New Delhi: India has taken a significant leap forward in enhancing its air-strike prowess. From opting for the Russian Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau-made MiG 21 in 1961 to receiving the first batch of five French-manufactured Rafale multi-role combat jets, India has worked relentlessly over the years to built a strong air force.
Some of the key fighter jet acquisitions over the years and the combat capabilities they possess that made India’s airmen a force to reckon with are:
Rafael Jets:
- The NDA government inked a Rs 59,000-crore deal in September 2016 to procure 36 Rafale jets from French aerospace major Dassault Aviation.
- European missile maker MBDA’s Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile, Scalp cruise missile, and MICA weapons system is the mainstay of the weapons package of the Rafale jets.
- The IAF is also procuring a new generation medium-range modular air-to-ground weapon system Hammer to integrate with the Rafale jets.
Su-30MKI: Heavyweight Backbone
- The Su-30MKI is strategically vital for Indian Air Force
- Jointly developed with Russia and tailored to Indian needs.
- Over 270 have been built or assembled in India.
- Equipped with thrust-vectoring engines and a powerful radar, the Su-30MKI excels in long-range patrol, air superiority and even ground attack.
During the 2019 Balakot operation, Su-30MKIs conducted combat air patrols, although they did not engage in any firing. While not as agile in close combat as the Rafale, their exceptional range, heavy payload capacity, and versatility make them an indispensable asset.
Mirage-2000:
- The Mirage-2000, one of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) most versatile and deadliest aircraft
- It was first commissioned in 1985.
- The Mirage-2000 is developed by Dassault Aviation.
- It is a single-seater air defense and multi-role fighter of French origin powered by a single-engine.
- It can attain a max speed of 2495 km/hr(Mach 2.3).
- It carries two 30 mm integral cannons and two matras super 530D medium-range and two R-550 magic II close combat missiles on external stations.
MiG-27:
- The Soviet-sourced ground-attack aircraft was designed by Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau and was manufactured by HAL under a license agreement.
- It is a single-engine, single-seater tactical strike fighter aircraft of Russian origin having a maximum speed of 1700 km/hr (Mach 1.6).
- It carries one 23 mm six-barrel rotary integral cannon and can carry up to 4,000 kg of other armaments externally.
MiG-29:
- MiG was introduced in the 1970s to counter US’ F-Series planes like F-15 and F-16.
- It was commissioned in IAF in 1985. The MiG29 forms the second line of defence after the Sukhoi Su-30MKI.
- It is a twin-engine, single-seater air superiority fighter aircraft that is capable of attaining a maximum speed of 2,445 km per hour (Mach-2.3).
- It has a combat ceiling of 17 km.
- It carries a 30 mm cannon along with four R-60 close combat and two R-27 R medium range radar guided missiles.
Jaguar:
- The SEPECAT Jaguar is a fighter jet developed together by British Royal Air Force and French Air Force.
- It is a twin-engine, single-seater deep penetration strike aircraft of Anglo-French origin that has a maximum speed of 1350 km /hr (Mach 1.3).
- It has two 30mm guns and can carry two R-350 Magic CCMs (overwing) along with 4750 kg of external stores (bombs/fuel).