India’s Deepening Military Aviation’s French Connection

The primacy of air power in future military operations has once again been re-established in the Ukraine conflict, West Asian showdowns, and most recently during Op Sindoor. Indian Air Force (IAF) is down to 29 fighter aircraft squadrons vis-à-vis the authorized 42.5. The last MiG-21 “Bison” squadron is being decommissioned this September. The LCA Mk1A is still mired by delays and will enter IAF serviceContinue reading “India’s Deepening Military Aviation’s French Connection”

F-35 Has Complications. Accelerate AMCA – Private Consortium Approach the Best Way Forward

The AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) program in India is considered urgent due to the country’s declining fighter squadron strength, the modernization of rival air forces, and the need to maintain a technological edge in air combat. The program aims to replace aging aircraft and introduce a fifth-generation fighter, addressing both operational and strategic requirements.Continue reading “F-35 Has Complications. Accelerate AMCA – Private Consortium Approach the Best Way Forward”

Beyond Range and Payload: The Importance of Aircraft Endurance

It is usually observed that the comparison of the aircraft is made upon their technical specifications or their weapon package, but there’s another factor as critical as any other, the endurance of an aircraft. The ability of an aircraft to be successful in combat depends upon endurance to some extent it depends on other factorsContinue reading “Beyond Range and Payload: The Importance of Aircraft Endurance”

British Roadblock in Tejas way to Argentina, and how New Delhi likely to fix it

Carrying an aspiration to score the maiden export success of its Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has so far entered into multiple races, and multiple venues, opening doors for various potential customers to judge the capability and compatibility of the platform to fulfill their air defence requirements, either on long-term or interimContinue reading “British Roadblock in Tejas way to Argentina, and how New Delhi likely to fix it”

TEDBF: The Future of Indian Naval Aviation

“Whoever rules the waves, rules the world”, these famous words by the renowned US Navy flag officer, geo-strategist, and naval historian Alfred T. Mahan, highlight the importance of naval power. In modern-day naval warfare, aircraft carrier-borne operations play a major role in establishing superiority over the opponent. The indigenous 4.5x generation Twin Engine Deck BasedContinue reading “TEDBF: The Future of Indian Naval Aviation”

Tejas Mk2: The Pride & Future of Indian Air Force

Tejas Mk2 has been the talk of the town recently when the new IAF Chief, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari stated recently that 7 squadrons of Tejas Mk2 are projected for induction in the coming years while discussing the future roadmap of the Indian Air Force’s modernization plan. This is an important announcement not onlyContinue reading “Tejas Mk2: The Pride & Future of Indian Air Force”

MILITARY AVIATION INDIGENOUS PRODUCTION – STRATEGY INDIA

India’s defence aviation industry is at times accused of not having significantly met the indigenous production needs of the air arms of the Indian armed forces despite being in existence for nearly seven decades. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), for long had master the art of license production, wherein they assembled aircraft from Original Equipment ManufacturerContinue reading “MILITARY AVIATION INDIGENOUS PRODUCTION – STRATEGY INDIA”

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”

AMCA and LCA Mk II – Challenges and Options

The Balakot air strikes in February 2019 and the air combat thereafter in which a MiG 21 Bison of Indian Air Force (IAF) had to engage a much more modern F-16 of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has once again brought IAF modernization back into focus. The then IAF Chief, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, hasContinue reading “AMCA and LCA Mk II – Challenges and Options”