Additions to the Arsenal of Indian Air Force

 There has been many recent additions to the Indian Air Force which consist of different aircrafts, missiles and defence systems.This blog post will tell you about all these additions and will give a brief description about that.

Helicopters

• Boeing AH-64 Apache 

It is one of the most advanced multi role attack helicopter which currently exists in the market. It is the only available combat helicopter with a spectrum of capabilities for virtually any mission requirement, including greater thrust and lift, joint digital operability, improved survivability and cognitive decision aiding. It is best suitable for CAS (Close Air Support).

Technical Specifications 

Standard Crew    2

Length    48.16 ft. (14.68 m)

Height    15.49 ft. (4.72 m)

Rotor Diameter    48 ft. (14.63 m)

Primary Mission Gross Weight    15,075 lb. (6,838 kg)

Maximum Operating Weight    23,000 lb. (10,432 kg)

Maximum Rate of Climb    2,800+ ft. (853+ m) per minute

Maximum Level Flight Speed    150+ knots (279+ kph)

Service Ceiling    20,000 ft. (6,096 m)

• Boeing CH-47 Chinook

The CH-47 Chinook is an advanced multi-mission helicopter that will provide the Indian Air Force with unmatched strategic airlift capability across the full spectrum of combat and humanitarian missions. 

The Chinook has unsurpassed ability to deliver heavy payloads to high altitudes, and is eminently suitable for operations in the high Himalayas. The aircraft has been battle-tested in diverse, extreme conditions throughout the world.

In 2020, Boeing completed the delivery of 15 CH-47F(I) Chinook helicopters to the Indian Air Force.

Technical Specifications

Rotor Diameter                         18.29 m (60 ft)

Length with Rotors Operating 30.14 m (98 ft, 10.7 in)

Fuselage                                         15.46 m (50 ft, 9 in)

Height                                         5.68 m (18 ft, 7.8 in)

Fuselage Width                         3.78 m (12 ft, 5 in)

Fuel Capacity                                 3914 liters (1034 gallons)

Maximum Speed                         302 km/h (170 KTAS)

Cruise Speed                                 291 km/h (157 KTAS)

Mission Radius                         200 nm (370.4km)

Service Ceiling                         6,096 m (20,000 ft)

Max Gross Weight                         22,680 kg (50,000 lbs)

Useful Load                                 24,000 lbs (10,886 kg)

*KTAS - Knots True Air Speed

Transport Aircrafts

• Lockheed Martin C130-J Super Hercules 

As the world’s premier tactical airlifter, the Super Hercules features tremendous lift capacity, outstanding long-range performance, and the ability to operate on paved or dirt airstrips. The C-130J Super Hercules offers superior performance and capabilities for every theater of operations today, with the ability to grow to meet future requirements.  The C-130J also counts capabilities as diverse as Special Operations, aerial refueling, firefighting, close air support, search and rescue, and personnel recovery.

Technical Specifications

Length                                                         112 ft 9 in/34.37 m

Height                                                         38 ft 10 in/11.84 m

Wingspan                                                    132 ft 7 in/40.41 m

Power Plant                                                 Four Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 GE-Dowty Aerospace R391                                                                         6-blade propellers, all composite 

C-130J-30 Maximum take-off weight        164,000 lb/74,389 kg

Payload                                                        50,000 lb/22,670 kg

Operating weight empty                              81,000 lb/36,740 kg

Landing distance (135,000 lb)                     3,100 ft/945 m

Range (40,000 lb payload)                          2,390 nm/4,425 km

Maximum cruise speed                               355 KTAS/660 km/hr

*KTAS - Knots True Air Speed

• C-17 Globemaster III

A high-wing, four-engine, T-tailed military transport aircraft, the multi-service C-17 can carry large equipment, supplies and troops directly to small airfields in harsh terrain anywhere in the world. The massive, sturdy, long-haul aircraft tackles distance, destination and heavy, over-sized payloads in unpredictable conditions.

The Indian Air Force has a fleet of 11 C-17 Globemaster IIIs. Boeing has also established an in-country C-17 simulator training center which has completed thousands of training hours for aircrews and loadmasters.

Technical Specifications

External Dimensions

Wingspan to Winglet Tip 169.8 ft (51.74 m)

Length                                 174 ft (53.04 m)

Height at Tail                         55.1 ft (16.79 m)

Fuselage Diameter                 22.5 ft (6.86 m)

Engines

Four Pratt & Whitney PW2040 (military designation F117-PW-100) 40,440 pounds thrust each

Seating

Sidewall (Permanently Installed) 54 (27 each side, 18 inches wide, 24 inch spacing center to center)

Centerline (stored on board)         48 (in sets of six back-to-back, 8 sets)

Palletized                                 80 on 8 pallets, plus 54 passengers on sidewall seats

Cockpit

Flight crew                 2 pilots

Observer positions     2

Instrument displays     2 full-time all-function head-up displays (HUD), 4 multi-function active matrix liquid crystal displays

Navigation system         Digital electronics

Communication         Integrated radio management system with communications system open architecture (COSA)

Flight controls system Quadruple-redundant electronic flight control with mechanical backup system

Wing

Area         3,800 sq. ft. (353 sq. m)

Aspect Ratio 7.165

Sweep Angle 25 degrees

Airfoil Type Supercritical

Flaps         Fixed-vane, double-slotted, simple-hinged

Horizontal Tail

Area         845 sq. ft. (78.50 sq. m)

Span         65 feet (19.81 m)

Aspect Ratio 5.0

Sweep         27 degrees