The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : IAF fighter fleet being enhanced

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Sunday, Jan 18, 2009
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IAF fighter fleet being enhanced

Staff Reporter

Air Force chief says several aircraft being upgraded, airfields expanded

— Photo: K Gopinathan

AN AGENDA UNVEILED: Air Chief Marshal F.H. Major (left), who delivered the Air Chief Marshal L.M. Katre Memorial Lecture, releasing a book in Bangalore on Saturday.

Bangalore: Aerospace power, in the years to come, will be the most viable option before the national leadership as it tackles conflict situations and contingencies, said Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major, Chief of the Air Staff.

Delivering the third Air Chief Marshal L.M. Katre Memorial Lecture here on Saturday, the Air Chief spoke about a modernisation programme taking place in the field of aviation, through acquisitions, upgrades, replacement and existing facilities being put to new purposes, along with the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) own satellite which would be launched by 2010.

“Our fighter fleet is being enhanced — Jaguars, the MiG-21 BiS and a few MiG-27s have already been upgraded, the MiG-29 upgrade programme is under way in Russia, and the Mirage 2000 upgrade will happen soon,” said Air Chief Marshal Major.

Thirty airfields across the country were going to be upgraded with 11,000 feet long runways and CAT 2B wireless systems, according to him.

Referring to Su-30 MKI induction, which had been accelerated, he said the proposals for the 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft deal was almost over, with flight trials expected in April-May. “Discussions are on with Russia over the fifth generation fighter jets and the Light Combat Aircraft programme has gained momentum,” he added.

Air Chief Marshall Major said that IAF would have 80 Mi-17s and Mi-5s helicopters by 2012-13, and that the IAF would acquire 22 attack-helicopters.

He said: “We have signed an order with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) for 38 Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) and 16 of the ALH’s armed version.

“We are buying 12 Augusta-101 VVIP helicopters and a request for proposal for a heavy lift helicopter is to be issued soon.”

Ashok K. Baweja, Chairperson, HAL, said the cold weather trials of the Dhruv helicopters were going to begin and also brought to light the orders for 260 aircraft estimated at Rs. 17,000 crore.

“HAL is going to roll out 350 aircraft by 2012 - out of which 80 will roll out this year, and spend close to Rs. 25,000 crore on design and development over the next 10 years,” said Mr. Baweja.

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