Page 28 - Indian Air Force

At least 42 fighter squadrons essential, says IAF chief VR Chaudhary

He said the global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) had given their commitments for ensuring indigenous content and Made-in-India solutions

Appropriate measures put in place to deal with Chinese activities: IAF

Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari on Tuesday said the Indian Air Force has taken appropriate "non-escalatory" measures to deal with Chinese activities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. Addressing a press conference ahead of the Air Force Day on October 8, he also said that recent developments at the global stage show the need for a strong military to ward off any challenge. Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said the IAF has been preparing for all kinds of security challenges including "worst-case scenario" and asserted that it is fully ready to face any situation. "We continue to be operationally deployed and ever vigilant," he said, adding the IAF continues to monitor all Chinese activities along the LAC. When asked about recent incidents of Chinese fighter jets flying close to the LAC, he said appropriate non-escalatory measures have been taken and a message was sent to the neighbouring country. Our overall preparation is a continuous process irrespective of Chine

IAF aircraft scramble after bomb threat in Iranian passenger flight

The Indian Air Force on Monday said it scrambled its fighter jets following a bomb scare on a China-bound Iranian civilian plane that was flying over the Indian airspace. An intimation was received of the bomb scare on an airline bearing Iranian registration, when it was transiting through Indian airspace, the IAF said, adding the plane was offered the option to land at Jaipur or Chandigarh but the pilots refused to divert. "IAF fighter aircraft were scrambled, which followed the aircraft at a safe distance. The aircraft was offered the option to land at Jaipur and then, at Chandigarh. However, the pilot declared his unwillingness to divert to either of the two airports. "After a while, intimation was received from Tehran to disregard the bomb scare, following which, the aircraft continued on its journey towards its final destination," it said. According to ATC sources, the incident happened on the Mahan Air flight W581 that was flying from Tehran to Guangzhou. Meanwhile, a senio

Home-grown 'Prachanda' light combat helicopter joins Indian Air Force fleet

The military has already projected to HAL an eventual requirement of 65 Prachandas for the IAF and 97 for the army

Made-in-India light combat helicopters 'Prachand' inducted into IAF

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during a sortie in the newly inducted indigenously built Light Combat Helicopter 'Prachand', in Jodhpur

Bomb threat onboard Iranian plane over Indian airspace; IAF jets scrambled

According to sources, inputs were received by security agencies in Delhi about the possibility of a bomb on board, which triggered an alert and permission was not granted to the plane to land in Delhi

IAF to induct Made-in-India light combat helicopter at Jodhpur today

In a major boost to the Indian Air Force's combat prowess, the first batch of indigenously-developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) will be inducted into the IAF

IAF to formally induct indigenously-built Light Combat Helicopter on Monday

The LCH, developed by state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, has been primarily designed for deployment in high-altitude regions

New CDS asks 3 defence forces to work on creation of theatre commands

In his maiden communication with the three defence forces, new CDS Gen Anil Chauhan has asked the Army, Navy and Air Force to make a move ahead towards the creation of integrated theatre commands

IAF to formally induct indigenously-built Light Combat Helicopter on Monday

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will induct on Monday the first batch of indigenously-developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), in a boost to its combat prowess as the multi-role platform is capable of firing a range of missiles and other weapons. The LCH, developed by state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), has been primarily designed for deployment in high-altitude regions. It will be inducted into the IAF inventory at a ceremony in Jodhpur in presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, officials said on Sunday. The 5.8-tonne twin-engine helicopter has already completed various weapons firing tests, they said. In March, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the procurement of 15 indigenously developed Limited Series Production (LSP) LCH at a cost of Rs 3,887 crore. The defence ministry had said 10 helicopters would be for the IAF and five will be for the Indian Army. T

We will tackle all challenges and difficulties together: CDS Chauhan

Gen Anil Chauhan on Friday became India's new Chief of Defence Staff with a mandate to implement the ambitious theaterisation plan that aims to ensure tri-services synergy and prepare the armed forces for future security challenges facing the nation. Gen Chauhan, a former Eastern Army Commander, took charge as the country's senior-most military commander over nine months after first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat died in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu. In a brief interaction with the media, Gen Chauhan said the security challenges facing the nation will be dealt with jointly by the three services. "I am proud to be assuming the responsibility of the highest rank in the Indian Armed Forces. I will try to fulfill the expectations from the three services and tackle all challenges and difficulties together," he said. He became the first retired three-star Lt General-rank officer to return to the service as a four four-star General. Gen Chauhan will also be the Principa

Lt Gen Anil Chauhan takes charge as India's new Chief of Defence Staff

Gen Anil Chauhan on Friday became India's new Chief of Defence Staff with a mandate to implement the ambitious theaterisation plan that seeks to ensure tri-services synergy and prepare the military for future security challenges. Gen Chauhan, a former Eastern Army Commander, took charge as the country's senior-most military commander over nine months after first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat died in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu. "I will try to fulfil expectations of the three services," Gen Chauhan said. Known as an expert on China, his appointment to the top post comes amid the lingering border row between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh. Sixty-one-year-old Chauhan will also function as Secretary in the Department of Military Affairs. He retired from service on May 31 last year when he was serving as the Eastern Army Commander. After his retirement, he was serving as the military adviser to the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) headed by

6 IAF officers booked for murder over cadet death in Bengaluru

The deceased youth, identified as 27-year-old Ankit Kumar Jha, was training at the AFTC in Jalahalli campus for one and half years, according to police

AFCAT 2 2022 result declared on afcat.cdac.in; check details here

The IAF has declared AFCAT 2 2022 result on Friday. Candidates who appeared for the exam can check their scorecard from the official website- afcat.cdac.in

LCA Tejas very capable aircraft with world-class missiles: IAF official

Commanding Officer of Indian Air Force also called Flying daggers, Group captain Syamantak Roy said Light Combat Aircraft Tejas is very capable aircraft and is equipped with world-class missiles

India moving towards jointness of three armed force services: Rajnath Singh

India is rapidly moving towards jointness of the three services of the armed forces and effort is to have common logistic nodes so that resources of one service can be seamlessly made available to the other, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday. Addressing a seminar on Army logistics here, the Union minister also said that India has made rapid progress in the rail sector, and over 9,000 km lines have been doubled in the last seven years. The corresponding figure was only 1,900 km in the five years preceding 2014, he said. The opening ceremony of the seminar was attended by Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari and Navy chief Admirk R Hari Kumar and NITI Aayog member V K Saraswat, among others. The defence minister, in his address, spoke of the synergy and fusion needed between the civil and military stakeholders, and asserted that presence of representatives from different sectors of the two sides showed the "commitment" to achieve the goal a

Army Chief General Pande flies sortie in IAF's Apache helicopter in Ladakh

Army chief General Manoj Pande on Sunday flew a sortie in the Indian Air Force (IAF) Apache attack helicopter in Ladakh, officials said

Army, Air Force conduct joint exercise 'Gagan strike' in Punjab: Official

Army's Kharga Corps and the Air Force conducted joint exercise 'Gagan strike' in Punjab, a defence release said on Friday. The exercise comprised the deployment of attack helicopters as the aerial arm in support of ground forces carrying out drills, practising annihilation of enemy defences and deep penetration, it said. The exercise also showcased precision firepower of the attack helicopters in coordination with ground forces' mechanised columns. It validated the Apache 64E and Advanced Light Helicopter WSI as potent weapons delivery platforms. The force multiplier effect of combining these machines with ground operations has enhanced the forces' combat superiority, the release said. The joint exercise, spearheaded by General Officer Commanding, Khagra Corps, Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, was conducted over four days. Lt Gen Nav K Khanduri, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, witnessed the exercise. He exhorted the combat forces to continue to evolve such concepts and

QRSAM: Indian Army clears quick reaction surface-to-air missile system

The QRSAM system is unique in its ability to operate on the move, searching for and tracking enemy targets; and then fire on a short halt

Why 'Make in India' in defence may be leaving India vulnerable to threats

India's air force, army, and navy can no longer import some critical weapons systems to replace aging ones, the officials said