Future of the Indian Air Force

The Indian Air Force has been undergoing a modernization program to replace and upgrade outdated equipment since the late 1990s to meet modern standards. For that reason, it has started procuring and developing aircraft, weapons, associated technologies, and infrastructures. Some of these programs date back to the late 1980s. The primary focus of current modernization and upgrades is to replace aircraft purchased from the Soviet Union that currently form the backbone of the Air Force.

The Indian Airforce plans to attain a 42 squadron strength by 2035 and deploy 450 fighter jets each along the borders of Pakistan and China. The IAF will also acquire large numbers of stealthy autonomous UCAVs (DRDO AURA), swarm drones (ALFA-S) and uncrewed aircraft to transform into a fully advanced Network-Centric Force capable of sustained multi-role operations along the entire spectrum.

Renaming
IAF has submitted a proposal to rename itself as the Indian Air and Space Force (IASF). This is part of its current drive to become a credible space force.

Super Sukhoi
The Super Sukhoi is a programme to upgrade IAF's Sukhoi Su30MKI fleet which is known as the backbone of its fleet. The upgrade will be carried out by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) with the support of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and several private companies. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the Rs 60,000 crore upgrade programme on 30 November 2023. Under this upgrade many older Russian subsystems will be replaced by more modern Indian subsystems. Initially, around 90 aircraft will be upgraded to these standards. According to a report, "The project is divided into two phases, focusing initially on installing new avionics and radars, followed by enhancements to the flight control systems." "The upgrade will see significant private sector participation, with HAL as the lead integrator," CMD of HAL CB Ananthakrishnan said. The current N011M Bars radar of the Su-30 MKI has a radar capable of searching objects to a range of 400 km and tracking them within 200 km of the range, however, the current radar is not an active electronically scanned array (AESA) Radar so it can be jammed. So, the older radar will be replaced with a modern AESA radar, probably an upgraded variant of DRDO Uttam radar. Electronic Warfare capabilities of Sukhoi-30MKI would be enhanced by Indigenous DARE's High Band Jammer Pod (HBT), Dhruti Radar Warning System, and a Dual Color Missile Approach Warning System. The programme also includes upgrade and repair of AL-31FP engines.

Fighter aircraft
On 3 February 2021, the Ministry of Defense signed the contract with HAL for the procurement of 83 advanced Tejas which includes 73 Mark 1A and 10 Mark 1 trainer variants with advanced AESA Radar, jammers, superior avionics, next-gen BVR missiles, better payload, and enhanced combat range.
 * * HAL Tejas Mark 1/Mark 1A

On 30 November 2023, DAC accorded AoNs for procurement of additional 97 Tejas Mk 1A for IAF from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category

On 3 January 2017, Minister of Defence Manohar Parrikar addressed a media conference and announced plans for a competition to select a strategic partner to deliver "200 new single-engine fighters to be made in India, which will easily cost around (USD) $45 million apiece without weaponry" with an expectation that Lockheed Martin (USA) and Saab (Sweden) will pitch the F-16 Block 70 and Gripen, respectively.
 * * MMRCA 2.0

An MoD official said that a global tender will be put to market in the first quarter of 2018, with a private company nominated as the strategic partner's production agency followed by a two-or-more-year process to evaluate technical and financial bids and conduct trials, before the final government-to-government deal in 2021. This represents 11 squadrons of aircraft plus several 'attrition' aircraft.

However, the plan to acquire foreign-made single-engine fighters was replaced by induction indigenous aircraft Tejas of different variants.

Later the competition was declared to be exclusively open for twin-engine fighters of Rafale category. The contenders are Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Mig 35, Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Sukhoi Su-35, Boeing F-15EX Eagle II, Saab JAS 39 Gripen E/F and Lockheed Martin F-21 (variant of F-16). NB Gripen and F-21 are single-engined.

AEW&CS
The IAF plans to operate 18 Airborne early warning and control systems, out of which 15 will be DRDO AEW&CS and 3 EL/W-2090.


 * Embraer R-99

Six additional Netra Mk 1A are being planned to be acquired by the Air Force as part of a $1 billion plan to add force multipliers in the Air Force


 * Airbus A321

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in September 2021 cleared ₹11,000 crore project for six AEW&CS. The platform will be Airbus A321 that will be purchased from Air India and modified by DRDO as per military standards.

Transports
Airbus Defence and Space and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) will jointly execute the project to equip the air force with 56 C-295 transport aircraft under the Make in India initiative in the aerospace sector. Under the contract, Airbus will supply the first 16 aircraft in flyaway condition while the remaining 40 will be assembled in India by TASL, the officials said. The procurement of 56 C-295 from Airbus with the participation of an Indian production agency for the manufacture of 40 aircraft (out of a total of 56) in India is at the financial approval stage and the contract is likely to be signed in the near future, the defence ministry said in its year-end review. While the C-295s are meant to replace the Avro-748 transport planes, the new aircraft will also be suitable for the demanding roles that the An-32 currently undertakes. The first 16 planes will be supplied in two years, and the deliveries of the 40 locally assembled ones will be spread over an additional eight years. The aircraft can operate from short, unprepared airstrips and carry out a variety of missions in all-weather conditions.
 * Airbus C295


 * Medium transport aircraft (MTA) 

The IAF is looking for a new transport aircraft in the 18 to 30-tonne cargo carrying capacity range. The IAF currently operates 12 C-130J aircraft, which it intends to replace in the long run. Participants for the de include Embraer's C-390, Lockheed Martin's proposal for more C130J and the Airbus A400M Atlas.

In the defence sector, Embraer has so far supplied eight jets to India for VVIP travel, and for use as airborne early warning and control aircraft while Airbus is jointly executing a ₹21,935-crore project with Tata Advanced Systems Limited to equip the air force with 56 C-295 aircraft to modernise its transport fleet.The IAF needs transport aircraft in the 18 to 30-tonne class to carry out various roles, and it should select a plane that best meets its requirements and can be indigenised the most, said Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd), director general of Centre for Air Power Studies.The information IAF has sought from OEMs includes scope of technology transfer; methods to enhance indigenisation and to set up a dedicated manufacturing line, including design, integration and manufacturing processes in India; capability to undertake indigenous manufacture of systems, subsystems, components and spares; and making India a regional or global hub for manufacturing and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of the equipment.

Helicopters
The IAF will deploy indigenously developed HAL Prachand for its combat operations, complementing AH-64D Apache of Indian Army, after the Operational certificate is granted. The Indian Air Force will place an order for 66 Prachand helicopters. In March 2021, the Ministry of Defence placed an initial order of six light utility helicopters for the Indian Airforce. The deliveries are expected to commence from August 2022.
 * HAL Prachand
 * HAL Light Utility Helicopter

Uncrewed aerial vehicles
The Indian Air Force has submitted a request for information to international suppliers for an uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV) with a low-radar cross-section, high service ceiling, an expected range of 500 nm (925 km) and the capability to carry precision-guided weapons in an internal weapons bay. It is hoped that the in-development DRDO Ghatak will meet the requirements.


 * General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper – On 15 March 2024, US sent the Letter of Acceptance (LoA) to the Ministry of Defence for a deal for 31 MQ-9B drones (15 for Navy, and 8 each for Army and Air Force). The document will now be forwarded to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for final approval.

Trainers
The IAF was planning to acquire 181 basic trainer aircraft & IAF selected Switzerland's Pilatus Aircraft to supply 75 PC-7 Mk.II trainer planes for $1 billion. The Indian Ministry of Defence wanted to buy an additional 106 basic trainer aircraft from Pilatus in a separate deal. However, on 28 February 2015, it was reported that Ministry of Defence has selected 70 HAL HTT-40 trainers and 38 Pilatus trainers to replace its current trainer aircraft fleet stating that this move was "commercially viable" under the "Make in India" programme. In 2017, HAL CMD reported that HAL will soon sign a contract for 106 HTT-40 aircraft and deliver it to the air force.
 * HAL HTT-40

In May 2020, Chief of the Air Staff ACM Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria announced the plan to shelve the order for additional Pilatus PC-7 for the indigenous HAL HTT-40.

Cruise missiles


DRDO has developed the air-launched version of the BrahMos cruise missile in a joint venture with Russia's NPO Mashinostroeyenia. The IAF has signed a contract with Russia to upgrade 40 Su-30MKIs to give them the capability of carrying the BrahMos cruise missile by 2012.

DRDO has also developed the nuclear-capable Nirbhay cruise missile, which is capable of hitting targets at 1000 km to 1500 km at 2 m accuracy.

Hypersonic cruise missile
BrahMos-II or BrahMos-2 or BrahMos Mark II is a hypersonic cruise missile currently under joint development by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia, which have together formed BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited. It is the second of the BrahMos series of cruise missiles. The BrahMos-II is expected to have a range of 1,000 kilometres (620 mi; 540 nmi) and a speed of Mach 8. During the cruise stage of flight, the missile will be propelled by a scramjet airbreathing jet engine. Other details, including production cost and physical dimensions of the missile, are yet to be published. The planned operational range of the BrahMos-II had initially been restricted to 290 kilometres as Russia is a signatory to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), which prohibits it from helping other countries develop missiles with ranges above 300 kilometres (190 mi; 160 nmi). However, subsequent to India becoming an MTCR signatory in 2014, the parameters for Brahmos 2 will get enhanced. Its top speed will be double that of the current BrahMos-I, and it has been described as the fastest cruise missile in the world. Testing was planned to start in 2020 but has been delayed.

Surface-to-air missile systems
In 2018–19, India agreed with Russia to procure S-400 worth ₹35,000 crore (approx.). As per the agreement five squadrons of S-400 missiles were set to be delivered by Russia to India. As of 2023, out of five squadrons, three were delivered.

The Air Force has placed order for 18 MRSAM squadrons with 3 launcher vehicles, carrying 8 missiles each.

India and Israel have agreed to expand their missile development cooperation with a longer-range version of their extended-range Barak 8 air defense system for the Indian Air Force.

Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA)
Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is a twin-engined 5th generation stealth multirole fighter under development by ADA. It will complement the HAL Tejas, the Sukhoi Su-30MKI, MWF and the Dassault Rafale in the Indian Air Force. The first flight is expected to be by 2028 and serial production might begin by 2032. The project has been cleared by Cabinet Committee on Security and is in prototype development stage.

Omni-role Combat Aircraft (ORCA)
Omni Role Combat Aircraft is a concept to design & develop a twin-engine omni role fighter of Rafale category. The design of the Omni Role Combat Aircraft (ORCA), an Air Force variant of the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF), with significant design differences, was being studied as of 2020. The first flight is expected in 2026 with induction into the forces by 2032.

Tejas Mk 2 (Medium Weight Fighter)
The HAL Tejas Mark 2 (also known as Medium Weight Fighter or HAL MWF) is a planned single-engine, delta wing, multirole fighter designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force (IAF). It is a further development of the HAL Tejas, or Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), programme which began in the 1980s to replace India's ageing MiG-21 fighters. The Tejas Mk 2 is being designed to replace multiple strike-fighters like SEPECAT Jaguars, Dassault Mirage-2000 & MiG-29 of Indian Air Force.

It has a tail-less compound delta-wing configuration with a single vertical stabilizer with closed-coupled canards to provide static instability and high manoeuvrability, and is equipped with fly-by-wire systems to control instability.

There is confirmation from the chief of the Aeronautical Development Agency that MWF will shed its "Tejas" stamp and get a completely new name altogether during or after its first flight. Metal cutting for the prototypes began in January 2021. The first prototype is expected to be rolled out by the end of 2024. A total of four prototypes are initially planned.

Uncrewed wingman
The HAL Combat Air Teaming System is a planned uncrewed and crewed combat aircraft air teaming system being developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The system will consist of a crewed fighter aircraft acting as "mothership" of the system and a set of swarming UAVs and UCAVs governed by the main aircraft. A twin-seated HAL Tejas is likely to be the main fighter aircraft.

HAL CATS Warrior part of HAL Combat Air Teaming System is an armed stealth drone which will team up and fight alongside IAF fighters to hit high-value enemy targets. It is designed to carry out MUM-T Operations. It will be the first line of offense in operations against heavily defended, integrated air defence networks. An Indian defence startup is also a part of the mission team.

Each drone will initially be armed with a single precision-guided weapon, such as an air-to-surface missile or a laser-guided bomb. Future versions of the platform will also be able to fire air-to-air missiles to target enemy fighters. The Uncrewed Wingman will be connected to a heavily upgraded IAF SEPECAT Jaguar attack aircraft (called the Jaguar Max); pilots onboard will assign specific tasks to each of the uncrewed drones which fly alongside the fighter. The drone will also operate with other platforms. The first flight is expected by 2022 & induction by 2029.

HAL is designing & developing AI-powered, stealthy autonomous swarm drones known as ALFA-S in collaboration with a private firm in Bangalore. R&D work will be completed in 2 years & first flight is expected by 2022. The ALFA-S swarming drones will have two folding wings. They will be fitted inside canisters mounted under the wings of IAF aircraft. Each swarm could have dozens of individual drones. If detected, some of the drones would be shot down, but the sheer numbers of the swarm would overwhelm enemy defences such as surface-to-air missile units to ensure a high probability of mission success. The first drone prototypes are likely to be deployed from Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers being built, under licence, at Hindustan Aeronautics. Ultimately though, the drones are meant to be launched from any Indian Air Force aircraft - fighter jets and transports.

The plan to develop indigenous swarming drones is a part of the Combat Air Teaming System project or CATS, which has three distinct elements. In addition to the ALFA-S swarm drones, a robotic wingman, meant to accompany a crewed fighter jet into combat is being also being developed.

The final element of CATS is the development of an ultra-high altitude drone meant to remain flying for up to three weeks at a stretch while providing real-time images and video.

The government strongly backs the Combat Air Teaming System initiative as part of the Make in India programme, which encourages Indian defence manufacturers to focus on core research and development projects towards the next-generation requirements of India's armed forces. In 2018, the Defence Ministry set up iDEX, or Innovations for Defence Excellence under the Defence Innovation Organisation, a not-for-profit company meant to provide high-level policy guidance for high-tech indigenous ventures working on India's defence and aerospace needs.

Transports
The IAF had also placed an order for 15 NAL Saras light transport aircraft designed by the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL). The manufacturer has stated that the Indian Air Force intended to place an order for up to 45 aircraft. National Aeronautics Limited (NAL) has stopped all work on NAL Saras as the funding for the project stopped by end of 2013 due to cost overruns and inability to reduce the weight of the aircraft. The development of the Saras was restarted by the National Aeronautics Laboratories in February 2017.

Trainers



 * HAL HJT-36

HAL has developed the HAL HJT-36 Sitara intermediate jet trainer aircraft for the IAF which carried out its maiden test flight in 2003. These aircraft are scheduled to replace the aging HJT-16 Kiran mk.I. The Indian Air Force has placed an order for 73 aircraft, of which the first 12 are in production. The order by the Indian Air Force could eventually grow to 250 aircraft. Two prototype aircraft have been built. These aircraft have undergone 280 test flights.

Helicopters
The HAL Medium Lift Helicopter (MLH) is a planned large rotorcraft in the 10–15 ton class. The three branches of the Indian armed forces are envisioned to be major customers for the type. According to HAL, the MLH is to be in the same class as the Russian Mil Mi 17 and is to serve as its planned replacement in all three forces.
 * Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH)

Uncrewed aerial vehicles
The DRDO of India is developing a Medium Altitude Long Endurance Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) called the Rustom (English: Warrior) for all three branches of the Indian Armed Forces. The Rustom will replace/supplement the Heron UAVs in service with the Indian armed forces.

DRDO is also developing the GHATAK which is an Uncrewed Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) for the Indian Air Force. The design work on the UCAV is carried out by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). The AURA UCAV will be a tactical stealth aircraft built largely with composites, and capable of delivering laser-guided strike weapons. It would be a stealthy flying-wing concept aircraft with internal weapons and a turbofan engine.

Surface-to-air missile systems
DRDO has nearly finished the developmental trial of the New Generation missile of Akash SAM known as Akash-NG. Akash-NG is developed to provide a cheap alternative for the Barak 8. It will have the same range of 70 km with all-weather and all-terrain capability. The missile will be able to neutralise and destroy fighter aircraft, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles as well as ballistic missiles. It will use Ku-band Active radar seeker. The missile is expected to come into service in 2022 and will be produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Bharat Electronics (BEL).

DRDO is also working on XRSAM long-range surface-to-air missile defence system. It will be used to bridge the gap between MR-SAM (100 km) and S-400 (400 km) Air Defence System and will be using spin-off technologies developed for country's Anti-Ballistic missile Defence system. The missile system will have a range of 250 km against fighter jets, 350 km against cruise missiles, sea skimming anti-ship missiles, AWACS and mid-air refuelers and will be capable of bringing down ballistic missiles and stealth fighters in the terminal stage.

Astronauts
Gaganyaan (Sanskrit; IAST: gagan-yāna) transl. "Sky Craft") is an Indian crewed orbital spacecraft intended to be the formative spacecraft of the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme. The spacecraft is being designed to carry three people, and a planned upgraded version will be equipped with rendezvous and docking capability.

In its maiden crewed mission, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)'s largely autonomous 3.7-tonne (8,200 lb) capsule will orbit the Earth at 400 km (250 mi) altitude for up to seven days with a two or three-person crew on board. The crewed vehicle is planned to be launched on ISRO's GSLV Mk III in December 2021. This Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) manufactured crew module had its first un-crewed experimental flight on 18 December 2014.

As of May 2019, the design of the crew module has been completed. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will provide support for critical human-centric systems and technologies like space grade food, crew healthcare, radiation measurement and protection, parachutes for the safe recovery of the crew module and fire suppression system.

On 11 June 2020, it was announced that the overall timeline for the Gaganyaan launches had been revised due to a change in launch priorities and COVID-19.