Page 26 - Indian Air Force

Indian fighter jets welcomed in Japan with traditional water cannon salute

The Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent was given a grand welcome as it landed at the Hyakuri Air Base, about 80 km northeast of Tokyo on Tuesday for the inaugural joint Air Exercise

Air Marshal Pankaj M Sinha takes over as chief of IAF's Western Command

Air Marshal Pankaj Mohan Sinha on Sunday took charge as the commander-in-chief of Indian Air Force's Western Air Command that looks after the security of the air space in the sensitive Ladakh sector as well as some other parts of north India. He succeeds Air Marshal S Prabhakaran who retired from service after serving the force for more than 39 years. Air Marshal Sinha is a graduate of National Defence Academy, Pune, and was commissioned into the IAF as a fighter pilot in June 1985. He is an alumnus of the prestigious Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. An experienced fighter pilot and a category 'A' qualified flying instructor, Air Marshal Sinha has more than 4,500 hours of flying experience. In his career spanning over 37 years, he has held several important command and staff appointments. These included Commanding Officer of a fighter squadron, Chief Instructor (flying) at a flying station, Air Officer commanding of a prestigious Air Force station, Air Assistant to Chi

IAF successfully test-fires extended range version of BrahMos air missile

The Indian Air Force on Thursday successfully test-fired the extended range version of BrahMos air launched missile against a ship target from a SU-30MKI aircraft, the government said. The missile achieved the desired mission objectives in the Bay of Bengal region, it said. "The Indian Air Force today successfully fired the extended range version of BrahMos air launched missile against a ship target from a SU-30MKI aircraft," according to a statement issued by the defence wing of the Press Information Bureau. With this, IAF has achieved a "significant capability boost" to carry out precision strikes from SU-30MKI aircraft against land or sea targets over very long ranges, it said. "The extended range capability of the missile coupled with the high performance of the SU-30MKI aircraft gives the IAF a strategic reach and allows it to dominate the future battle fields," the government said. The dedicated and synergetic efforts of IAF, Indian Navy, Defence Research and Development ...

The sky is the limit: How these Indian women pilots smashed a male monopoly

From Sarla Thukral flying planes before independence to Abhilasha Barak becoming a combat aviator in the Army Aviator Corps, these are the women who have paved the way for Sania Mirza and more

UP's Sania Mirza set to become country's first Muslim female fighter pilot

Sania Mirza, daughter of a TV mechanic from Mirzapur, has been selected to become a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force and would be the country's first Muslim girl and the state's first IAF pilot

Japanese, Indian air forces to hold joint fighter jet training from Jan 16

Japan's Air Self-Defence Force has said that it will carry out joint fighter training along with Indian Air Force from January 16-26

IAF carries out air exercise in Northeast; gets last of 36 Rafale jets

The Indian Air Force, bolstered by its full complement of Rafale combat jets, on Thursday launched a major exercise covering the Northeastern region amid a fresh spike of border tension with China along the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh. The two-day mega exercise is involving almost all its frontline fighter jets and other assets deployed in the region, people familiar with the drill said. In a tweet, the IAF said the last of the 36 Rafale jets joined the force. The IAF inducted the Rafale aircraft into its 101 Squadron of the Eastern Air Command at the Hasimara in July last year. The first Rafale squadron with around 18 jets is based in Ambala air base. "FEET DRY! 'The Pack is Complete'. The last of the 36 IAF Rafales landed in India after a quick enroute sip from a UAE Air Force tanker," the IAF said. Sources said the French-manufactured jet joined the second Rafale squadron in Hasimara that increased its strength to 18 aircraft. They said the second squadron of R

Indian Air Force to carry out 2-day exercise in Northeast from Thursday

The Indian Air Force will carry out a two-day exercise in the Northeast involving almost all its frontline fighter jets and other assets deployed in the region amid the fresh tensions between Indian and Chinese troops in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh following the last week's face-off in the area. Sources said the exercise is aimed at checking the IAF's overall combat capability and military preparedness in the region. They, however, said the exercise was planned much before the face-off between the Indian and Chinese armies and it is not related to the incident. The sources said IAF's frontline fighter jets including Sukhoi-30MKIs and Rafale jets will be part of the exercise besides several other platforms deployed in the region. All frontline air bases and some key Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) in the Northeast are set to be involved in the exercise, said a source. The sources said the top brass of the Eastern Air Command will also undertake a comprehensive review of

Indian Air Force patrols Arunachal skies to prevent violation by Chinese

After tension erupted between the Indian Army and the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Arunachal Pradesh, Indian Air Force (IAF) jets were patrolling the skies of Arunachal Pradesh.

Hindustan Aeronautics told to conduct Aero India 2023 in February

"Hon'ble Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister) has approved that the DDP will conduct the 14th edition of Aero India 2023 at Air Force Station, Yelahanka, Bengaluru, from 13th- 17th February 2023"

IAF set to place Rs 1,400 cr order for new age missiles to destroy radars

In a push to induct indigenously developed weapon systems, the IAF has moved a Rs 1,400 crore proposals to govt for acquiring Rudram next-generation anti-radiation missiles

26th edition of Malabar 22 draws to a close in Japan with tactical drills

The five-day-long event sa­w the participation of an Australian submarine, and 11 surface ships including a US Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with its integral air elements

Indian Air Force procures electric vehicles to reduce carbon footprint

The Indian Air Force on Tuesday inducted a fleet of electric vehicles in keeping with the government's initiative on introduction of green mobility. Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari flagged off the first batch of 12 electric vehicles in the presence of other senior officers and staff. "In order to achieve reduction in carbon footprint and in keeping with the government of India's initiative on introduction of green mobility, the IAF has inducted a fleet of Tata Nexon electric vehicles," the IAF said in a statement. It said the force is planning to enhance the usage of electric vehicles in a progressive manner by procuring e-vehicles against downgraded conventional vehicles. "Augmentation of the e-vehicles ecosystem, including installation of charging infrastructure at various Air Force bases, is also planned. The first batch of electric cars introduced today will be deployed in Delhi NCR units for performance monitoring and analysis," it said. "To create a standardised inventory of

Chief of Air Staff V R Chaudhari holds talks with French counterpart

Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari on Monday held wide-ranging talks with his French counterpart Gen Stephane Mille focusing on ways to boost bilateral military cooperation in the backdrop of various geopolitical developments. The top-ranking French military official is on a visit to India. "General Stphane Mille, Chief of Staff of the French Air & Space Force called on Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, #CAS at Air HQ, New Delhi today. The two Chiefs discussed ways & means to enhance bilateral ties & strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest," the Indian Air Force (IAF) tweeted. It is learnt that the overall situation in the Indo-Pacific as well as the Indian Ocean Region figured in the talks between Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari and Gen Mille. The visit by Gen Mile came amid an 18-day military exercise between the Indian and French air forces in Jodhpur. The 'Garuda VII' exercise, involving a significant number of combat jets such as Rafale, Tejas, ...

Handling a high-tech Chinese military

Unanswered questions remain over India's readiness for such a contingency

Revisit denial to disclose report on armed forces' pay: CIC to PMO

The Central Information Commission has directed the Prime Minister's Office to "revisit" its refusal to disclose under the RTI a 14-year old report by a Group of Ministers led by former External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on pay and pension of armed forces personnel on grounds that it was "highly sensitive". The directive came after the RTI applicant told the panel that substantial portions of the report that were termed "highly sensitive" and "prejudicially affecting the sovereignty and integrity of India" by the PMO, have already been declassified and disclosed by the Defence Ministry. Through his RTI application dated January 31, 2021, S Y Savur had sought the copy of the report submitted by Mukherjee on December 19, 2008 for then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's approval and copy of the approval along with file notes, office memorandum along with all relevant information that "preceded" the approval. The PMO had refused to disclose the report and other documents, calling t

Andhra cadre IAS Giridhar Aramane takes charge as new defence secretary

Seasoned bureaucrat Giridhar Aramane on Tuesday assumed charge as the new defence secretary at a time the government has been focusing on modernising the three services. Aramane, a 1988-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, was serving as secretary of the ministry of road transport and highways prior to his new assignment. Before taking charge, Aramane laid a wreath at the National War Memorial and paid homage to the fallen heroes. "We draw inspiration from these bravehearts and promise to work towards fulfilling their dream of making India a safe and prosperous country," he said. Aramane succeeded Ajay Kumar, who retired from service on Monday. In his 32-year career as an IAS officer, Aramane has held various important positions in the central government as well as the Andhra Pradesh government. He also served as an additional secretary in the cabinet secretariat. Aramane looked after the exploration division in the ministry of petroleum and natural gas and was exec

Time for Made-in-India passenger aircraft, says PM Narendra Modi

The PM stressed that India would need more than 2,000 aircraft in the next 15 years

Army's first inter-service paragliding championship begins in Bir Billing

The first Inter services paragliding X-country championship begin with a colourful opening ceremony at the mountainous belt of Bir Billing in Himachal Pradesh. Commenced on Saturday, the Championship, a first of its kind, is being conducted from October 29 to November 01, under the aegis of army adventure wing (AAW), defence spokesman Lt Col Devender Anand said on Sunday. The day's activities saw around 15 paragliding pilots from the Indian Army and Navy taking off from Billing and landing at Bir located approximately 13 to 14 kilometers, in a display of their ability of navigating X-country in air. "Paragliding is primarily a recreational and competitive adventure sport. The ability of the paragliding flight to last many hours and cover large distance is, what is of great importance to the Armed Forces, as it will facilitate aerial insertions behind enemy lines," Anand said. The opening ceremony was presided over by Brigadier AK Singh, who welcomed the paragliding pilots from the

Tata, Airbus grab Rs 22,000-cr project to make C-295 aircraft in Gujarat

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Thursday announced it had, for the first time, entrusted a private firm - Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) - to manufacture an entire aircraft for the military