The Indian Air Force (IAF) is finally all set to retire its MiG-21 fleet in September 2025 after over 60 years of glorious service. They protected the Indian skies through all major conflicts. The author honed his combat flying skills on this aircraft starting in 1974. And later was the Team Leader of MiG 21Continue reading “The Iconic MiG-21- Great Design – Most Produced Supersonic Jet – Fearsome Reputation – Glorious Service”
Category Archives: Aircraft
China’s Aviation Industry – Forging Ahead, Yet Critical Technology Challenges
“When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.”– Leonardo DaVinci “The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by theContinue reading “China’s Aviation Industry – Forging Ahead, Yet Critical Technology Challenges”
HAL – Time to Get Going – A Comprehensive Story
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has once again come in the eye of the storm after a respected Test Pilot and former Indian Navy Chief did a candid interview with the web portal LiveFist and highlighted what HAL could have done better in some areas. Last year HAL was in similar situation when a public debateContinue reading “HAL – Time to Get Going – A Comprehensive Story”
Pakistan Air Force Operational Airbases – A Comprehensive Look
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has three geographical Commands, Northern Air Command (NAC), Peshawar, Central Air Command (CAC), Lahore, and Southern Air Command (SAC), Karachi. It has two functional Commands, the Air Force Strategic Command (AFSC), at Islamabad, and the Air Defence Command (ADC), at Rawalpindi. PAF has a total of 21 air bases, comprisingContinue reading “Pakistan Air Force Operational Airbases – A Comprehensive Look”
China Designed and Substantially Produced JF-17 Thunder Fighter – Crown Jewel of Sino-Pak Aviation Relations
The latest Block III variant of Chinese ‘designed for Pakistan’ multirole fighter aircraft JF-17 ‘Thunder’ reportedly flew its maiden flight on December 15, 2019 in China’s southwestern province of Sichuan. The world has been closely watching China’s fast emerging military aircraft industry. JF-17 whose development began much later than India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) ‘Tejas’Continue reading “China Designed and Substantially Produced JF-17 Thunder Fighter – Crown Jewel of Sino-Pak Aviation Relations”
Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft – Time To Get Act Right India
The Indian government just cleared the development of the twin engine deck-based fighter (TEDBF) for Indian Navy. The development phase is expected to cost between Rs 7,000 and Rs 8,000 Crore. First Flight is tasked to be done in six years. Indigenisation is clearly the focus, and rightly so. Meanwhile just last year the airContinue reading “Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft – Time To Get Act Right India”
What Holds Back Indian Military Aviation Development – Historic Perspective By a Retired Surgeon
When the then defence minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman released a list of defence related items to be sourced from Indian industry alone. I saw some amused or sarcastic comments on social media about the low technological level needed for those items. Many educated Indians sneer at products of Indian industry, thinking that it would beContinue reading “What Holds Back Indian Military Aviation Development – Historic Perspective By a Retired Surgeon”
Dassault Rafale – The Gust of Wind – Despite COVID – All Set to Arrive on Schedule
There will be no delay in delivery of 36 Rafale jets to India as the timeline finalised for the supply of the fighter jets will be strictly respected, French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain has said. “The contractual delivery schedule of the Rafale jets has been perfectly respected till now, and, in fact, a new aircraft wasContinue reading “Dassault Rafale – The Gust of Wind – Despite COVID – All Set to Arrive on Schedule”
Walchand Hirachand Doshi – Visionary – First Aircraft Factory, Shipyard and Car Factory
Seth Walchand Hirachand Doshi was a visionary Patriot, who pioneered Industrial revolution in pre-independent India. A man of courage, conviction and self-belief, who envisioned the Industrial needs of Independent India, who in the first half of 20th century was a towering person, who stood out as the pioneering nation builder, who despite all adversities undertook theContinue reading “Walchand Hirachand Doshi – Visionary – First Aircraft Factory, Shipyard and Car Factory”
Aviation Key to Special Operations
On May 2, 2011, a group of special operators from the top secret U.S. Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) descended on an unassuming compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The members of SEAL Team Six shot and killed the infamous Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. Due to an accident during the operation, they had to leaveContinue reading “Aviation Key to Special Operations”
Air Power Asia 