IAF grappling with fighter squadron, manpower shortageOctober 7th, 2009 NEW DELHI - As the Indian Air Force (IAF), the world's fourth largest, turns 77 on Thursday, it is grappling with a shortage of fighter squadrons, officers and men in other ranks. The strength of IAF fighter squadrons at 33 is way below the sanctioned strength of 39.5.
Air Marshal LK Malhotra takes over as Eastern Air Command SASOOctober 1st, 2009 SHILLONG - Air Marshal LK Malhotra today took over as the Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at HQ Eastern Air Command. Air Marshal Malhotra was commissioned in Fighter Stream in 1973 and has nearly 4000 hours flying experience on a variety of fighter aircraft.
Old Mig-21 phaseout hit by fighter jet shortageSeptember 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - They have a poor safety record. But the Indian Air Force (IAF) is reluctant to phase out its old Soviet era warhorse MiG-21 due to the delay in inducting new and modern fighter jets.
Bombings kill five militants in PakistanAugust 3rd, 2009 PESHAWAR - At least five militants were killed Monday when Pakistani fighter jets bombed Taliban hideouts in the northwestern part of the country, a media report said. Fighter jets bombed rebel hideouts in Doog Darra town near the restive Swat Valley following intelligence reports that a large number of militants had gathered in the area, military spokesman Major Nasir Ali Khan said.
Air Force to have 230 Sukhoi 30 MKI fighters by 2015: AntonyJuly 8th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Defence Minister A K Antony today said the government is planning to increase the number of Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft in Indian Air Force to 230 by 2015. Antony informed the Rajya Sabha that since 1996 the Air Force has procured 98 Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets.
IAF to acquire more Sukhoi fighter aircraftJuly 8th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Defence Minister A K Antony on Wednesday said that the Indian Air Force (IAF) would have 230 Russian-made Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft by 2015. Replying to supplementaries in the Rajya Sabha, Antony said: "Since 1996, the IAF has procured 98 Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft.
Four Sukhoi fighter jets stationed at TezpurJune 15th, 2009 TEZPUR J - To strengthen its capability along the borders of China, the Indian Air force (IAF) today stationed four Sukhoi fighter jets at the Tezpur airbase in Assam. Air Marshal S.K.
P.K. Barbora takes over as IAF vice-chiefJune 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Air Marshal P.K. Barbora Monday took over as the new vice-chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF) - becoming the first person from the northeast to hold the post.
IAF fighter aircraft crashes, pilot bails outMay 27th, 2009 NEW DELHI - A MiG-21 Bison fighter aircraft crashed Wednesday in Luni region of Rajasthan but the pilot ejected out safely, an air force official said here. "The aircraft took off from the Jodhpur air base at 12 noon and crashed in the Luni region sometime later.
Anti-terror base to fortify capitalMay 10th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Learning a lesson from its unpreparedness to deal with the terror attack on Mumbai last year, the Indian government is setting up an operational base close to the capital where special forces, including the elite National Security Guard (NSG), will be based. The base is being established at a cost of $4 million at the Indian Air Force (IAF) station in Hindon near Ghaziabad and will also house fighter jets and military transport planes.
Final touchdown for IAF's MiG-23 fighter jetsMarch 6th, 2009 HALWARA - It was a nostalgic moment for the Indian Air Force (IAF) Friday as it phased out its MiG-23 BN 'swing wing' ground attack fighter jets here after 28 years of glorious service and flying more than 154,000 hours. As Wing Commander Y.J.
Indian Air Force to retire MiG-23 fighter jetsMarch 5th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Indian Air Force (IAF) will Friday bid adieu to its MiG-23 'swing wing' ground attack fighter jets after nearly 30 years in service. The MiG-23 BN aircraft, which were bought from the erstwhile Soviet Union to counter Pakistan's then newly acquired F-16 jets, will take to the sky for its last sortie from the Halwara airbase in Punjab Friday.
US fighter jet's tyres burst at Aero India showFebruary 14th, 2009 BANGALORE - Two rear tyres of the US fighter jet F-16IN Super Viper of global aerospace major Lockheed Martin burst Sunday afternoon while landing after a regular sortie at Aero India international air show, the company said, but added that no one was injured. 'Both the left and right rear tyres burst one after the other due to heat and friction.
IAF to restructure inventoryFebruary 11th, 2009 BANGALORE - The Indian Air Force (IAF) will restructure its inventory to ensure better maintenance and to achieve its sanctioned strength of 39.5 fighter squadrons by 2015, a top military commander said Thursday. 'We have a large inventory of platforms and maintaining (this) is a huge problem.
Fighter jets to security personnel on vigil for R-Day paradeJanuary 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - A massive ground-to-air security apparatus, comprising fighter jets, anti-aircraft guns and thousands of security personnel, will be placed in and around Delhi during the Republic Day parade to thwart any untoward incident. 'Three fighter jets are being stationed at Air Force Station, Hindon (near Delhi), for the Republic Day parade.
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