Defence Review : June 2020

27.6.20

Types of Fighter Jets of India Air Force

IAF currently operates 7 different types of fighter jets. Each fighter jet have different roles.

• Air Superiority Fighter Jets:-

Su-30 MKI:- 261 (12 on order)

Role: Air Superiority, Strike, Anti-ship

MiG-29 UPG:- 65 (21 on order)

Role: Air Superiority, Multirole

• Multirole Fighter Jets:-

Rafale:- 5 (32 on order)

Role: Omnirole

HAL Tejas Mk.1:- 18 (Mk.1- 22 on order; Mk.1A- 83 planned)

Role: Multirole

Mirage 2000 H/I:- 45 (12 TH/TI trainer variants)

Role: Multirole

• Ground Attack Aircraft:-

Jaguar:- 91

Role: Ground Attack, Close air support, Nuclear strike

• Interceptor Aircraft:-

MiG-21 Bison:- 95

Role: Interceptor

10.6.20

RCS of 4th Generation Fighter Jets

RCS of 4th Generation Fighter Jets

Radar cross-section (RCS) is a measure of how detectable an object is by radar.

The factors that influence RCS are:

• the material of target

• the size of target

• incident angle & reflect we angle of target

• shape of the target

• polarization

List of 4th generation fighter jets (in active service)

A. US fighter jets 🇺🇸:

• F-14 Tomcat:- RCS of 25 sq.m

• F-15 Eagle/F-15 E:- RCS of 25 sq.m

F-15 EX:- RCS of 1 sq.m (prototype, on order)

• F-16:- RCS of 5 sq.m

F-16 Block 60:- RCS of 1.2 sq.m

• F/A-18 C/D:- RCS of 2 sq.m

F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet:- RCS of 0.5- 1 sq.m

F/A-18 E/F Block III:- RCS of 0.1 sq.m (Prototype)

It is the Stealthiest 4.5th generation aircraft.

B. Russian Fighter Jets🇷🇺:

• Sukhoi Su-27:- RCS of 15 sq.m

• Su-30 MKI🇷🇺🇮🇳:- RCS is 4 sq.m

(Indian variant)

Su-30 MKK🇷🇺:- RCS is 5 sq.m

(Chinese variant)

• Su-33:- RCS is 5 sq.m

• Su-34:- RCS is 1- 3 sq.m

• Su-35:- RCS is 1 sq.m

• MiG-29/Mig-29 K:- RCS is 5 sq.m

• MiG-31:- RCS is 15 sq.m

• MiG-35:- RCS is 0.5- 2 sq.m

• Yak-130:- RCS is 1sq.m

C. Chinese fighter jets🇨🇳:

• Xi'an JH-7:- RCS is 10 sq.m

• Chengdu J-10:- RCS is 1.5 sq.m

It is developed from Israeli IAI Lavi program🇮🇱.

• Shenyang J-11:- RCS is 15 sq.m

It is the licensed copy of Su-27🇷🇺.

• Shenyang J-15:- RCS is 5 sq.m

It is the unlicensed copy of Su-33 (stolen)🇷🇺

• Shenyang J-16:- RCS is 3 sq.m

• Hongdu JL-10:- RCS is 0.5- 1 sq.m

• CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder🇨🇳🇵🇰:- RCS is 3 sq.m

It is rejected Russian LCA design🇷🇺

JF-17 Block III:- RCS is about 1~1.5 sq.m

C. European Fighter Jets:

• Panavia Toronto🇩🇪🇬🇧🇮🇪:- RCS is 5- 10 sq.m

• Eurofighter Typhoon 🇬🇧🇩🇪🇪🇸🇮🇪:- RCS is 0.5- 1.2 sq.m

* British fighter jets🇬🇧:

• British Aerospace Hawk 200:- RCS is 1 sq.m

* French fighter jets 🇫🇷:

• Dassualt Mirage 2000:- RCS is 1- 2.5 sq.m

• Dassualt Rafale:- RCS is 0.5- 1.25 sq.m

* Swedish fighter jets🇸🇪:

• JAS-39 A Gripen:- RCS is 1.5 sq.m

Gripen Block E/F:- RCS is 0.5 sq.m

D. Indian Fighter Jet🇮🇳:

• HAL Tejas:- RCS is 0.3- 0.5 sq.m

It is the stealthiest 4.5th generation fighter jet which is operational.

E. Asian Fighter Jets:

* Japanese fighter jet🇯🇵:

• Mitsubishi F-2:- RCS is 1.5 sq.m

It is the licenseed copy of F-16🇺🇸

* Taiwan (ROC) fighter jet🇹🇼:

• AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-koo:- RCS is 1.5 sq.m

Developed with the help of USA🇺🇸

* South Korean fighter jet🇰🇷:

• KAI T-50 Golden Eagle:- RCS is 0.9 sq.m

Developed with Lockheed Martin🇺🇸

7.6.20

DRDO Smart Anti-Airfield Wepeon (SAAW)

DRDO Smart Anti-Airfield Wepeon (SAAW)

The DRDO Smart Anti-Airfield Wepeon (SAAW) is a long-range precision-guided anti-airfield wepeon developed by Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is capable of engaging ground targets with high precision up to a range of 100 km (62 mi).

The SAAW is a being developed by the Research Center Imarat (RCI), and other DRDO laboratories in collaboration with the Indian Air Force. It is a light-weight high precision guided bomb designed to destroy ground targets, such as runways, bunkers, aircraft hangars and other reinforced structures. Weighing about 120 kg (260 lb), it has deep penetration capabilities, it carries a high explosive warhead and has a stand off range of 100 km (62 mi). It is India's first indigenous anti-airfield wepeon, which is designed and developed by DRDO.

The SAAW can currently be launched from Jaguar and Su-30 MKI aircrafts. The Jaguar is capable of carrying 6 such wepeons & Su-30 MKI is capable of carrying 20 such wepeons.

Type: Precision-guided Anti-Airfield glide bomb

Manufacturer: DRDO, Ordinance Factory Board

Mass: 125 kg (276 lb)

Length:. 1.85 m

Warhead:. 72.5 kg (160 lb)

Operational Range: 100 km

Accuracy: <3 m CEP

Future Air-to-surface Wepeons of IAF

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DRDO Anti-Radiation Missile (Rudram-1)

DRDO Anti-Radiation Missile (Rudram-1)

The New Generation Anti-Radiation Missile (NGARM) or Rudram-1 is a air-to-surface, anti-radition missile is in under development by Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to provide an air superiority, tactical capability for the Indian Air Force fighter jets. It is designed for suppression of enemy air defence (SEAD), that can destroy enemy's surveillance radars, tracking and communication system. The state of the art missile developed in India is the first of its kind in the IAF arsenal. The missile is jointly produced by Bharat Dynamic Limited (BDL) & Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).

Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDO) is carrying out the design and development work for the missile. The Rudram-1, with a range of 150 km, is the first indigenous air-to-surface missile to be developed by DRDO, after BrahMos cruise missile. It is integrated with Su-30 MKI, in future it will be integrated with Mirage 2000, Jaguar, Tejas, Tejas Mk.2/ MWF.

Type: Air-to-surface Missile

Manufacturer: Bharat Dynamic Limited (BDL),

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)

Mass: 140 kg

Length: 5.5 m (18 ft)

Warhead: Pre-fermentation warhead

Engine: Dual-pulse rocket motor

Propellet: Soild fuel

Operational Range: 150-250 km

Accuracy: 10 m CEP

Future Air-to-surface wepeons of IAF

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4.6.20

C-17 Globemaster III in India Air Force & List of Transport aircraft of IAF

C-17 Globemaster III

It is the largest transport aircraft which being used by IAF. The aircraft is capable of carrying of a payload of 77 tonnes. The C-17 performs tactical and strategic airlift missions, from transporting troops and cargo throughout the world, to performing medical evaluation and airdrop duties. The aircraft provides strategic airlift and ability to deploy special forces, such as during national emergencies. The are operated in diverse terrain from Himalayan Air bases in North India at 4,000 m (13,000 ft) to Indian Ocean based in South India.