The IAF tends to run around for replacements at the end of the service lives of its aircraft types, in no small part due to the Government dragging its feet. The idea being proposed here is that the Government start doing its future planning for the replacement of these airframes.
The IAF currently operates about 6 different airlifters of various categories.
The IL-76 and the C-17 are strategic airlifters (read as heavy).
The IAF has just recently requested the Ministry of Defence for approval to upgrade its IL-76s with new avionics and, most importantly, new engines. The 17 airlifters and their 7 aerial refueling counterparts, the IL-78MKI, will have reduced fuel consumption and increased range and payload capacities.
The C-17's are recently acquired and if the latest order can be completed then the IAF will operate 13 of the type giving them a total of 30 strategic airlifters to the IAF.
The C-130J, An-32 and HS 748s are classed as tactical airlifters.
The C-130J is a well-known and heavily operated medium lift aircraft all over the world. The IAF will have a total of 12 in operation once its follow-on order is completed.
The Indian Air Force has about 59 Hawker Siddeley HS 748s and about 105 An-32s in its fleet.
The HS 748s are about 50 years old and are close to end-of-life. The odd thing is that the airframes have enough life left in them. The avionics, electrical systems and engines are all old and outdated. Updates to any and/or all systems would probably be pointless as the overall running and maintenance costs would be more than that of a contemporary design. The other odd thing about the HS 748s is that they have no definable role in the IAF. They've essentially been used to ferry around personnel and other such mundane tasks.
The An-32 is a variant of the An-26 specifically engineered for Indian requirements in hot and high conditions. The main changes were the new engines that provided a power boost of over 70% compared to those of the An-26s. These machines are quite rugged and reliable and the IAF has enjoyed their use, particularly in the high altitude airfields in and around Kashmir. Currently the An-32s are being upgraded to the An-32RE standard with improved avionics and upgrades to its engines, oxygen systems and crew seats. The upgrade contract was signed around 2009 with the Ukranian government for all 105 of these planes. 40 are being upgraded in Ukraine and the remainder are to be upgraded by use of kits within India. The An-32's, in stark contrast to the HS 748s, have been extensively used in military and humanitarian missions and their airframes need extensive structural upgrades for increasing their service lives. The 40 that were to be upgraded in Ukraine have by now returned to service. These upgrades and service life extensions have given these aircraft another 15-20 years of service.
The An-32s being operated are in a bit of a quandry what with the Russia-Ukraine conflict affecting deliveries of upgraded components for these aircraft. The IAF should keep these in service and opt for a slow phase out over the next 10 - 15 years.
The proposal pending on the table of the Indian Government is to co-develop the Medium Transport Aircraft, the Ilyushin IL-214, alongside the Russian Government.
So instead this is what I feel the IAF should do - instead of ordering different types for similar/overlapping mission sets, why not order just one type? A plane which has the ability to haul cargo and troops and is configurable for aerial refueling in a flash. A plane which is just being developed and for which a parallel production line can be setup in India. A plane which is not dependent on the whimsical notions of partnership that the Russians have. Instead of pouring billions of dollars in the development of a Indo-Russian transporter (the MTA/IL-214) why not just purchase the KC-390 to replace the HS 748s and the An-32s as they get phased out?
The KC-390 has been developed from the ground up to be cheap to operate, easy to maintain and quick to switch between multiple roles. The engines on the KC-390 are IAE V2500s which are the same engines used on the Airbus A320. The savings on spares and ease of maintenance for these will be massive considering the number of A320s in service around the world and in India as well. The plane has also been designed to be an aerial refueler from the very beginning
The IAF currently operates about 6 different airlifters of various categories.
The IL-76 and the C-17 are strategic airlifters (read as heavy).
The IAF has just recently requested the Ministry of Defence for approval to upgrade its IL-76s with new avionics and, most importantly, new engines. The 17 airlifters and their 7 aerial refueling counterparts, the IL-78MKI, will have reduced fuel consumption and increased range and payload capacities.
The C-17's are recently acquired and if the latest order can be completed then the IAF will operate 13 of the type giving them a total of 30 strategic airlifters to the IAF.
The C-130J, An-32 and HS 748s are classed as tactical airlifters.
The C-130J is a well-known and heavily operated medium lift aircraft all over the world. The IAF will have a total of 12 in operation once its follow-on order is completed.
The Indian Air Force has about 59 Hawker Siddeley HS 748s and about 105 An-32s in its fleet.
The HS 748s are about 50 years old and are close to end-of-life. The odd thing is that the airframes have enough life left in them. The avionics, electrical systems and engines are all old and outdated. Updates to any and/or all systems would probably be pointless as the overall running and maintenance costs would be more than that of a contemporary design. The other odd thing about the HS 748s is that they have no definable role in the IAF. They've essentially been used to ferry around personnel and other such mundane tasks.
The An-32 is a variant of the An-26 specifically engineered for Indian requirements in hot and high conditions. The main changes were the new engines that provided a power boost of over 70% compared to those of the An-26s. These machines are quite rugged and reliable and the IAF has enjoyed their use, particularly in the high altitude airfields in and around Kashmir. Currently the An-32s are being upgraded to the An-32RE standard with improved avionics and upgrades to its engines, oxygen systems and crew seats. The upgrade contract was signed around 2009 with the Ukranian government for all 105 of these planes. 40 are being upgraded in Ukraine and the remainder are to be upgraded by use of kits within India. The An-32's, in stark contrast to the HS 748s, have been extensively used in military and humanitarian missions and their airframes need extensive structural upgrades for increasing their service lives. The 40 that were to be upgraded in Ukraine have by now returned to service. These upgrades and service life extensions have given these aircraft another 15-20 years of service.
The An-32s being operated are in a bit of a quandry what with the Russia-Ukraine conflict affecting deliveries of upgraded components for these aircraft. The IAF should keep these in service and opt for a slow phase out over the next 10 - 15 years.
The proposal pending on the table of the Indian Government is to co-develop the Medium Transport Aircraft, the Ilyushin IL-214, alongside the Russian Government.
So instead this is what I feel the IAF should do - instead of ordering different types for similar/overlapping mission sets, why not order just one type? A plane which has the ability to haul cargo and troops and is configurable for aerial refueling in a flash. A plane which is just being developed and for which a parallel production line can be setup in India. A plane which is not dependent on the whimsical notions of partnership that the Russians have. Instead of pouring billions of dollars in the development of a Indo-Russian transporter (the MTA/IL-214) why not just purchase the KC-390 to replace the HS 748s and the An-32s as they get phased out?
The KC-390 has been developed from the ground up to be cheap to operate, easy to maintain and quick to switch between multiple roles. The engines on the KC-390 are IAE V2500s which are the same engines used on the Airbus A320. The savings on spares and ease of maintenance for these will be massive considering the number of A320s in service around the world and in India as well. The plane has also been designed to be an aerial refueler from the very beginning
