Combat Aircraft of the Indian Air Force

Pictures of planes flying the colors of the Indian Air Force. Descriptions correspond to the series and not specifically to the planes shown.
The planes discussed are Sukhoi 27/30K, MiG-29, MiG-27, MiG-25, MiG-23, MiG-21, Mirage 2000, Jaguars, and Canberras

Click on images for larger versions.

Sukhoi 27/30K

The Su-27 (NATO designation Flanker) is the front line fighter aircraft designed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau. The export version is the Su-27SK.

A variant, the Su-30MK (NATO designation Flanker), has been sold to India with licensed local production to begin in 2000.

The aircraft is equipped to operate autonomously in combat over hostile territory, in escort of deep penetration strike aircraft, and in suppression of enemy airfields. The aircraft provides general air defense in cooperation with ground and airborne control stations.

The aircraft is equipped with a 30 mm gun and a range of missiles, rockets, and bombs mounted externally on ten hardpoints. The aircraft's infra-red search and track system, laser rangefinder, radar, and helmet mounted target designator provide detection, tracking, and attack capability.

The range of air-to-air missiles carried by the Su-27K aircraft includes:

R-27R1, all aspect medium range missile with semi-active homing
R-27T1 all aspect medium range missile with infra-red passive homing
R-73E all aspect close combat air-to-air missile with infra-red passive homing

The R-27R1 (NATO designation AA-10A Alamo-A) and the R-27T1 (AA-10B Alamo-B) has a range from 0.5 to 60 kilometres, with the aircraft flying from 20,000 to 27,000 m altitude and speeds up to 3,500 km/hour.

The R-73E (NATO designation AA-11 Archer) provides all-aspect target engagement in close, high maneuverability combat with load factor up to 12g. The range is from 0.3 to 20 kilometres.

Ordnance for air-to-ground missions include:

free fall and retarded aerial bombs 100, 250, and 500 kg
incendiary devices, 500 kg
RBK cluster bombs, 25 and 500 kg
unguided aerial missiles C-8, C-13 and C-25

The Su-27SK is equipped with a coherent pulse Doppler radar, Phazotron N001 Zhuk, with track-while-scan and look-down/shoot-down capability. The range of the radar against targets size 3 square metres is over 100 km in the forward hemisphere and 40 kilometres in the rear hemisphere. The radar has the capacity to search, detect, and track up to 10 targets with automatic threat assessment and prioritization.;

The aircraft has an OEPS-27 electro-optic system which includes an infra-red search and track (IRST) sensor collimated with a laser rangefinder. The range of the electro-optical system against a reheated target is from 40 to 100 kilometres depending on the aspect angle presented by the target.

The Su-27SK is equipped with a new electronic countermeasures suite for individual aircraft, and for mutual and group protection in the forward and rear hemispheres. The countermeasures system includes a pilot illumination radar warning receiver, chaff and infra-red decoy dispensers, and an active multimode jammer located in the wing-tip pods.

The Su-27SK is powered by two AL-31F turbofan engines designed by the Lyulka Engine Design Bureau (NPO Saturn). Each engine has two air intakes, a primary wedge intake and a louvred auxiliary air intake. The twin-shaft turbo-fan engine has after-turbine flow mixing, a common afterburner, an all mode variable area jet exhaust nozzle, an independent start and a main electronic control and a reserve hydromechanical engine mode control system. The engine nacelles have a semimonocoque configuration. The high temperature sections of the engines are made of titanium alloy.

The cockpit is equipped with a single zero/zero ejection seat type Zvesda K-36MD. The pilot is equipped with a helmet mounted target designator.

The fly-by-wire system in the Su-27SK uses quadruple redundancy of transducers, units and interfaces of the vital control channels to perform the following functions:

longitudinal control
provision of stability and controllability for longitudinal, lateral and yaw control
control of the aircraft configuration in maneuvers
restriction of parameters to keep within g-load and angle of attack limitations
decrease of aerodynamic loading to conform to limitations of aircraft structure

The automatic flight control is linked to the navigation system, weapon control and command guidance equipment. The automatic flight control carries out:

stabilization of the aircraft angular position and flight altitude
return of the aircraft to a straight and level flight path from any altitude
programmed flight altitude, climb and descent
control from ground and air direction posts
self-guidance interface to the weapon control systems
en-route flight, return to home airfield and landing approach by radio beacon.

The radio communications suite provides:

voice and data, VHF/UHF radio communications between aircraft and ground control stations within sight range
voice radio communication with ground control stations and between aircraft up to a range of 1,500 km
an encrypted data link for combat information exchange between aircraft
command guidance from ground control stations using automatic interception mode.

The Su-27SK is a highly integrated twin-finned aircraft. The airframe is constructed of titanium and high strength aluminum alloys. The engine nacelles are fitted with trouser fairings to provide a continuous streamlined profile between the engine nacelles and the tail beams. The fins and horizontal tail consoles are attached to tail beams. The central beam section between the engine nacelles consists of the equipment compartment, fuel tank and the brake parachute container. The fuselage head is of semimonocoque construction and includes the cockpit, radar compartments and the avionics bay. The glove, i.e. the leading section of the wing root, on the starboard side houses a 30 mm GSh-301 gun with 150 rounds of ammunition.

MiG-29

The MiG-29 is produced by the Moscow Aircraft Production Organization MiG (MAPO MiG) based in Moscow. The MiG-29,-30 and -33 are known by the NATO code name Fulcrum.

The mission of the MiG-29 is to destroy hostile air targets within radar coverage limits and also to destroy ground targets using unguided weapons in visual flight conditions. The aircraft's fixed wing profile with large wing leading edge root extensions gives good maneuverability and control at subsonic speed including maneuveres at high angles of attack. The maximum operational g-loading is 9g.

The aircraft is equipped with an information and fire control radar system comprising: an airborne radar N-019 developed by Phazotron Research and Production Company, Moscow; an optical locator comprising an infra-red search and track sensor, a laser rangefinder and a helmet mounted target designator. For a longer range air combat the MiG-29 uses radar guidance for the R-27 missile.

The MiG-29 fighter is equipped with seven external hardpoints for air-to-air missiles, air bombs and unguided rockets. The aircraft can carry:

up to two air-to-air medium range missiles, R-27
a maximum of six air-to-air short range missiles R-73 and R-60
up to four pods of unguided rockets, S-5,S-8,S-24
air bombs weighing up to 3,000 kg
a 30 mm built-in aircraft gun with 150 rounds of ammunition.

The R-27 medium range air-to-air missile is supplied by the Vympel State Engineering Design Bureau based in Moscow. The R-27 is an all- weather missile operating by day or night and is available in two configurations, the R-27R which has a semi-active radar homing head and inertial navigation control with a radio link, and the R-27T missile which is fitted with an infra-red homing head. The missile can intercept targets with speed up to 3,500 km/hour at altitudes from 0.02 to 27 km and the maximum vertical separation between the carrier aircraft and the target is 10 kilometres.

The R-73 missile is also supplied by Vympel. It is an all-aspect short range air-to-air missile known by the NATO code name AA-11 Archer. The missile is used for close combat engagement of high maneuverability hostile aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles. The missile has cooled infra-red homing. The missile can intercept targets at altitudes between 0.02 and 20 kilometres, target g-load to 12g, and with target speeds to 2,500 km per hour.

Another short range air-to-air missile carried on the MiG-29 is the Vympel R-60. The missile's relatively small launch weight, 43 kg, and aerodynamic configuration give the missile a capability to engage targets maneuvering at an acceleration up to 12g. The R-60M is a modernized version of the R-60 with an expanded range of target designation angles to +/- 20 degrees, a heavier warhead, and an upgraded infrared homing head with photodetector cooling. Both the R-60 and R-60M have the NATO reporting name Aphid and code number AA-8.

The MiG-29 can be armed with up to four pods of unguided rockets, types S-5,S-8,S-24 and air bombs weighing up to 3,000 kg. The unguided rockets are supplied by the Applied Physics Institute Joint Stock Company in Novosibirsk, Russia and air bombs are supplied by the Bazalt State Research and Production Enterprise in Moscow.

The MiG-29 is equipped with two RD-33 turbofan engines. The MiG-29 is the world's first aircraft fitted with dual mode air intakes. During flight the open air intakes feed air to the engines. While moving on the ground the air intakes are closed and air is fed through the louvres on the upper surface of the wing root to prevent ingestion of foreign objects from the runway. This is particularly important when operating from poorly prepared airfields. The MiG-29 is the world's first series front line fighter to be equipped with turbofan engines, providing a thrust to weight ratio higher than unity for high maneuverability.

The engines provide a maximum speed of 2,400 km/hour at altitude and 1,500 km/hour near the ground and the service ceiling is 18,000 metres. The maximum range at altitude is 1,500 km and 700 km near the ground.

Mirage 2000 series

The Mirage 2000 is a multirole combat fighter by Dassault Aviation of France.

Mirage 2000-5 is the latest of the Mirage 2000 family, and incorporates advanced avionics, new multiple target air-to-ground and air-to-air firing procedures using the RDY radar and new sensor and control systems.

Mirage 2000 has nine hardpoints for carrying weapon system payloads, five on the fuselage and two on each wing. The single seat version is also armed with two internally mounted high firing rate 30 mm guns.

Mirage 2000 has an upgraded digital Weapon Delivery and Navigation System, WDNS, which has capacity for further integration of new sensors and weapon systems. The aircraft can be fitted with a TV/CT CLDP laser designation pod from Thomson-CSF Optronique which provides the capability to fire laser guided weapons by day and night. The 2000-5 Mk 2 will have the Damocles pod with thermal imaging camera, also from Thomson-CSF Optronique.

Air-to-air weapons include the MICA multi-target air-to-air intercept and combat missiles and the Magic 2 combat missiles, both from Matra BAe Dynamics (France). The aircraft can carry four MICA missiles, two Magic missiles and 3 drop tanks simultaneously which provides a highly extended mission time. The Mirage 2000-5 can fire the Super 530D missile from Matra BAe Dynamics (France) or the Sky Flash air-to-air missile from Matra BAe Dynamics (UK) as an alternative to the MICA missile.

Mirage 2000 is also equipped to carry a range of air-to-surface missiles and weapons including laser guided bombs. These include Matra BAe Dynamics BGL 1000 laser guided bomb, Aerospatiale AS30L, Matra BAe Dynamics Armat anti-radar missile, Aerospatiale AM39 Exocet antiship missile, Matra BAe Dynamics rocket launchers, Matra Bae Dynamics Apache stand-off weapon, and the stealthy cruise missile, SCALP.

Mirage 2000-5 is available as a single-seater or two seater multi-role fighter. The cockpit is equipped with the F10Q zero/zero ejection seat designed by Martin-Baker Aircraft of the UK. The zero/zero seat gives the crew the option of ejecting safely at all altitudes and speeds including zero altitude and zero speed when the aircraft is parked. In the two seater aircraft the pilot initiates ejection of both seats, the copilot's seat ejecting 500 milliseconds after the pilot's seat. The cockpit is fully air conditioned and pressurized. Mirage 2000-5 incorporates the VEH 3020 Head Up Display from Thomson-CSF and five cathode ray tube multifunction Advanced Pilot Systems Interface (APSI) displays similar to the suite of displays developed for the Rafale aircraft. The combined head up/head level display is collimated at infinity and presents the data relating to flight control, navigation, air and ground target engagement and weapon firing. The aircraft's sensor and system management information is presented on two colored lateral displays. The tactical situation display provides the pilot with clear tactical information derived from advanced data fusion processors.

The aircraft has HOTAS hands on throttle and stick control which provides all the switches needed for air combat.

Mirage 2000 is equipped with a multi-mode RDY doppler radar developed by Thomson-CSF. The RDY radar provides multi-targeting capability in the air defence role and the radar also has look down/shoot down mode of operation. The radar can simultaneously detect up to 24 targets and carry out track while scan on the eight highest priority threats.

The aircraft is equipped with a comprehensive self protection suite installed internally and not requiring any external pod. Mirage 2000-5 carries the automated integrated countermeasures system, ICMS Mark2 from Thomson-CSF Detexis. The ICMS Mark 2 incorporates a receiver and associated signal processing system in the nose section for the detection of hostile missile command data links. The aircraft's self protection equipment can be interfaced to a new programmable mission planning and a post-mission analysis ground system.

The Mirage incorporates fly-by-wire flight control together with an SFENA 608 autopilot system.

Mirage 2000 is equipped with an M53-P2 turbofan engine from SNECMA which provides 64 kN thrust and 98 kN with afterburn. The air intakes are fitted with an adjustable half-cone shaped centrebody which provides an inclined shock of air pressure for highly efficient air input. The internal fuel tanks in the wings and fuselage have a capacity for 4,000 litres of fuel. The aircraft can carry an additional fuel load using external fuel tanks to bring the total fuel capacity up to 9,000 litres. The aircraft has aerial refuelling capability using a detachable probe on the starboard side just in front of the cockpit.

Mirage is very similar in appearance to the Rafale with a delta wing configuration and the wing set low on the fuselage. It is slightly narrower in wingspan and slightly longer than the Rafale. The aircraft structure features low weight honeycomb panels and extensive use of carbon fibre and light alloy materials. The aircraft is rated to pull 9g gravitational force

MiG-23/27

The MiG-27K fighter bomber aircraft is manufactured by the Moscow Aircraft Production Organization MiG and the Irkutsk Aircraft Production Association Joint Stock Company. Both the MiG-23 fighter aircraft and the MiG-27 fighter bomber aircraft are sometimes referred to by the NATO code name Flogger.

The MiG-27K variant of the MiG-27 family is a variable geometry wing fighter bomber. The primary mission of the aircraft is the destruction of moving and stationary, fixed and mobile ground targets including hardened targets.

The MiG-27K is equipped with the PrNK-23K integrated navigation and aiming system which consists of an Orbita-20-23K airborne digital computer, an optical television indicator with a Kaira-1 laser and television sighting system. The target lock-on range is 7 to 8 kilometres. The Kaira-1 system allows the aircraft to use the guided aerial bombs type KAB-500L and KAB-500KR. The KN-23 navigation system installed on the MiG-27K incorporates a Radical navigation system in place of the RSBN-6s short range radio navigation system. The MiG-27K does not carry any airborne radar.

The aircraft carries three types of air-to-surface missile: the Kh-23M, the Kh-25ML(MP), and the Kh- 29L(T). The Kh-23M air-to-surface missile is one of the group of missiles known by the NATO code name Kerry and designation number AS-7 and which is supplied by the Zvezda-Strela State Research and Production Center, Moscow.

The Kh-25ML is the laser guided version of the Kh-25 air-to-surface missile family, with the NATO designation Kegler AS-12. It is supplied by Zvezda. The missile has a semi-active laser homing head. The range is between 2.5 to 10 kilometres. The missile is equipped with a high explosive (HE) 86 kg warhead and the speed of flight is 400 to 450 metres per second. The Kh-29ML, built by Vympel, is the laser guided version of the Kh-29, NATO designation AS-14 Kedge. The missile uses semi-active laser guidance and has a range up to 10 kilometres. The missile is equipped with a 317 kg penetrating warhead and the flight speed is from 250 to 350 metres per second.

The anti-radar missile is the Kh-27PS. The Kh-27 built by Zvezda is one of the missiles with NATO designation AS-12 Kegler.

The air to air missile carried on the MiG-27K is the R-60M supplied by the Vympel. The missile weighs 43 kg and has the capability to engage targets maneuvering at an acceleration up to 12g. The R-60M has a range of target designation angles to +/- 20 degrees and an infrared homing head with photodetector cooling. Both the R-60 and R-60M carry the NATO reporting name Aphid and code number AA-8.

The aircraft can carry two types of controlled air bombs, the KAB-500L laser guided bomb and KAB- 500KR television guided bomb which are supplied by the Region State Research and Production Enterprise in Moscow. The KAB-500L has semi-active laser homing, weighs 525 kg is armed with a 380 kg high explosive warhead.

The KAB-500KR television guided bomb operates on the "drop and forget" principle. Target lock-on for a parked aircraft is achieved at a range of 15 to 17 kilometres in meteorological visibility distance of 10 kilometres. The warhead can pierce a reinforced concrete barrier up to 1.5 metres thick and average density soil to a depth of 10 metres.

The aircraft can also carry S-24, S-25, S-8, S5 unguided rockets and a range of aerial bombs up to 500 kg size, cluster bombs and incendiary devices.

The aircraft has a built-in gun, the 30 mm Sh-6-30 gun with 260 rounds of ammunition. The gun supplied by the Instrument Design Bureau based in Tula, fires HEFI rounds and AO-18 cartridges. The maximum fire rate is 5,000 rounds per minute and the muzzle velocity is 850 meters per second. The aircraft is also equipped with an SPPU-22 two barrel 23 mm gun pod with 200 rounds of ammunition. The SPPU-22 pod houses a GSh-23 aircraft gun, both supplied by the Instrument Design Bureau in Tula. The gun fires 23 mm calibre ammunition and AM-23 cartridges. The maximum fire rate is 3,000 rounds per minute and the muzzle velocity is 715 metres per second.

The radio-command systems installed on the MiG-27K are the Delta-NM and the Viyuga anti-radar missile control system which is installed in an externally mounted pod. The Viyuga system allows the aircraft to use the anti-radar missile Kh-27PS which has a passive radar homing head.

The MiG-27K aircraft is equipped with a modern electronic countermeasures suite including a new passive jamming system.

The aircraft is equipped with an internally installed single turbojet engine with afterburn. The box- shaped air intakes are forward of the wing roots. The engine has a single exhaust. The aircraft can carry up to four external fuel tanks, model PTBB-800.

The aircraft is capable of a maximum speed of 1,800 km/hr at altitude and 1,250 km/hr with a normal mission missile payload flying at low altitude. With high altitude flight the aircraft's operational range is 2,100 kilometres, while low level flight gives an operational range of 1,080 kilometres. The aircraft is rated for a maximum g loading of 7g. The aircraft can be based on second category airfields and operate from unpaved runways with a soil strength of 8 kg per square cm.

MiG-25 Interceptor

no picture yet

The MiG-25 (code-named "Foxbat" by NATO) made its first public appearence on 05 Oct 67, though the first prototype is said to have flown in Apr 61 and set various records. The MiG-25 was inducted into the IAF in 1981 and is also the fastest aircraft in the IAF's inventory (cross-check??). It is a single seater, supersonic intercepter and reconnaissance fighter. The MiG-25 is one of the fastest combat aircraft in the world, capable of flying at Mach 3.2 at height. Five variants of MiG-25 have been produced. The current height record (for fighter planes) was set by E-266-M version on 31 Aug 77 when it climbed to 37,650 m (123,524 ft).

Jaguar IS/IB

Produced to meet a joint Anglo-French requirement in 1965 for a dual-role advanced/operational trainer and tactical support aircraft, the Jaguar has been transformed into a potent fighter-bomber.

A variety of weapons including cluster, free fall, retard and laser guided bombs, as well as rockets can be carried on the four wing and one fuselage stations. Two 30mm cannon are mounted internally. To mark targets for laser-guided weapons, the aircraft carries the thermal imaging and laser designation (TIALD) pod. For self-defence, overwing Sidewinder infra-red missiles are carried and the aircraft is fitted with a comprehensive suite of electronic countermeasures. Perhaps the Jaguar's most impressive feature is its navigation and attack system. With mission data fed into the computer, all the necessary information for a pinpoint attack is relayed to the head-up display. From the display, the pilot knows exactly where the target is located and precisely when to release his weapons for maximum effect.

Two Turbomeca/Rolls-Royce Adour 104 turbofans of 7,305lb st.

Span: 28ft 6 in (8.69m)
Length: 55ft 2.5in (16.83m)
Max Speed: 990mph (1,593km/h) at 36,000ft (11,000m).
Accommodation: Single seater

Ammunition includes Two 30mm Aden guns and up to 10,000lb (4,500kg) stores including Martel, rockets and laser-guided bombs.

Long sleek fuselage with a large swept tail fin and rudder. Relatively short-span swept wings are shoulder-mounted on the fuselage. The internal jet engines have intakes either side of the fuselage behind the cockpit, with their top surfaces forming an extension of the wing. The rear jetpipes are located forward and below the tailplane which has marked anhedral. The raised bubble canopy is set above the sharply-pointed nose. The twin mainwheels of the undercarriage retract into the fuselage.

MiG-21

The MiG-21 (named "Fishbed" by NATO) is one of the most the most widely used fighters in the world outside Western influence. It first flew in 1955. This delta wing, all-weather fighter has a cantilever mid-set monoplane wing, with about 60° sweepback and slight anhedral.

SPECIFICATIONS:-

Type: Single-seat multi-role fighter

Dimensions: Wing Span: 7.15m(23 ft6 in),;
Length: 15.1m(49 ft 6 in)

Performance: Max Speed: Mach 2.2,
Max Range: 110k(685 miles)

Armament: 1xTwin Barrel 23mm Cannon,
1500 kg of Ordnance or
4xAA-2'Aphid' air-to-air missiles.

Canberra - Maritime strike, ground bombing, as well as reconnaisance - quite old but I like it

The English Electric Canberra was designed with no defensive armament, relying instead on high speed, an operational ceiling of 48,000 feet, and great maneuverability to avoid opposing fighter aircraft. The fact that the Canberra is still in service today is testimony to the quality of the original design.

Contributes significantly to meeting reconnaissance task through the use of a wide range of vertical and oblique cameras.

Two Rolls-Royce Avon 206 turbojets of 11,250lb st
Span: 67ft l0in (20.66m)
Length: 66ft 5in (20.36m)
Max Speed: 547mph (876km/h)
Accommodation: Crew of 2 or 1 (?)

As an interdictor, carries 4 x 20 mm Hispano cannon or 3 x 1000 lb. bombs internally plus 2 x 1000 lb. underwing

As a bomber, 8000 lb. bombs load internally and underwing.

Has a long 'pencil' fuselage with a distinctive single-seat cockpit offset to the port side. Deep-chord wings taper towards the tips. Engines mounted in the wings and projecting forward. Angular fin and rudder, with the dihedralled tailplane set on top of the fuselage cone.

The black&white picture on the left is of an Indian Air Force Canberra around 1965 (Piloted by Wg Cdr Peter Wilson).

Some content taken from http://www.airforce-technology.com, http://www.raf.mod.uk, http://www.bharat-rakshak.com, and other similar defense related sites.