Introduction : The Indian Navy currently operates around 200 aircraft comprising

1. MiG-29 fighters
2. Harrier fighters
3. P-8Is Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance (LRMR) aircraft
4. Tu-142 LRMR
5. IL-38 Medium Range Maritime Reconnaissance (MRMR) aircraft
6. Do-228 Utility and Short Range Maritime Reconnaissance (SRMR) aircraft
7. Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT)
8. Dhruv Light Utility and Search and Rescue (SAR) Helicopter
9. Chetak Light Utility and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) helicopter
10. Sea King ASW & SAR helicopter
11. Kamov Ka-28 ASW helicopter
12. Kamov Ka-31 Airborne Early Warning (AEW) helicopter

In addition to the manned aircraft types listed above, the IN operates a fleet of Heron and Searcher UAVs for maritime reconnaissance.

The IN currently operates 2 aircraft carriers and has plans to acquire a third nuclear powered supercarrier.Navy plans envisage doubling aircraft inventory from 200 to 400 over the next 10 years.

In the following paragraphs we will take an in-depth look at the Navy's current aircraft fleet and its acquisition plans to replace obsolete aircraft and meet emerging security challenges.

Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft

Maritime reconnaissance is undoubtedly the most important role of the naval air arm. It provides situational awareness and facilitates threat neutralization. The Navy has four aircraft employed in the role - Do-228, IL-38SD, Tu-144ME, and P-8I

Illushin IL-38

India purchased five Il-38s between 1975 and 1983. Two aircraft were lost in an accident on October 01, 2002, prompting replacement purchase of 2 aircraft.

In the 2000s the IL-38s were upgraded to the Sea Dragon version, featuring 14 hours of loiter time at a speed of 400 km/h. The maximum speed of these planes is 610 km/h, and the maximum range is 6,500 kilometers.

The upgrade, which extended the aircraft's surveillance capability, also increased aircraft life by 15 years. Russia's Illusion (Il) company is in the process of overhauling the five Indian Navy IL-38SD aircraft.

Boeing P-8I

India is procuring 12 P-8I Neptune Maritime Multimission Aircraft (MMA) aircraft for use by the Indian Navy. MoD signed an initial contract worth $2.1 b for 8 P-8I aircraft on January 1, 2009. Seven aircraft have already been delivered against the order which is likely to be fulfilled with 2015-16. Purchase of an additional 4 aircraft was cleared by the Defense Acquisition Committee in July 2015.

The P-8Is are earmarked to replace Indian Navy's antiquated fleet of 8 Russian Tu-142M maritime reconnaissance aircraft.

The P-8Is are based at INS Rajali, Arakkonam Naval Air Station in Tamil Nadu, which is currently home base for Indian Navy's 312 Squadron which operates eight Tupolev Tu-142MK-E Aircraft (Bear F mod 3 export variant).

In the future, the IN plans to forward locate its P-8Is at INS Baaz at Campbell Bay in Andaman Islands. However, it would not be a full-fledged base for the aircraft.

P-8I Capabilities

The Poseidon has a 1,200+ nautical miles range, with 4 hours on station. Its range / time on station can be considerably enhanced with in-flight refueling.

It is designed to fly low and slow through the weather.

The aircraft will be armed with sonobuoys, torpedoes and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.

The aircraft's sensor suite includes

1. AN/APY-10 Maritime Surveillance Radar with 240-deg degrees forward coverage and Telephonics APS-143C (V) 3 Multi-Mode Radar (MMR) for aft coverage. The forward and aft radars together give the Neptune a 360° surveillance capability.
2. Electro-optical / infrared sensors from Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems
3. A rotary internal re loadable pneumatically controlled sonobuoys launcher.
4. Canadian firm CAE's AN/ASQ-508A Advanced Integrated Magnetic Anomaly Detection (MAD) System.
5. SIGINT equipment.

Tupolev Tu-144 ME

India purchased 8 Tu-142ME from Russia in 1986 for maritime patrol and anti-submarine operations.

The Tu-142M is the naval version of Tu-95 Bear strategic bomber. It has an operational speed of 500 kt, service ceiling of 45,000 ft and range of 6,775 nm (12.550 km).

The aircraft are operated by INAS 312 based at INS Rajali, Arakkonam. Starting 2004, the Tu-142s were fitted with Israeli Elta EL/M-2022A (V3) radar.

The 8 Tu-142 LRMR in the IN inventory underwent a 16-year life extension upgrade during the time period 2007-2011. All aircraft would be phased out by 2024.

Fighter Aircraft

The Navy uses fighter aircraft embarked on its two aircraft carriers - INS Viraat and INS Vikramaditya - to provide air cover to fleet ships operating far from home shores, and to strike at enemy ships and shore installation from standoff ranges.

The two fighters in the IN inventory are Harrier and MiG-29K.

Harrier V/STOL Fighters

India acquired a total of 23 Harrier V/STOL fighters from the UK for deployment on INS Viraat (formerly HMS Hercules) purchased from the UK in 1987. Less than 5 Harriers reportedly remain operational.

The aircraft is likely to be phased out with the decommissioning of INS Viraat, most likely in 2017-18, following the commissioning of Indian Aircraft Carrier - 1 (IAC-1).

MiG-29K Fighters

The Indian Navy currently operates its MiG-29K multi-role combat aircraft from the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. The aircraft are home based at INS Garuda, Goa. A second MiG-29K base is coming up on the east coast at INS Dega, Vishakhapatnam. Following the commissioning of INS Vikrant into the Navy in 2017-18, MiG-29K from INS Dega will embark on the first Indian built aircraft carrier which is expected to join the Navy's Eastern fleet.

The Indian Navy ordered 16 MiG-29 aircraft (12 single seat MiG-29K fighters and 4 twin seat MiG-29KUB trainers) from Russia as part of the contract signed in January 2004 to acquire the decommissioned 44,570-tonne aircraft carrier, Admiral Gorshkov (now INS Vikramaditya), after refurbishing.

Russia completed the delivery of 16 aircraft by September 2011. In March 12, 2010, Russia and India signed a $1.5-billion follow-up contract for the supply of an additional 29 MiG-29K. The MIG Corporation is planning to complete delivery of 29 MiG-29K fighters to India by 2016.

Helicopter Fleet

Helicopters play a vital role in naval operations. And the IN has a large helicopter fleet comprising

1. Dhruv ALH SAR helicopters
2. Chetak SAR helicopters with limited ASW capability
3. Sea King and Kamov Ka-28  ASW & SAR helicopters
4. Kamov Ka-31 AEW helicopters

Chetak (Alouette-3) Helicopters

The IN has over 50 Chetak multi-utility helicopters based on shore and ships. On ships the helicopter undertake SAR and Anti-Submarine Torpedo Launch

Dhruv Helicopters

The navy initially ordered HAL developed Dhruv helicopters for use as ASW platforms but later realized the aircraft was unsuitable for operations from onboard ships. The helicopter has since been assigned primarily for shore based Search and Rescue (SAR). Its secondary roles include heliborne operations, and armed patrol with night vision devices.

The Indian Navy’s first Dhruv Squadron, INAS 322, was commissioned at Kochi on November 12, 2013. The Navy is satisfied with the performance of Dhruv in its reassigned role and the DAC on July 19, 2014 cleared acquisition of 32 Dhruv ALHs for the Navy and Coast Guard.

Sea King ASW Helicopters

Sea King helicopters are used principally for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and search & rescue roles. They are deployed on Landing Platform Dock INS Jalashwa (6) and warships like, Project 15A (Kolkata class) destroyers and Project 17 Stealth frigates. They are shore based at INS Garuda (Kochi) and INS Kunjali-II (Mumbai).

Kamov Ka-28 ASW Helicopters

Like the Sea King, the Kamov Ka-28 are used ASW and deployed on older Navy warships. (As in September 2014, the Navy had 11 Kamov-28 and 17 Sea King ASW helicopters. The Sea Kings are over 20 years old, the Kamov-28s are long overdue for a mid-life upgrade.)

Kamov Ka-31 AEW Helicopters

Kamov Ka-31 helicopters play a vital role in the Navy, as the only airborne platform with early warning capability.

The Kamov Ka-31 AEW helicopter is based on the Ka-28 Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) design and its development started in 1987. Volume production of the helicopter commenced after the Indian Navy placed an order for four in 1999, and a further five in 2001. The first four were inducted into the Navy in April 2003 and the second batch in 2005. A total of 14 Ka-31 helicopters were made for India.

Ka-31s are currently stationed on INS Talwar class frigates and INS Vikramaditya, Indian Navy's new aircraft carrier.

Indian Navy Spreads its Wings - Part2 (https://www.myind.net/indian-navy-spreads-its-wings-part2)

By Vijainder K Thakur