The last squadron flying the Mig 27 in India, the 29th squadron has been 'number plated' i.e the squadron will be put on ice till new planes are available to reactivate the squadron. This brings down the no. of squadrons in the Indian Air Force to 28, compared to the sanctioned 42. These 28 squadrons still include 6 squadrons of approx. 112 mig 21s which will be decommissioned as well in the next 2 years. Also to be noted is that the Mig 29, the Mirage 2000 and the SEPECAT Jaguar will also become obsolete in the next 10 years despite upgrades.
The only confirmed inductions in the near future are the unproven Hal Tejas (mark 1A variant with the AESA radar still under development and the mark 2 at least 6 years away from series production) and the Dassault Rafale. I really hope that the folks at South Block decide to order 36 more Rafales to at least plug this gaping hole in the Indian air force Inventory. Perhaps the induction of the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) in India will rationalize the Indian defense procurement policy!
Nice. I thought there would be a few more squadrons of Su 30 MKI, considering we have about 250 of them. How many aircraft per squadron?
Can you post the names of other squadrons also, by aircraft type?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gansan
(Post 4723230)
Nice. I thought there would be a few more squadrons of Su 30 MKI, considering we have about 250 of them. How many aircraft per squadron? |
18-20 perhaps. Some Su-30s are flying with the Jamnagar based TACDE
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gansan
(Post 4723230)
Can you post the names of other squadrons also, by aircraft type? |
IAF Fighter Squadrons
No. 1 Sqn "Tigers" Mirage 2000I/TI
No. 2 Sqn "Winged Arrows" - Su-30MKI
No. 3 Sqn "Cobras" MiG-21 Bison
No. 4 Sqn "Oorials" MiG-21 Bison
No. 5 Sqn "Tuskers" Jaguar IS/IT
No. 6 Sqn "Dragons" Jaguar IS/IM/IT
No. 7 Sqn "Battle Axes" Mirage 2000I/TI
No. 8 Sqn "Eight Pursoot" Su-30MKI
No. 9 Sqn "Wolfpack" Mirage 2000I/TI
No. 10 Sqn "Daggers" - Numberplated (MiG-27)
No. 14 Sqn "Bulls" Jaguar IS/IT
No. 15 Sqn "Flying Lances" Su-30MKI
No. 16 Sqn "Black Cobras" Jaguar IS/IT
No. 17 Sqn "Golden Arrows" - Re-raised as the 1st Rafale Sqn No. 18 Sqn "Flying Bullets" - Numberplated (MiG-27)
No. 20 Sqn "Lightnings" Su-30MKI
No. 21 Sqn "Ankush" MiG-21 Bison
No. 22 Sqn "Swifts" - Numberplated (MiG-27)
No. 23 Sqn "Panthers" MiG-21 Bison
No. 24 Sqn "Hawks" Su-30MKI
No. 26 Sqn "Warriors" MiG-21bis
No. 27 Sqn "Flaming Arrows" Jaguar IS/IT
No. 28 Sqn "First Supersonics" MiG-29UPG
No. 29 Sqn "Scorpios" - Numberplated (MiG-27)
No. 30 Sqn "Rhinos" Su-30MKI
No. 31 Sqn "Lions" Su-30MKI
No. 32 Sqn "Thunderbirds" MiG-21 Bison
No. 35 Sqn "Rapiers" MiG-21M
No. 37 Sqn "Black Panthers" MiG-21M
No. 45 Sqn "Flying Daggers" Tejas
No. 47 Sqn "Black Archers" MiG-29UPG
No. 51 Sqn "Swordarms" MiG-21 Bison
No. 52 Sqn "Surya Kiran" Hawk Mk.132 (formerly called Sharks - MiG-21FL)
No. 101 Sqn "Falcons" - Numberplated (MiG-21M)- Will be re-raised as the 2nd Rafale Sqn
No. 102 Sqn "Trisonics" Su-30MKI
No. 106 Sqn "Lynx" Su-30MKI
No. 108 Sqn "Hawkeyes" MiG-21M
No. 220 Sqn "Desert Tigers" Su-30MKI
No. 221 Sqn "Valiants" Su-30MKI
No. 222 Sqn "Tigersharks" Su-30MKI
No. 223 Sqn "Tridents" MiG-29UPG
No. 224 Sqn "Warlords" Jaguar IS/IT
TACDE - Su-30MKI/MiG-21 Bison
*The current status of the three remaining MiG-21M squadrons is unknown - No. 35, 37 & 108
IAF Transport/AWACS/Mid-Air Refueller Sqns
No. 11 Sqn "Rhinos" HS.748
No. 12 Sqn "Striking Yaks" An-32
No. 19 Sqn "?" - Numberplated in 1998 (An-32)
No. 25 Sqn "Himalayan Eagles" An-32/IL-76
No. 33 Sqn "Himalayan Geese" An-32
No. 41 Sqn "Otters" Do-228
No. 43 Sqn "Ibex" An-32
No. 44 Sqn "Mighty Jets" Il-76
No. 48 Sqn "Camels" An-32
No. 49 Sqdn "Paraspears" An-32
No. 50 Sqn A-50EI
No. 58 Sqn "Hornbills" HS.748
No. 77 Sqn "Veiled Vipers" C-130J-30
No. 78 Sqn "Valorous MARS" IL-78MKI
No. 81 Sqn "Skylords" C-17A
No. 87 Sqn "Raiding Raptors" C-130J-30
Air HQ & Comms Sqn "Pegasus" Boeing 737-700 BBJ/ERJ135
IAF Helicopter Units/Squadrons
No. 104 Sqn "Pioneer Rotarians" Mi-25/35
No. 105 HU "Daring Eagles" Mi-17
No. 107 HU "Desert Hawks" Mi-17
No. 109 HU "Knights" Mi-8
No. 110 HU "Vanguards" Mi-8
No. 111 HU "Snow Tigers" Dhruv Mk.III
No. 112 HU "Thoroughbreds" Mi-8
No. 114 HU "Siachen Pioneers" Cheetal
No. 115 HU "Hovering Angels" Cheetah
No. 116 HU "Tank Busters" Dhruv Mk.III,IV/Rudra
No. 117 HU "Himalayan Dragons" Dhruv Mk.III
No. 118 HU "Challengers" Mi-17
No. 119 HU "Stallions" Mi-17
No. 121 HF "Sea Eagles" Chetak
No. 122 HF "Flying Dolphins" Mi-8
No. 125 Sqn "Firebirds" AH-64E
No. 126 HU "Featherweights" CH-47F(I) Chinook
No. 127 HU "First of the Ranas" Mi-17
No. 128 HU "Siachen Tigers" Mi-17
No. 129 HU "Nubra Warriors" Mi-17
No. 130 HU "Condors" Mi-17
No. 131 FAC Flt "Airborne Pointers" Cheetah/Chetak
No. 132 FAC Flt "Hovering Hawks" Cheetah
No. 141 SSS Flt(SAR) "Flamingos" Chetak
No. 142 SSS Flt(SAR) "Flying Amphibs" Chetak
No. 151 HU "Sarang" - Dhruv Mk.III
No. 152 HU "Mighty Armour" Mi-17
No. 153 HU "Daring Dragons" Mi-17
No. 154 HU "Snow Leopards" Mi-17V5
No. 155 HU "Kripans" Mi-17V5
No. 156 HU "Armoured Kestrels" Mi-17V5
No. 157 HU "Tarkshya" Mi-17V5
No. 158 HU "Silver Falchions" Mi-17V5
No. 159 HU "Flying Daggers" Mi-17V5
* HU- Helicopter Unit, HF - Helicopter Flight, FAC Flt - Forward Air Control Flight
What happens when some aircraft in a squadron go for repairs/overhaul? Will all squadrons have some spare aircraft or will they be drawn from a common pool?
@Skanchan: to which squadron the C-17 and C130Js earmarked for the NSG/SAT belong to? They used to come from the "skylords" squadron not sure of the current status though!
TACDE has almost all aircraft types that the IAF flies and are not limited to only SU-30s and MiG-21s. Off late IAF has gathered quite some experience in dealing with the aircraft types our "friendly" neighbour has through joint exercises.
Interesting would be see if we can fly an exercise against the chinese jets to assess their real potential.