Tag Archives: Indian Air Force

Indian Air Force’s first C-17 en-route to India

by Devesh Agarwal India’s first Boeing C-17 Globemaster III transport airlift aircraft, CB-8001, is en-route to India after completing its almost six month long flight test program at Edwards Air Force Base in Palmdale, California, USA, which began following the aircraft’s delivery to the Indian Air Force (IAF) on January 22. Boeing is expected to deliver four more C-17s to …

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PHOTO & VIDEO: Malaysia Airlines A380 with Royal Malaysian Air Force Su-30MKM fly past at Langkawi show

At the start of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) Exhibition, a Malaysia Airlines Airbus A380 9M-MNE flanked by four Royal Malaysian Air Force Su-30MKM performed a fly past. A fifth Su-30MKM acted as spotter and coordinator. A video of the fly past is embedded below. Langkawi is a popular island getaway in the Andaman sea off the North-West …

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Complete and unedited video of Indian Air Force chief NAK Browne’s press interaction at Aero India 2013

The interaction with the Chief of Staff of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne, at the biennial Aero India 2013 air show, is always attended in force by members of the Indian and foreign media. During his hour long interaction the chief addressed a wide variety of issues on various programmes, budgets, strategies, needs, achievements, including operations …

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IAF Sukhoi Su-30MKI crashes at Pokhran range. Fourth crash of frontline fighter. Crew safe.

IAF Su-30MKI in a flypast at AeroIndia 2011 A Su-30MKI air superiority fighter of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed at Pokharan range, Rajasthan, earlier today around 1920 IST (1350Z). Both the crew ejected safely and there is no damage reported to any civilian property of any casualties on the ground. A spokesperson for the IAF could not divulge details …

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Photo Essay: Aero India 2013 – Inauguration Day images

The ninth edition of Aero India opened late and missing a few performers, notably the Russian Knights air display team, which have still not reached the show by the end of the second day. A photo essay on some of the performers on the first day. A Dassault Rafale B takes off during the inaugural ceremony at Aero India 2013. …

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Indian Air Force’s first Boeing C-17 Globemaster III enters flight testing

The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) first Boeing C-17 Globemaster III airlifter (tail number CB-8001) has been delivered by Boeing, on schedule, for flight testing. Indian Air Force C-17 Globemaster III. CB-8001 The first of the 10 airlifters ordered, now enters a U.S. Air Force (USAF) flight test program at the famous “The Right Stuff” Edwards Air Force Base in Palmdale, …

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Indian Air Force selects Airbus A330 MRTT as in-flight refuelling tanker

by Devesh Agarwal Airbus Military has confirmed that it has been selected by the Government of India as the preferred bidder to supply its A330 MRTT Multi Role Tanker Transport to the Indian Air Force (IAF). The decision follows a lengthy and thorough selection process including the completion of extensive flight demonstrations in India by the A330 MRTT during which …

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Indian Air Force’s first Boeing C-17 Globemaster III completes “major join”

The first of ten Boeing C-17 Globemaster III heavy lift transporters, ordered by the Indian Air Force (IAF), came together at the airframer’s Long Beach, California facility on July 31. An IAF officer drives rivets in to the C-17 fuselage Indian embassy officials, senior Indian Air Force officers and local elected officials including Rep. Dana Rohrabacher drove ceremonial rivets into …

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Dassault Rafale selected in $10.4 billion Indian Air Force MMRCA deal

One of the largest military contracts in the world, the Indian Air Force’s competition for 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) appears to have been decided in favour of the French airframer Dassault’s Rafale, though there is no official confirmation. Sources indicate the Rafale has been selected over the Eurofighter Typhoon from European competitor EADS for a contract estimated at …

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Photo: Indian Air Force’s sixth Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules enroute to India

From the photo site of Lockheed Martin. Number six of the six C-130J Super Hercules ordered by India, under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program, departed Marietta, Ga. on December 15, 2011. This aircraft, like its five predecessors, was delivered ahead of schedule and under budget. A photo of tail number KC-3801. Click on the image for the high resolution …

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Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30MKI frontline fighter aircraft crashes near Pune

IANS is reporting that a Sukhoi Su-30MKI the frontline air superiority fighter of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Pune around 13:15 local (07:45Z) today. Both the pilots bailed out to safety, an officer said. The fighter belongs to a squadron of the Su-30MKI which is based at the Lohegaon Air Force Base to protect amongst others, the economic …

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Photos: Indian Navy’s first Boeing P-8I maritime aircraft completes first flight

The first of the Indian Navy’s eight P-8i long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, ordered on manufacturer Boeing back in January 2009, completed its first flight earlier this morning. IN320 took off from Renton Field at 12:02 PDT (00:32 IST) earlier today and landed 2 hours and 31 minutes later at Boeing Field in Seattle. During the flight, Boeing …

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High price threatens to derail the Indian Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster III deal

The acquisition of ten Boeing C-17 Globemaster III strategic heavy lift transporters by the Indian Air Force, which was one the cornerstone deals during the recent visit of US President Barack Obama to India, has hit a price hurdle. The Indian Express newspaper is reporting that the Indian Air Force had estimated the 10 aircraft deal to be around $3 …

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Friday Video: The MiG-29 – the second line air superiority fighter of the Indian Air Force

While many are familiar with the front line air superiority fighter of the Indian Air Force (IAF) the Sukhoi Su-30MKI, the MiG-29 Baaz (meaning Hawk) has remained in relative obscurity with the public. A further development of the MiG-29 is the MiG-35 which was a contender for the 126 MMRCA tender of the IAF. India was the first international customer …

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More images from Aero India – Grippen, Sarang, Sitara, Super Hornet, Rafale,

Still have about 6,000 photos to sort through. In the mean time, some more opening day photos from Vedant, a Bangalore Aviation photographer. See more of his pictures here. Click on the images for a larger view. The Saab Gripper shows off its moves.The Indian Air Force helicopter demonstration team Sarang performs the dangerous 4 aircraft cross. The sweep diameter …

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Indian Air Force chief Naik expects MMRCA decision by September

At an interaction with the media at Aero India 2011, Chief of the Indian Air Force P.V. Naik indicated that commercial negotiations on the 126 aircraft medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) tender of the Indian Air Force, will commence in a week or two. Indicating the file was with the Ministry of Finance, he said he was expecting a decision …

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Pictures: Eurofighter Typhoons arrive at Yelahanka for Aero India 2011

Two Eurofighter Typhoons of the Italian Air Force (tail numbers 4-5 and 36-23) arrived at the Air Force Station Yelahanka to participate in the 8th edition of the Aero India show. On the ramp at Yelahanka next to the Sukhoi Su30MKI air superiority fighter The Eurofighter is a strong contender for the $10+ billion tender for the Indian Air Force …

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Lockheed Martin prepares to deliver India’s C-130J Super Hercules aircraft amidst controversy

India鈥瞫 order for six C-130J stretch Super Hercules transports is fast approaching completion. KC-3804, KC-3805, and KC-3806 the final three C-130Js have now reached their final production positions at the Lockheed Martin Marietta facility. India’s C-130J Super Hercules on the Lockheed Martin production line This news comes as the Business Standard newspaper reports a growing controversy at India’s Ministry of …

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Should India abandon the Multi-Role Combat Aircraft tender and move direct to a fifth generation F-35?

Last week I read an interesting article by Ajai Shukla in the Business Standard newspaper. Ajai argues that India should abandon its $10+ billion Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tender and directly purchase the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lighting II fifth generation multi-role fighter. While the article does tend to get a little bogged down by the politics surrounding Indian defence …

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