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18.09.2005 16:23:52
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Современность; ВВС;
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Интересное интервью командующего ВВС Индии
Интревью командующего ВВС Индии маршала авиации Шашиндры Пола Тияги о перспективах развития ВВС. Наиболее любопытное - в числе прочего говорится о намерении индийцев приобрести 80 вертолетов Ми-17 и дополнительное количество транспортных самолетов Ил-76 и заправщиков Ил-78.
JANE'S DEFENCE WEEKLY - SEPTEMBER 21, 2005
AIR CHIEF MARSHAL SHASHINDRA PAL TYAGI - INDIAN AIR FORCE CHIEF
Rahul Bedi JDW Correspondent
New Delhi
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is undergoing a transformation to render it capable of enhanced strategic reach and expand its overall area of responsibility by 2025, says IAF Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Shashindra Pal Tyagi.
ACM Tyagi plans on achieving this target by acquiring superior platforms with air-to-air refuelling capability, precision weaponry and force multipliers and 'interlocking' this reach and firepower with network-centric warfare, secure communications and a new dedicated Aerospace Command for offensive and defensive needs.
He says it is essential the IAF creates a space cadre to prepare for the full spectrum of war - both declared and undeclared - in which the exploitation of space has become essential.
"Warfare - conventional and unconventional - has moved up in altitude and our assets in space must develop to full concept solutions," ACM Tyagi said.
To protect India's strategic boundaries - which stretch from the Persian Gulf in the west to the Strait of Malacca in the east - the IAF has to acquire additional mid-air tankers, airborne early warning (AEW) systems and increased medium- and heavy-transport lift capabilities for internal and external requirements, says ACM Tyagi.
As India grows economically the IAF will be "required" to expand its "area of interest".
"The IAF's role over the next two decades will expand in tandem with the country's growth to a larger geographical area to meet regional security and humanitarian needs," ACM Tyagi said. "This will be expected of us and we must begin equipping ourselves for it now."
Since strategic reach is not just about the reach of aircraft but also the extent of its weaponry, the IAF will have to supplement its current arsenal of beyond-visual-range (BVR) weapons with those of extended and precision ranges through a judicious mix of imports and locally developed systems, he adds. By 2025, ACM Tyagi envisages the IAF having 39 combat squadrons, around 10 more than the present number.
"Having higher capability aircraft does not necessarily mean we don't need numbers. Numbers will still be required as technology can and will be adapted by all," the IAF chief said. This, he adds, will be accomplished by importing fighter aircraft and selectively upgrading existing platforms and rendering them capable of delivering precision-guided munitions.
Over the next two decades the IAF's combat force will comprise around 180-190 imported and locally built Su-30MKI multirole fighters, some 50 Mirage 2000H and possibly 12 second-hand Mirage 2000-5 fighters from Qatar, 40 indigenously upgraded dual and single seat Jaguars, 40 retrofitted MiG-27s, and 125 upgraded MiG-21bis ground-attack aircraft with improved avionics and weapon delivery systems.
Negotiations with Qatar for the 12 Mirage 2000-5s, however, have stalled over price differences, ACM Tyagi says. The first of 24 BAE Systems Hawk Mk 132 advanced jet trainers the IAF bought two years ago will be phased into service in 2008, followed by the remaining 42 Hawks to be licence-built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bangalore, south India, in a USD1.7 billion deal. The first batch of five IAF fighter pilots recently completed their training on the Hawks in the UK.
To further bolster numbers after the MiG-23 and varied MiG-21 series fighters are retired, the IAF is in the market for 126 medium multirole combat aircraft (M-MRCA). It is evaluating the US's F-16 and F/A 18 fighters, France's Mirage 2000-5, Russia's MiG-29M2 strike aircraft and the JAS 39 Gripen from Sweden. A request for proposals will be issued before the end of 2005, ACM Tyagi says.
The IAF is also proposing to place an initial order for 20 locally designed fly-by-wire Tejas light combat aircraft in initial operational configuration, which it expects to join squadron service in 2008-09, he says. Subsequent orders for an equal number in full operational configuration will be placed on the subject to the success of the initial development.
The IAF also plans on adding another squadron of mid-air tankers to the six Ilyushin Il-78 air-to-air refuellers it acquired in 2001 to enhance the endurance of its fighter units, two squadrons of medium-lift transport aircraft capable of ferrying loads of between 10-15 tonnes and an unspecified number of heavy-lift Ilyushin Il-76MDs, 24 of which are currently in service, but with many soon due for retirement.
ACM Tyagi says that the phased introduction of three Israel Aircraft Industries Phalcon AEW systems mounted on Russian Il-76TD transport aircraft will begin in 2007, significantly boosting the IAF's capabilities. The Phalcon systems will be supplemented by 2011 with a locally developed AEW system fitted onto Brazil's Embraer EMB-145 aircraft.
The IAF is also planning on introducing an additional 80 Russian Mi-17 helicopters as the deployment of the IAF's rotary wing aircraft increases significantly for perennial natural disasters like floods and for emergencies like the tsunami of December 2004. The IAF acquired 40 Mi-17 IV helicopters five years ago to replace around 80 twin-engine light transport Mi-8s for service troops deployed at heights above 15,000 ft (4,575 m) in north Kashmir's mountainous areas.
ACM Tyagi says the IAF will replace its ageing air-defence assets within the financial year ending March 2006, with either France's MBDA VL-MICA or Israel's Rafael Armament Development Authority/Israel Aircraft Industries Spyder-SR low-level quick-reaction missile, both of which are being evaluated following overseas trials.
Though India has been engaged in peace talks with Pakistan since January 2004 and established firm mechanisms to resolve its borders with China, ACM Tyagi says that air power will be the determinant factor in securing the mountainous northern territories, and should India want to change the status-quo in the volatile region, air and aerospace power will play the overriding role.
С уважением, Exeter