Indian Defence Review

Sukhoi Su-30MKI

SU 30 MKI

As on date, the muscle of the combat aircraft fleet lies in the SU-30 MKI fleet. This fleet is scheduled to be built up by 2019 to a strength of 272 aircraft operating in 15 squadrons of the IAF. The SU-30 MKI aircraft is an all-weather, heavy weight, long range air dominance fighter manufactured under licence by HAL under a $12 billion (Rs 72,000 crore) contract with Russia. This is a fourth generation aircraft modified specially to meet the needs of the IAF. It integrates Indian systems along with Israeli and French sub-systems on a Russian platform.

The fleet has provided the IAF with the capability and the strategic reach to counter any threat both within the nation’s airspace as well as in the region. The aircraft, though not initially designed to carry strategic weapons, is being modified to carry the air-launched version of the Indo-Russian Brahmos missile. It is also reported that the aircraft will be modified to carry the nuclear-capable Nirbhay missile too. Talks are on with Russia to upgrade the fleet to fifth-generation standards. If this plan is successful, this fleet will continue to operate in the Indian skies for at least another three to four decades.

The IAF of the Future

The IAF has laid considerable emphasis on building its core competencies because of decisive factors from recent conflicts and the continually evolving geo-political situation both within the region and beyond. The IAF has moved ahead to develop itself into a major component of national power with a capability of anti-access, target identification and force protection through swift and decisive application of technology and fire power. The impetus to its acquisition, upgrade and modernisation programmes is to not only regain but also substantially improve its operational capabilities. The progress is generally satisfactory. However, some programmes despite the best efforts, do have a few hiccups and delays.

The Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA)

With a budgetary allocation of $20 billion (about Rs 120,000 crore), the proposal to acquire 126 fourth generation Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), for which the twin engine omni-role Rafale from Dassault Aviation of France has been selected by the IAF, has been appropriately described as the “Mother of all Defence Deals”. After a process of exhaustive technical and flight evaluation that included detailed testing and scrutiny of parameters, the selection of the platform was finalised in June 2011 and thereafter, the Original Equipment Manufacturer was invited for the commercial negotiations in January 2012. It is now close to three years since then and as yet, the contract has not been concluded. If and only if, the contract is signed in this financial year, the first aircraft will don the Indian colours in 2017.

Notwithstanding the optimism from all quarters, there are impediments in the speedy finalisation of the MMRCA contract. The IAF desperately needs these aircraft to maintain a balance of force between itself and the Air Forces of the two adversaries not just to maintain parity in numbers but also to gain superiority in combat capability. Reportedly, more than 75 per cent of the sub-contract negotiations are over; optimistically the remainder too would see finalisation before the end of the current financial year i.e. by March 31, 2015. Hopefully, the IAF will not be disappointed.

Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas

The IAF is also facing delays in the induction of the indigenous product, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) christened as the Tejas Mk I. On account of the phasing out of the MiG 21 fleet which is underway, the Tejas Mk I aircraft is so needed to augment its tactical air operations capability. It was hoped that the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) would only be a matter of time for the LCA, after attaining the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) in early 2011. The progress has been tardy and the FOC has now been scheduled for June 2015.

HAL is already working on the development of Tejas Mk II that will be powered by the GE-414 engine, more powerful than the present GE-404 engine. At this point in time, the IAF has placed orders for 40 Tejas Mk I LCA. The IAF is prepared to wait for the LCA Tejas Mk II and hopes to have a fleet of 200 aircraft by 2022, a mix of both versions i. e. the Tejas Mk I and Mk II.

Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA)

Apart from the plans to acquire an upgraded fifth-generation version of the SU-30 MKI aircraft, the IAF has also been moving forward to realise India’s largest programme to acquire a ‘true-blood’ Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA). India and Russia have signed an agreement to co-develop and co-produce the FGFA which will a customised version of the Russian T-50 PAK FA to meet with the specific requirements of the IAF. The T-50 PAK FA is currently in the test flight phase.

The FGFA will have features such as stealth, super-cruise and ultra-manoeuvrability, combined with modern weapon systems, which would give the aircraft the capability to switch roles in flight, a much-desired characteristic of a future aircraft dubbed as omni-role capability. The HAL, once again the partner for this venture, has committed $6 billion (Rs 36,000 crore) for the project, out of a total programme cost of about $30 billion (Rs 180,000 crore). Post the design phase in Russia, the manufacture of the aircraft will be undertaken at HAL in India. As things stand, the FGFA is likely to enter service from 2020 onwards and the IAF expects to build a fleet strength of about 144 aircraft.

Conclusion

Combat aircraft constitute the cutting edge of any air force and so it is with the IAF as well. Modernisation and upgradation of combat platforms are ongoing processes that will help the IAF maintain the operational edge at all times. By the end of the 15th Five Year Plan, it is expected that the IAF inventory would consist largely of fourth and fifth generation platforms. Notwithstanding the depleting numbers that are being witnessed today, the continuing induction of new combat platforms such as the SU 30 MKI as well as the plans of acquiring the Rafale and the Tejas, the IAF would have the capability of long-range precision attack and of delivering conventional and nuclear weapons. This would give the IAF not just the necessary deterrence capability, but also a reliable second-strike capability.

With some of these aircraft types having multi-role capabilities, the IAF has the flexibility of deploying them as per the evolving strategic and tactical situation, either well beyond their unassisted range or through assistance of force-multipliers giving a tremendous boost to the operational potential. In 2032, the IAF would be celebrating its centenary year. In this century of dedicated service to the nation, the IAF’s inventory would have changed from Wapitis and Sopwith Camels, to state-of-the-art technology with an eye on the future. ‘Change’ is the keyword to move with the times. The fleet of combat aircraft available with the IAF today have and will, in the future, have the capacity to provide firepower on a timely basis, whatever the situation might be.