Military Modernisation
iaf chief Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria FLYING THE RECENTLY PROCURED APACHE ATTACK HELICOPTER, FROM US ADDING TEETH TO FLEET
The Indian Air Force in Transition In the era of the bi-polar world, as India was close to the Soviet Union, the IAF had a dominating presence of Russian aircraft including fighters, transports and helicopters
Photograph: IAF
By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd) In 1964 the MiG-21, the first supersonic combat jet that was procured for the Indian Air Force (IAF), was from the Soviet Union. Since then, the IAF remained heavily dependent the Soviet Union for the supply military aircraft and helicopters. Prior to this, the IAF procured combat jets from Western countries which included the de Havilland Vampire, the Folland Gnat, the Hawker Hunter, the English Electric Canberra – all from Britain, the Ouragan (renamed as Toofani in India) and the Mystere from Dassault Aviation of France. In addition, the IAF received the first AngloFrench combat platform, SEPECAT Jaguar in 1979 and the Dassault Mirage 2000 in the mid 1980s. Except for the Jaguar and the Mirage 2000 that continue to be in service with the IAF today, all other combat platforms listed above have been retired from service. The six squadrons of Jaguar are practically on the last
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leg and would be retired from service in a decade or so. In the era of the bi-polar world during which India was closer to the Soviet Union, the IAF soon had a dominating presence of Russian aircraft including fighters, transports and helicopters on its inventory. Apart from the MiG-21 variants, the fighter fleet of the IAF inducted the MiG-23, MiG-25, MiG-27, MiG-29, Su-7 and the Su-30 MKI. Of these the MiG-21 Bison, MiG-29 and the Su-30 MKI continue in service today. The MiG21 Bison fleet however, is expected to be retired from service in the next five years. That will leave three squadrons of MiG-29 and 15 squadrons for Su-30 MKI in service with the IAF. With the end of the cold war era and the emergence of a uni-polar world, the IAF felt unshackled from Russia and began to explore other options to build up the strength of the combat
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