RPK
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Indian Air Force News & Discussions
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sudhir007
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The story of an extraordinary sortie | idrw.org
You’ve heard of people chasing the monsoon. How about hurtling after a solar eclipse at two-and-a-half times the speed of sound? In 1995, Sumit Mukerji, then commander of the MiG 25 squadron in Bareilly, did just that. At 80,000 feet above the earth. In almost-space.
Air Marshal Mukerji, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Air Command (SAC), who retired on Thursday after a career spanning nearly 40 years in the IAF, shared the story of the Big Flight of October 24, 1995, with City Express.
“It was part of an experiment for the solar observatory. We had to check the corona and the gases around the sun at that moment of time. We also had to photograph the eclipse with special cameras,” he said. The MiG 25 ‘Foxbat’ is one of the rare fighters that can soar to such stupefying heights and maintain Mach 3 speeds.
“A regular airliner flies in the troposphere, at heights of 30,000 feet to 35,000 feet. Some may go even up to 40,000 feet. We had to do it in the stratosphere, as the sky is clearer there. No water vapour, no dust particles to block your vision,” recalled Mukerji, chosen for the job because he was commanding the MiG 25 squadron then and because of his rich flying experience.
Accompanied by co-pilot Wing Commander Y S Babu, Mukerji took off from Bareilly at noon. The extraordinary sortie was to be above Neemkhatana, near Agra, along the central axis of the total solar eclipse. Eighty-thousand feet above the earth, there is no such thing as a blue sky.
“It was pitch black and the stars were visible. We had the camera on, and we could see the sun gradually getting reduced in size. They were tracking the eclipse from the ground too. But they could see it only for 40 seconds. But because we were flying along with the sun, we saw it for all of one-and-a-half minutes,” Mukerji said.
“The photos we got during that flight were not available from the ground.”
A Bengali hailing from UP, young Sumit joined the National Defence Academy (NDA) in 1967, beginning a long adventure in uniform. He was commissioned into the IAF in January, 1972. When talking about the MiGs, the fighter pilot in him is eloquent.
“They are remarkable aeroplanes,” he says. But then, he would. He is the only Air Force officer to have commanded units having all of the MiG species; MiG 21, MiG 23, MiG 25, MiG 27 and MiG 29.
“The only pilot. There’s no one even in Russia,” he adds with a laugh.
You’ve heard of people chasing the monsoon. How about hurtling after a solar eclipse at two-and-a-half times the speed of sound? In 1995, Sumit Mukerji, then commander of the MiG 25 squadron in Bareilly, did just that. At 80,000 feet above the earth. In almost-space.
Air Marshal Mukerji, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Air Command (SAC), who retired on Thursday after a career spanning nearly 40 years in the IAF, shared the story of the Big Flight of October 24, 1995, with City Express.
“It was part of an experiment for the solar observatory. We had to check the corona and the gases around the sun at that moment of time. We also had to photograph the eclipse with special cameras,” he said. The MiG 25 ‘Foxbat’ is one of the rare fighters that can soar to such stupefying heights and maintain Mach 3 speeds.
“A regular airliner flies in the troposphere, at heights of 30,000 feet to 35,000 feet. Some may go even up to 40,000 feet. We had to do it in the stratosphere, as the sky is clearer there. No water vapour, no dust particles to block your vision,” recalled Mukerji, chosen for the job because he was commanding the MiG 25 squadron then and because of his rich flying experience.
Accompanied by co-pilot Wing Commander Y S Babu, Mukerji took off from Bareilly at noon. The extraordinary sortie was to be above Neemkhatana, near Agra, along the central axis of the total solar eclipse. Eighty-thousand feet above the earth, there is no such thing as a blue sky.
“It was pitch black and the stars were visible. We had the camera on, and we could see the sun gradually getting reduced in size. They were tracking the eclipse from the ground too. But they could see it only for 40 seconds. But because we were flying along with the sun, we saw it for all of one-and-a-half minutes,” Mukerji said.
“The photos we got during that flight were not available from the ground.”
A Bengali hailing from UP, young Sumit joined the National Defence Academy (NDA) in 1967, beginning a long adventure in uniform. He was commissioned into the IAF in January, 1972. When talking about the MiGs, the fighter pilot in him is eloquent.
“They are remarkable aeroplanes,” he says. But then, he would. He is the only Air Force officer to have commanded units having all of the MiG species; MiG 21, MiG 23, MiG 25, MiG 27 and MiG 29.
“The only pilot. There’s no one even in Russia,” he adds with a laugh.
Abingdonboy
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Some pics of UPG IAF AN-32 during trails in Ukraine
truthseeker2010
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It’s official: Sachin, Dhoni to take off on Sukhois
Pune: The city will host two of India’s iconic cricketers—batting legend Sachin Tendulkar and team skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni — when they fly the Indian Air Force fighter jet, Su-30 MKI, from the Lohegaon Air Force Station. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has given the green signal to the Sukhoi sorties of Tendulkar and Dhoni. As the two are currently abroad, the formalities will be completed depending on their availability. “It is confirmed they will be flying from Pune. A decision on the dates and other formalities will be taken once they return to India, depending on their schedules,” IAF spokesperson Wing Commander T K Singha told The Indian Express from New Delhi.
While Tendulkar has been awarded the rank of an Honorary Group Captain by the IAF, Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda had recently recommended Dhoni’s name to the MoD for the rank of an Honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army. In January, Air Marshal Anjan Kumar Gogoi, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Air Command, had said during a visit to Lohegaon Air Force Station that a proposal for Tendulkar’s Sukhoi sortie had been sent to the MoD and if approved, it would take place from Pune. Dhoni’s sortie has, however, come as a pleasant surprise. “We will try to plan the sorties together. The duo will have to undergo medical tests and attend briefing sessions before the flight. They would be flying from the rear seat,” said Singha. The Lohegaon Air Force Station, which houses three squadrons of Su-30 MKIs, hosted the then president A P J Abdul Kalam’s sortie in 2006. In 2009, President Pratibha Patil too took a sortie in a Su- 30 MKI.
Pune: The city will host two of India’s iconic cricketers—batting legend Sachin Tendulkar and team skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni — when they fly the Indian Air Force fighter jet, Su-30 MKI, from the Lohegaon Air Force Station. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has given the green signal to the Sukhoi sorties of Tendulkar and Dhoni. As the two are currently abroad, the formalities will be completed depending on their availability. “It is confirmed they will be flying from Pune. A decision on the dates and other formalities will be taken once they return to India, depending on their schedules,” IAF spokesperson Wing Commander T K Singha told The Indian Express from New Delhi.
While Tendulkar has been awarded the rank of an Honorary Group Captain by the IAF, Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda had recently recommended Dhoni’s name to the MoD for the rank of an Honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army. In January, Air Marshal Anjan Kumar Gogoi, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Air Command, had said during a visit to Lohegaon Air Force Station that a proposal for Tendulkar’s Sukhoi sortie had been sent to the MoD and if approved, it would take place from Pune. Dhoni’s sortie has, however, come as a pleasant surprise. “We will try to plan the sorties together. The duo will have to undergo medical tests and attend briefing sessions before the flight. They would be flying from the rear seat,” said Singha. The Lohegaon Air Force Station, which houses three squadrons of Su-30 MKIs, hosted the then president A P J Abdul Kalam’s sortie in 2006. In 2009, President Pratibha Patil too took a sortie in a Su- 30 MKI.
marcos98
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C-17 Globemaster III aircraft to be inducted at Hindan base
C-17 Globemaster III aircraft to be inducted at Hindan base - The Economic Times
Im so confuse to see this picture how many fighter IAF want to fly
angeldemon_007
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^^^
Buddy just read the graph carefully...
As they will start getting inducted in the service so will the other fighters will get out...
Buddy just read the graph carefully...
As they will start getting inducted in the service so will the other fighters will get out...
Abingdonboy
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Self delete.
RPK
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Navy for grounding MiG-29, IAF differs - Hindustan Times
After the recent crash of an Indian MiG-29 fighter aircraft in Russia, the Indian Navy had demanded that these planes be grounded, but the Air Force thinks otherwise. The crashed MiG-29 was one of the four trainer versions of the jets that India had ordered in 2004. The Air Force has
decided to upgrade the MiGs in Russia, and a couple of them are reaching the country.
Air Marshal Pramod Vasant Athawale, AOC-in-C of the Maintenance Command of the Air Force who is on a two-day inspection of the 3 Base Repair Depot (BRD) Air Force station in Chandigarh, told HT on Tuesday, “We are going ahead with the upgradation work in Russia and we will be receiving a couple of aircraft next month. The work is in full swing and we have not asked for the fighter jets to be grounded.”
Elaborating on the MiG-29 sent to Russia for upgradation, Air Marshal Athawale said that after upgradation, the entire fleet would become more formidable. “The upgraded fleet will have improved radar and weapon designs. Five fighter jets are being upgraded in Russia in the first phase. Their estimate lifespan is 40 years,” he said.
The Air Force has also started a drive of upgrading and maintaining the machines and jets at all BRD stations across the country. Air Marshal Athawale said the Air Force was working on extending the life of several aircraft parts. “The older aircraft in the country definitely need attention and we have started overhauling them,” he said.
The IAF is observing this year as the year of maintenance. All its BRDs are going through a modernisation process.
RPK
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We’ve no problem with MiG 29s: Air Marshal
Weve no problem with MiG 29s: Air Marshal - Indian Express
Russia may have grounded its entire fleet of MiG 29 aircraft following a crash in which two were killed, but Indian Air Force feels its aircraft are safe and pose no problems.
“We have no problem with our MiG 29 aircrafts,” said Air Marshal PV Athawale, AOC-in-C, Maintenance Command. “We are upgrading the MiG 29s. Once upgraded, they will become more potent,” he added.
Speaking to the media during a visit to 3 Base Repair Depot (BRD), Chandigarh, Athawale said that the Central government had in 2008, signed a contract with a Russian firm to upgrade 63 MiG 29 aircraft at a cost of about US $ 964 million.
The upgrade is planned in two phases — Design and Development (D&D) in Russia and series upgrade in India. Upgradation of six aircraft in D&D phase commenced in August 2008. “Russia has already upgraded the aircraft. The series upgrade for the remaining MIG29s is expected to be carried out in India in two-three months,” the Air Marshal said.
Once upgraded, the lifespan of MiG-29 aircraft, which were inducted between 1986 and 1995, will go up to 40 years from the current 25 years.
On the upgradation of AN-32 aircraft, Athawale said that the first batch had already come back from Ukraine. The calendar life of AN-32 aircraft will also be enhanced from 25 to 40 years. The expenditure likely to be incurred on the project is US$ 397.7 million. On the maintenance philosophy of Medium-Multirole Aircraft (M-MRCA) deal, Athawale added that it was yet to be decided. “The complete picture will emerge later,” he said.
Athawale added that the IAF was observing this year as year of maintenance and the entire force was targeting to make a progress of five per cent over the the existing level in role equipment as well as aircraft serviceability. He added that ‘Airmen’ were now a “brand in our country in respect of their work culture and discipline.”
Weve no problem with MiG 29s: Air Marshal - Indian Express
Russia may have grounded its entire fleet of MiG 29 aircraft following a crash in which two were killed, but Indian Air Force feels its aircraft are safe and pose no problems.
“We have no problem with our MiG 29 aircrafts,” said Air Marshal PV Athawale, AOC-in-C, Maintenance Command. “We are upgrading the MiG 29s. Once upgraded, they will become more potent,” he added.
Speaking to the media during a visit to 3 Base Repair Depot (BRD), Chandigarh, Athawale said that the Central government had in 2008, signed a contract with a Russian firm to upgrade 63 MiG 29 aircraft at a cost of about US $ 964 million.
The upgrade is planned in two phases — Design and Development (D&D) in Russia and series upgrade in India. Upgradation of six aircraft in D&D phase commenced in August 2008. “Russia has already upgraded the aircraft. The series upgrade for the remaining MIG29s is expected to be carried out in India in two-three months,” the Air Marshal said.
Once upgraded, the lifespan of MiG-29 aircraft, which were inducted between 1986 and 1995, will go up to 40 years from the current 25 years.
On the upgradation of AN-32 aircraft, Athawale said that the first batch had already come back from Ukraine. The calendar life of AN-32 aircraft will also be enhanced from 25 to 40 years. The expenditure likely to be incurred on the project is US$ 397.7 million. On the maintenance philosophy of Medium-Multirole Aircraft (M-MRCA) deal, Athawale added that it was yet to be decided. “The complete picture will emerge later,” he said.
Athawale added that the IAF was observing this year as year of maintenance and the entire force was targeting to make a progress of five per cent over the the existing level in role equipment as well as aircraft serviceability. He added that ‘Airmen’ were now a “brand in our country in respect of their work culture and discipline.”
Abingdonboy
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Any idea when the first of the 139 (80+59) Mil-17V-5 are to be delivered to IAF? reports were September 10, Febuary 2011, first half 2011 now it is July 2011 and no mention!! This is just another typical Russian delay it's a shame this was placed when India had relatively less money- if it was done today we could have an open tender and invite the best- UH-60, AW-101, S-92, NH-90 etc. Instead of this delayed and outdated cr*p.
RPK
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IAF to Induct More Fighters, Radars in Northeast
IAF to Induct More Fighters, Radars in Northeast
Shillong, Jul 27 (IANS): The Indian Air Force (IAF) will induct more Sukhoi Su-30 combat jets, as also more radars in the northeast as part of a strategic deployment of advanced assets close to the Chinese border, an officer said Wednesday.
"Two more squadrons of Sukhois will be inducted by 2015 in the region," Air Marshal K.K. Nohwar, who currently heads the Shillong-based Eastern Air Command and will August 1 take over as the IAF vice chief, told reporters at his farewell press conference.
The IAF had inducted its first Su-30 squadron at Tezpur in northern Assam in June 2009. In March, a single Su-30 was stationed at Chabua, also in Assam and their number will gradually be raised to full-squadron strength of 18.
The decision to deploy the Su-30s, the most potent fighter in the IAF inventory, follows repeated instances of Chinese incursions in Arunachal Pradesh in the last few years.
The Tezpur and the Chabua air bases are within striking distance of the India-China border along Arunachal Pradesh.
Nohwar also said that light and medium combat jets would be inducted in place of the ageing MiG-21 aircraft that are being phased out from the northeast.
"As a replacement of the MiG-21s, we will induct more aircraft of different types, whether light or medium jets. I am sure the Eastern Air Command would get these aircraft in the near future," he said.
"The Eastern Air Command would also get a share of Mi-17B-5 helicopters (the IAF is purchasing)," he said.
Apart from the aircraft, Nohwar said the IAF would soon replace the old radars with modern ones to enhance its air defence capabilities over the eastern skies.
"We are upgrading our assets in the region. After all, our old assets need to be replaced," he said.
Noting that the process of upgrading six Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) in Arunachal Pradesh is on, Nohwar said: "The upgradation is primarily aimed at improving the air connectivity in (land locked) Arunachal Pradesh to ease the problem of transportation of people and goods. The ALGs will also be used for operational purposes."
The ALGs are at Tuting, Mechuka, Along, Passighat, Vijaynagar and Ziro along the Chinese border.
Beijing had in 2003 given up its territorial claim over the Indian state of Sikkim but still maintains that vast stretches of Arunachal Pradesh belong to China.
Arunachal Pradesh shares a 1,030-km unfenced border with China. This frontier is defined by the McMahon Line, a notional boundary that is now known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC). China has never recognised the McMahon Line, and claims 90,000 sq km or almost all of Arunachal Pradesh. India also accuses China of occupying 8,000 sq km in Kashmir.
India and China fought a bitter border war in 1962, with Chinese troops advancing deep into what was then called the North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) and inflicting heavy casualties on Indian troops.
IAF to Induct More Fighters, Radars in Northeast
Shillong, Jul 27 (IANS): The Indian Air Force (IAF) will induct more Sukhoi Su-30 combat jets, as also more radars in the northeast as part of a strategic deployment of advanced assets close to the Chinese border, an officer said Wednesday.
"Two more squadrons of Sukhois will be inducted by 2015 in the region," Air Marshal K.K. Nohwar, who currently heads the Shillong-based Eastern Air Command and will August 1 take over as the IAF vice chief, told reporters at his farewell press conference.
The IAF had inducted its first Su-30 squadron at Tezpur in northern Assam in June 2009. In March, a single Su-30 was stationed at Chabua, also in Assam and their number will gradually be raised to full-squadron strength of 18.
The decision to deploy the Su-30s, the most potent fighter in the IAF inventory, follows repeated instances of Chinese incursions in Arunachal Pradesh in the last few years.
The Tezpur and the Chabua air bases are within striking distance of the India-China border along Arunachal Pradesh.
Nohwar also said that light and medium combat jets would be inducted in place of the ageing MiG-21 aircraft that are being phased out from the northeast.
"As a replacement of the MiG-21s, we will induct more aircraft of different types, whether light or medium jets. I am sure the Eastern Air Command would get these aircraft in the near future," he said.
"The Eastern Air Command would also get a share of Mi-17B-5 helicopters (the IAF is purchasing)," he said.
Apart from the aircraft, Nohwar said the IAF would soon replace the old radars with modern ones to enhance its air defence capabilities over the eastern skies.
"We are upgrading our assets in the region. After all, our old assets need to be replaced," he said.
Noting that the process of upgrading six Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) in Arunachal Pradesh is on, Nohwar said: "The upgradation is primarily aimed at improving the air connectivity in (land locked) Arunachal Pradesh to ease the problem of transportation of people and goods. The ALGs will also be used for operational purposes."
The ALGs are at Tuting, Mechuka, Along, Passighat, Vijaynagar and Ziro along the Chinese border.
Beijing had in 2003 given up its territorial claim over the Indian state of Sikkim but still maintains that vast stretches of Arunachal Pradesh belong to China.
Arunachal Pradesh shares a 1,030-km unfenced border with China. This frontier is defined by the McMahon Line, a notional boundary that is now known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC). China has never recognised the McMahon Line, and claims 90,000 sq km or almost all of Arunachal Pradesh. India also accuses China of occupying 8,000 sq km in Kashmir.
India and China fought a bitter border war in 1962, with Chinese troops advancing deep into what was then called the North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) and inflicting heavy casualties on Indian troops.
angeldemon_007
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Why the hell is IAF waiting ? I mean we have enough Su30 right now also. We can station 1 more squadron of Su30 in North East.
