Experiencing 7G sure requires some serious hardware! So the Indian Air Force is striking serious deals taking the IAF’S warfare capabilities to a next level!
India has signed a whopping $8.5 billion (USD) with the French defence firm Dassault aviation to purchase 36 states of the art Rafale warplanes to counter the decline in the air forces combat edge.
The Rafale is a highly sophisticated fighter jet boasting lightweight-yet-strong composite materials, with Fly-By-Wire (FBW) controlling and the provision of voice input capabilities. It also features an Active Electronically-Scanned Array (AESA) radar system in its nose and a Canard delta-wing planform has been incorporated to complement its extremely high tolerances and ability to display a multitude of hardpoints for homing, guided and dropping ordnance.
The pilot (with co-pilot in some variants) is seated under a large canopy offering the superior field of vision out-of-the-cockpit. Being a twin-engine jet, providing an excellent balance of power and survivability! all in all the rafale is a mean battle tested bird that will bolster our aerial arsenal once in service!
Order of attack and heavy-lift helicopters:
India has given the American aviation company Boeing the order for 22 Boeing AH-64E Apache Longbow attack helicopters and 15 Boeing CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift choppers (which is among the heaviest lifting choppers in the world) in 2015 with the contract being worth $3.1 billion.
The Chinooks will bridge the massive handicap in the Indian air force’s heavy lifting capabilities, giving the air force superior supply capabilities upon induction.
Procurement of single jet aircrafts 2017:
In order to enhance its strike capability and attain the designated fighter squadron strength quickly, the IAF is to start the procurement of a fleet of high-end single-engine jet fighters.
The Jets are to be jointly produced in cooperation with foreign aircraft manufacturer under a recently initiated ‘strategic partnership model’ with the objective to in order to enhance its strike capability and bring cuedge defenceefence technology to India.
IAF to receive nuclear-capable cruise missiles in 2018:
The Indian air force has cemented a deal for the delivery of Brahmos nuclear capable supersonic cruise missiles, arming 50 Su-30MKI fighter aircrafts with modifications, upgrading its already devastatingly lethal missile arsenal! The missile operates on the concept of fire and forget and can be dropped on targets from 500-14000 metres, giving the term death from above a new meaning!
With the IAF retiring many of its old birds and on the acquisition of new ones the IAF will reaching full squadron strength by the year 2023, boasting some of the most sophisticated weapons any air arsenal, and 2023 is just around the corner!
