Branch 
• Administration 
• Logistics and Training 

and five sub-branches:

• Account Branch 
• Technical Branch 
• Education Branch 
• Meteorological Branch 
• Medical & Dental Branch 
  

Rank Structure

The head of the Indian Air Force is known as the Chief of the Air Staff. The highest rank in the IAF is Marshal of the Air Force, which is conferred by the President of India only in exceptional circumstances. Arjan Singh is the only officer to have achieved this rank.

Officer

The various ranks of personnel within the Indian Air Force are listed below in descending order:

• Marshal of the Air Force (A ceremonial rank) 
• Air Chief Marshal (Chief of the Air Staff and equivalent to General and Admiral) 
• Air Marshal (equivalent to Lt. General in the Army) 
• Air Vice Marshal (equivalent to Major General in the Army) 
• Air Commodore (equivalent to Brigadier in the Army) 
• Group Captain (equivalent to Colonel in the Army) 
• Wing Commander (equivalent to Lt. Colonel in the Army) 
• Squadron Leader (equivalent to Major in the Army) 
• Flight Lieutenant (equivalent to Captain in the Army) 
• Flying Officer (equivalent to Lieutenant in the Army) 
• Pilot Officer (equivalent to Second-Lieutenent in the Army--abolished since 2005) 

Airmen

During its formation, the rank structure of airmen was based on the British model. Over the years the rank structure has seen significant changes.

• Master Warrant Officer 
• Warrant Officer 
• Junior Warrant Officer 
• Sergeant 
• Corporal 
• Aircraftsman 
  

Structure of the IAF

The head of the Indian Air Force, Chief of the Air Staff, is assisted by six officers: the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, the Air Officer in Charge of Administration, the Air Officer in Charge of Personnel, the Air Officer in Charge of Maintenance, and the Inspector General of Flight Safety.


Commands

The Indian Air Force currently operates seven Commands. Each Command is headed by a Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief in the rank of Air Marshal.

• Western Air Command, Subroto Park, New Delhi 
• Eastern Air Command, Shillong, Meghalaya
• Central Air Command, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh
• Southern Air Command, Trivandrum, Kerala 
• South Western Air Command, Gandhinagar, Gujarat
• Training Command, Bangalore, Karnataka
• Maintenance Command, Nagpur, Maharashtra

Wings

Wing is a static formation below the level of the Commands and is an intermediate between Command and Squadron. A Wing generally consists of three IAF Squadrons and along with the Forward Support Bloc Units (FSBU), it is responsible for maintaining the installation. Currently, 47 Wings and 19 FSBUs make up the IAF.


Squadrons

Squadrons are the field units and formations attached to static locations. In other words, a Flying Squadron is a sub-unit of an air force station which carries out the primary task of the IAF. All fighter squadrons are headed by the Commanding Officer with the rank of Wing Commander. Some Transport squadrons and Helicopter Units are headed by the Commanding Officer with the rank of Group Captain.


IAF Aircraft

The Indian Air Force has a strength of 750+ combat aircraft and presently operates with a total of 42 squadrons. Most of the IAF's fighter jets are of French, Russian and British origin, with designs by the latter two countries being constructed by Hindustan Aviation under license. The indigenously-built HAL Tejas (formerly Light Combat Aircraft) is expected to enter service by 2010.

Air Superiority Aircraft

The Sukhoi Su-30MKI (MKI: 'Multifunctional Commercial - Indian') is the IAF's prime air superiority combat aircraft. The Su-30K variant was first acquired in 1996. In October 2004, the IAF signed a multi-billion US$ contract with Sukhoi according to which Hindustan Aeronautics was given the license to manufacture 140+ Su-30MKI's with full technology transfer. HAL plans to manufacture about 15 of these aircraft annually. The twin seater, multi-role fighter has a maximum speed of 2500 km/h (Mach 2.35) and has a service ceiling of 17,500 metres. The aircraft with a normal fuel load 5270 kg can travel up to 1900 miles and can carry 8,000 kg external armament.

Multi role combat aircraft

These are aircraft for strike, offensive support and air defence purposes. The IAF currently possesses several multi-role fighter jets that perform these functions. Single-seater Mirage 2000 and MiG-29 serve both strike and defense squadrons. The MiG-29 (fulcrum) has a top speed of 2445 km/h (Mach 2.3) and is armed with a 30 mm cannon along with R-60 & R-27 R missiles. Capable of flying at 2500 km/h (Mach 2.3), the Mirage 2000 is the IAF's prime ground-attack fighter jet. This aircraft can carry a wide range of weaponry including two 30 mm integral cannons, two Matra super 530D medium-range missiles and two R-550 Magic close combat missiles. 175+ multi-role MiG-21 (Fishbed) combat aircraft have been serving the IAF for the past two decades. The air force plans to eventually replace MiG-21s with the indigenously-built LCA HAL Tejas by about 2011.

Strike, attack and offensive support aircraft

Squadrons of Jaguar IM, MiG-27 and MiG-23 aircraft serve as the IAF's primary strike force. The twin-engine Jaguar, with a top speed of Mach 1.3, is capable of carrying nuclear warheads. The IAF currently possess 100 Jaguar IM and 20 maritime strike Jaguar IS aircraft. The single-seater MiG-27 carries one GSh-6-30 30mm cannon, 4000 kg of general purpose SPPU-22 and SPPU-6 gun pods, and various guided air-to-surface missiles.

Reconnaissance aircraft

Besides various unmanned aircraft for reconnaissance, the IAF also possess several MiG-25 (Foxbat) R, U reconnaissance aircraft. The high-speed interceptor aircraft carries four R-40 (AA-6 'Acrid') air-to-air missiles, two R-23 (AA-7 'Apex') and four R-60 (AA-8 'Aphid') or R-73 (AA-11 'Archer'). The MiG-25, in service since the late 1980s, is due to be replaced. In 2003, the IAF bought 6 IL-78 aircraft from Russia. The aircraft's primary role is mid-air re-fueling. Later on, the IAF fitted the aircraft with Israeli IAI Phalcon early warning and communication systems, making the Il-78 capable of carrying out reconnaissance missions.

Unmanned aerial vehicles

The IAF currently operates IAI Malat-built Searcher MkII and Heron UAVs. IAF units are being provided with these UAVs progressively and projected to bolster one of the largest UAV fleets of the world. Israel Aircraft Industries will also assist Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), India's leading unmanned aerial vehicle research agency, to develop three new UAVs. HAL Lakshya, indigenously-developed pilotless target aircraft, was inducted into the IAF in July 2005.

Training aircraft

The Indian Air Force currently operates more than 175 MiG-21 aircraft. Due to its aging equipment, several MiG-21s used in training roles have crashed over the past six years, killing over 50 IAF pilots and earning the nickname flying coffins. The IAF initially planned to replace the MiG-21 fleet with indigenously-built HAL Tejas aircraft by 2006. However, the target could not be met due to developmental delays and a U.S. sanction, following the Pokhran tests, which blocked the delivery of GE F404 engines- a crucial component of the aircraft.

In 2003, the IAF placed an order for 66 Hawk T1 training aircraft in a deal worth over 1 billion GBP. The supply of these advanced trainer aircraft will bring to an end the use of the MiG-21 as a training jet. India also manufactures less-sophisticated HAL HJT-16 Kiran and HPT-32 Deepak basic training aircraft.

Future Aircrafts

The Indian Air Force currently operates more than 175 MiG-21 aircraft. Due to its aging equipment, several MiG-21s used in training roles have crashed over the past six years, killing over 50 IAF pilots and earning the nickname flying coffins. The IAF initially planned to replace the MiG-21 fleet with indigenously-built HAL Tejas aircraft by 2006. However, the target could not be met due to developmental delays and a US sanction, following the Pokhran tests, which blocked the delivery of GE F404 engines- a crucial component of the aircraft.

Eager to end its dependence on the MiG-21s, the IAF announced that it intended to purchase 126 aircraft worth over US$6 billion in 2004. The air force sent a Request of Information (RoI) for the following aircraft: Russian MiG-29 M2, French Mirage 2000-5Mk2, Swedish Gripen and the US F-16C. Besides the F-16Cs, the US has also offered the sale of F-16 Block 70 and F/A-18 Hornet 18E/F combat aircraft. However, the IAF seemed inclined towards purchasing the MiG-35 (MiG-29OVT). It recently purchased 12 Mirage 2000s from Qatar and has also placed an order for 29 upgraded versions of indigenously-manufactured Jaguar IM strike aircraft.

Experts estimate that for India to exert influence over South Asia and the Indian Ocean region, it would require at least 60 squadrons of aircraft performing multi-role combat, deep penetration strike, air superiority, air defence, reconnaissance and electronic warfare tasks. However, the IAF presently operates only 42 squadrons, making the acquisition of these, and other aircraft all the more vital. In November 2005, the Indian Defence Ministry decided to purchase 200 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft instead of the initial proposal of 126 arcraft, opening the door for more than one supplier. The value of the original contract was 6 Billion USD; the revised plan brings the total value of the contract to 11 billion USD. The new aircraft will not only increase IAF fleet but would also replace aging Jaguars, MiG-23s and MiG-27s.

It is reported that most IAF officers favour the MiG-35 and the Mirage 2000-9 over the F-16s and F/A-18 Hornets. MiG and Dassault have historically been reliable suppliers in terms of transfers of technology, licensed production in India, personnel training, supply of spare parts, maintenance and upgrading. IAF pilots and technicians are familiar with earlier aircraft from MiG and Dassault and would need minimal retraining. Infrastructural and logistical support for maintenance and spares would also be easier for these aircraft compared to the unfamiliar Gripens, F-16s and F/A-18s.

Apart from the 200 multi-role combat aircraft and 120+ Light Combat Aircraft, the Indian Air Force was recently given a clearance by the Indian Ministry of Defence to purchase 80+ combat helicopters, six to eight air-refuelling planes and some additional medium-range transport aircraft.

In Development

Besides 200 medium multi-role combat aircraft, the IAF will also buy 120+ indigenously-built HAL Tejas light combat aircraft in a deal worth US$ 1.5 billion. These aircraft are expected to enter service by 2010. The HAL HJT-36 Intermediate Jet Trainer carried out its maiden test flight in 2003 and is all set to enter service within the next 5 years. HAL recently signed a deal with Russian company Saturn DDB for supply of a specially designed engine for the trainer. The 66 Hawk T.132s will begin arriving in India from 2007. The Hawk, along with the HAL HJT-36, will serve the IAF's future fighter training needs. Apart from combat and training aircraft, India is also developing un-manned surveillance aircraft in collaboration with Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI).

In 2001, the Ministry of Defence signed a deal with Russia to jointly develop and fund the Perspektivnyi Aviatsionnyi Kompleks Frontovoi Aviatsyi (Future Air Complex for Tactical Air Forces) program. The program was initiated to develop a fifth generation fighter aircraft to fill a role similar to that of Lockheed Martin's F/A-22 Raptor in all aspects. Initially, Mikoyan-Gurevich's Project 1.44 was expected to get the contract. However, Sukhoi Aviation Corporation came up with a more cost-effective aircraft and won. Design work has commenced on Sukhoi's experimental Su-47 Berkut aircraft. PAK FA proves to be a very ambitious program and the estimated costs for developing the aircraft vary between US$15-20 billion. As of 2003 it was undergoing flight testing. The aircraft is set to go into production for the Russian and Indian Air Force in 2009.

India is also planning to construct a fifth generation aircraft named as the Medium Combat Aircraft or MCA. The MCA is presently in early stages of development and production is expected to commence in 2015. Hindustan Aeronautics has already commenced the development of a medium-range transport aircraft which will replace the IAF's ageing fleet of Antonov An-32s.

Missile systems

Besides conducting air-based warfare, Indian Air Force also bears the responsibility of protecting Indian skies making anti-aircraft and surface-to-air missiles an important component of the IAF. The most notable missile system under the IAF are Prithvi 2 ballistic missiles and the SAM 3 air defence system. The IAF and the Indian Army are currently developing Akash and Trishul surface-to-air missiles as a part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Air_Force