IAF Archives - Defence Monitor

19 Feb

IAF’s Sarang team to display skills in Singapore Airshow

New Delhi, Feb 19, The Sarang Helicopter Display Team of the Indian Air Force (IAF) will perform a four-helicopter display at the Singapore Airshow on Tuesday. The team, after arriving in Singapore, conducted its first practice display on Sunday. The IAF said on Monday that the team was operating from the Changi Airbase of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). The Singapore Airshow will feature a variety of display teams from all across the globe. The show also features leading aircraft and system manufacturers and operators showcasing their products. The Ministry of Defence said the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)…

01 Jul

LCA Tejas completes 7 years of service in IAF

New Delhi, 1 July, The indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) will complete seven years of service in the Indian Air Force on July 1, 2023. The aircraft, named Tejas in 2003, is a multi-role platform that ranks amongst the best around the world. It has been designed to undertake the Air Defence, Maritime Reconnaissance and Strike roles. According to the Indian Air Force (IAF), the confidence it reposes in Tejas is borne by its order for 83 aircrafts of LCA Mk-1A. These aircrafts will have an updated avionics, Active Electronically Steered Radar, Electronic Warfare suite and a Beyond Visual Range…

28 May

From Rafale to Make-in-India armoury, India gets force multipliers

New Delhi, May 28 (IANS) India has one of the largest armies in the world, the bravery and the courage of Indian army is discussed all over the world. The country's military strength has increased rapidly in the last few years. India has received the consignment of fighter aircraft Rafale bought from France. Modern and indigenous warships like INS Vikrant and INS Mormugao are part of Indian forces. The Vagir submarine and several missiles have also enhanced the country's military capabilities. The last installment of Rafale reached India in December last year. India has now got all 36 Rafale jets. According…

04 Feb

Boeing and Air Works to provide Maintenance Support to Key Defence Platforms

Collaboration in Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul of P-8I, IAF VIP transport fleet First strategic collaboration under the newly launched Boeing India Repair Development and Sustainment (BIRDS) Hub NEW DELHI,: Boeing today announced strategic agreements with Air Works for the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of two key Boeing defence platforms in India, the P-8I operated by the Indian Navy (IN) and the VIP transport fleet operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF). Boeing India’s strategic collaboration with Air Works is an important first step under its recently launched initiative, the Boeing India Repair Development and Sustainment (BIRDS) hub, which is an…

21 Dec

Year of many new beginnings for Indian space sector

Chennai: The year 2018 could be termed as one of several new beginnings for the Indian space agency: the political sanction for a manned Gaganyaan mission, operationlisation of the heaviest rocket, steps to licence out lithium ion battery technology, introduction of new technologies in rockets and satellites and the decision to go ahead with the Indian Data Relay Satellite System (IDRSS), among others. As the year ended, the IAF got its own eye in the sky to exponentially enhance its capabilities.The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) also carried out a sort of `Swachh Bharat' mission - clearing the backlog of satellite…

22 Dec

Boost to Indigenous Light Combat Helicopter: One More RFP for HAL

Bengaluru: HAL has received a Request for Proposal (RFP) for 15 Limited Series Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) from the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Army today. This comes close on the heels of HAL receiving RFP for supply of 83 LCAs (Light Combat Aircraft) just days ago. About LCH: LCH is a 5.5-ton class, combat helicopter designed and developed by HAL. It is powered by two Shakti engines and inherits many technical features of the Advanced Light Helicopter. The features that are unique to LCH are sleek and narrow fuselage, tri-cycle crashworthy landing gear, crashworthy and self-sealing fuel tanks, armor…

07 Dec

IAF chief flies Tejas

Bengaluru: A month after he flew a solo sortie in single engine MiG-21 fighter, Indian Air Force chief B.S. Dhanoa flew indigenous LCA Tejas on the first day of Aero India 2017. Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa flew a trainer version of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) with Air Vice Marshal A.P. Singh, who is principal director at NFTC, being his co-pilot during the sortie over Yelahanka airbase. Less than 15 days after taking over as the IAF chief, he flew solo in a Mig-21 fighter jet, the oldest fighter aircraft in the IAF's inventory. Dhanoa flew the Mig-21 Type 96 aircraft…

24 May

Call for Aerospace manufacturing policy for India

New Delhi: Dr. R.K. Tyagi, former chairman HAL and mentor – director Defence Innovators and industry Association (DIIA) called for a further effective Aerospace manufacturing policy for India. While welcoming the recent policy on ‘Strategic Partnership’ announced by Shri Jaitly, the defence minister of India, he stated that allowing manufacturing of single – engine fighter aircraft and Helicopters under this category will lead to higher technological capabilities of Aerospace manufacturing sector. He was speaking on the occasion of national seminar organized by CII and Indian Air force jointly at New Delhi on 23rd may 2017 on the theme ‘MAKE in INDIA for Indian Air force.’…

02 Mar

Age no bar for this sprightly 81-year-old pilot

Bengaluru: "There are old pilots and bold pilots, but no old-bold pilots." Try telling this to 81-year-old Air Vice Marshal Ajit Lamba (retd) and he'll laugh in your face. Such is his undying spirit. "At the moment I am not flying very regularly because of non-availability of aircraft. I have been flying off and on any time I can get hold of an aircraft," Lamba told IANS on the sidelines of the just-concluded Aero India defence exposition, where he made quite a splash when, dressed in blue overalls, he flew an indigenous Hansa single-engined trainer aircraft, swankily painted in grey and…

14 Feb

Aero India set for flying start on Tuesday with over 70 aircraft

Bengaluru: The 11th edition of 'Aero India', set for a smooth take-off here on Tuesday, will witness the participation of 30 countries and as many as 72 state-of-the-art aircraft. As many as 270 companies from India and 279 from abroad will participate in the air show, which is expected to see a footfall of over two lakh business visitors.It will be the first time a team from China will participate in this biennial international aerospace and defence exhibition. Among the notable events scheduled during the air show is the handing over of Airborne Early Warning and Control System to the Indian…