PM Narendra Modi just inaugurated the Highway Landing Strip (HLS) for Indian Air Force’s (IAF) aircraft operations in the East on Moran Highway in Assam. Close to the China border, India has turned one more highway into a runway for all types of aircraft in its inventory. The 4.2-km stretch, wrongly termed as just anContinue reading “Wrong to call them Emergency Landing Facility; Highway Landing Strips Are Strategic Assets for IAF’s Agile Combat Employment – NATO Already Implementing”
Tag Archives: rafale
DAC Clears 114 Rafale, 6 P8I and Discusses Make InIndia Marine Engines
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath_Singh meet on 12 February and gave nod to 114 additional Rafale jets, six more P-8I maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, and a discussed the flagship programme to develop indigenous marine gas turbine engines for the Indian Navy. After the DAC granting Acceptance of NecessityContinue reading “DAC Clears 114 Rafale, 6 P8I and Discusses Make InIndia Marine Engines “
Perceived SSM and Drone Successes – Can Countries Really Cut Fighter Aircraft Inventories?
Iran with a much inferior air force and highly depleted fighter aircraft assets could force the world’s greatest air powers of the USA and Israel, with top end fighters, to the negotiating table within a little over a month. Iran had primarily used ballistic missiles and kamikaze drones. There are others who are arguing thatContinue reading “Perceived SSM and Drone Successes – Can Countries Really Cut Fighter Aircraft Inventories?”
Exercise Tarang Shakti – Largest Multilateral Air Exercise in India
The Phase I of Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Mother-of-all-Exercises “Tarang Shakti” concluded on 14 August at Sulur Air Base, near Coimbatore, in India’s southern peninsula. The ultimate show of multinational synergy on the concluding day was a joint fighter aircraft mission by four Air Chiefs of participating air forces. These included ACM VR Chaudhari, CASContinue reading “Exercise Tarang Shakti – Largest Multilateral Air Exercise in India “
Rafale F4/F5 Getting Closer to the Make in India Deal
A suspected leak from France’s Ministry of the Armed Forces a few days back suggests that India intends to procure 90 Rafale F4 multirole fighter aircraft, with an additional option for 24 next-generation Rafale F5 variants for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The IAF had also reportedly moved a case for possible purchase of 114Continue reading “Rafale F4/F5 Getting Closer to the Make in India Deal”
Rafale Orders Explode! India Eyes Becoming Production Hub For French Jets After ‘Biggest Ever’ IAF Deal
French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy held a joint press conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on November 17, 2025, and announced that Ukraine will acquire up to 100 Dassault Rafale warplanes over the next 10 years. Kyiv seeks to bolster its defences against Russia’s invasion. Air defence systems, munitions, and drones were also included in theContinue reading “Rafale Orders Explode! India Eyes Becoming Production Hub For French Jets After ‘Biggest Ever’ IAF Deal”
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”
Make in India Rafale Fuselage – A Strategic Move Forward
In a big boost to Make-in-India, Dassault Aviation of France and India’s Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) will partner for Rafale aircraft fuselage manufacturing at a dedicated facility in Hyderabad. The key structural sections of the aircraft to be manufactured in India include the central fuselage, rear section, lateral rear shells, and the front section.Continue reading “Make in India Rafale Fuselage – A Strategic Move Forward”
The contested airspace of South Asia: How good are the newcomers?
The war clouds forming over India and Pakistan are always a hot topic of discussion on various forums at the global level. Since the very inception of the two nations in the year 1947, the phenomenon of an arms race in South Asia always remained centric to these two states. Back in the phase ofContinue reading “The contested airspace of South Asia: How good are the newcomers?”
Rafale Set to Arrive in Ambala – Induction and Operationalisation – Plan to Compress Schedules
Five Rafale are set to land on Indian soil at Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Ambala airbase in less than a month on 29 July 2020. Earlier India’s Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh had formally received the first of the 36 Rafale aircraft contracted at a cost of around Rs 58,000 crore by India at a specialContinue reading “Rafale Set to Arrive in Ambala – Induction and Operationalisation – Plan to Compress Schedules”