Book Review of
90 Years of the Indian Air Force
Present Capabilities & Future Projects
Author: Sanjay Badri-Maharaj
Asia@War Series no. 30
Helion & Co. Ltd.
Helion & Co. Ltd.
ISBN: 978-1-915070-58-6
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2022
MSRP: $29.95
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2022
MSRP: $29.95
HISTORY:
The Indian Air Force was formed on 6 October 1932. Tested in WWII, and in subsequent India-Pakistan conflicts the force enters the 90th year as one of the largest air forces in the world.
However, it also faces enhanced challenges in the region, as it seeks to replace legacy systems, upgrade its combat and support assets and to also expand its force levels. Despite many problems, the IAF is facing the second decade of the twenty-first century with an increasingly rationalized doctrine, an inspiring air defence network , an array of new ordinance and electronics and a rejuvenated combat fleet.
THE BOOK:
Helion & Co. Ltd. is based in the UK.
This book is of soft-cover of 70 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ½” page format.
The cover art shows a color photo of a two-seat Rafale DH fighter seen head-on and taking off.
Below it is a color side-view illustration of the Rafale DH, that is repeated in the book.
The back cover shows 2 more color side-views. The top one is a Sepecat Jaguar. Below it is a Su-30 MKI. Again, both are repeated inside the book.
90 Years of the Indian Air Force examines the Indian Air Force as it exists today and its moves towards modernization, Each element of the IAG, along with the current inventory of aircraft as they relate to its combat squadrons, transport fleet, helicopter forces, training and electronic warfare and surveillance assets are discussed in addition.
The IAFs air defence network and its large SAM inventory are detailed along with the fledgling Defence Space Agency, which operates with air force assistance. India’s existing space assets are discussed as they relate to airspace intelligence and management.
The ongoing modernization of the Indian Air Force is examined in terms of acquisitions and the upgrading of older, but viable platforms. Similarly, the ongoing efforts to improve the Air Defence network, ISTAR systems, AEW platforms and new SAMs are analyzed.
Moreover, the focus on indigenous designs in respect of radars, aircraft, ordinance and SAMs is explored in detail. Two separate elements of the effort are discussed – license production of foreign designs and a renewed emphasis on local designs for combat aircraft, trainers, helicopters, weapons and SAMs.
This local production being key to the IAF’s future modernization.
90 Years of the Indian Air Force is illustrated with full-color photography throughout and includes 15 specially commissioned color artworks.
The book contains 61 color photos, including the front cover.
Thirteen are of aircraft in museums:
A Westland Wapiti, Hawker Tempest, DE Havilland Ouragan, DE Havilland Mystere IVA, Hawker Hunter F.Mk. 56,, Douglas C-47 Dakota, HT-2, Hal HF-24 Marut, Sukhoi Su-7BMK, TS-11 Iskra, Mig-23 MF and Mig-25RB.
There are 6 data lists. Color photos of officers, teachers and military students and civilians from associated countries.
A “Spyder” SAM missile truck.
Aircraft not in museums shown are:
Su-3 OMKI, Dassault Rafale, Dassault Mirage 2000H, Jaguar/Shamaker, AH-64 Apache helicopter, a Dhruv helicopter, Boeing C-17A, a HAL helicopter, a PC7 Mk. Ii, a Hawk Mk. 132, a Tijar, an IL-78 MKI tanker, a Darin III, a Mig-29 UPG, a Chinook helicopter, a LCH, a Cheetah helicopter, a Chetak helicopter, a HJT-36, a Hawk I, an Aruda radar truck, a ROHINI radar truck, an AKASH NG surface to air missile, an Asam surface to air missile, a MASAM radar truck, an AAD missile, a Su-30M, a Nirbhay cruise missile, HANI II, IV and V missiles, a polar satellite launch vehicle, an IRS-P-3 remote sensing satellite, a PDV Mk. 2 remote sensing satellite, a Cartosat-2C missile, a SAAW weapon, an Astra medium-range air to air missile and an HTT-40. and a GSLV missile.
There are 15 color side-view illustrations in the book:
Three of the IL-76, an Embraer ERJ-145, three of the Dassault Mirage 2000H, a Rafale, a Su-30MKI, a Mig-21F-13, a Mig-29, a Sepecat Jaguar, two photos of a HAL Tejas and a BAE Hawk T. Mk. 132.
The book ends with a 6 page BIBLIOGRAPHY and 2 pages of NOTES.
There are 11 maps. Nine data lists.
It begins with CONTENTS, ABBREVIATIONS, 8 CHAPTERS and ends with a BIBLIOGRAPHY, NOTES and ABOUT THE AUTHOR.-
Sanjay Badri-Maharaj from Trinidad received his MA and PHD from the Department of Studies, King College, London. His thesis was on India’s Nuclear Weapons Program. He has written and published extensively, including four books – The Armageddon Factor, Nuclear Weapons in India-Pakistan Context (2000) and Indian Nuclear Strategy Confronting the Potential Nuclear Threat From both Pakistan and China (2018) and a number of titles for Helion's various @War series.
He is an attorney at law and has served as a consultant to the Ministry of National Security in Trinidad and was a Visiting International Fellow at the institute for Defence Studies and Analyses in New Delhi.
This book will be of interest to modelers and aviation historians alike.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review copy. Casemate is the N. American distributor of Helion & Co. Ltd. Books and all Helion titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
The Indian Air Force was formed on 6 October 1932. Tested in WWII, and in subsequent India-Pakistan conflicts the force enters the 90th year as one of the largest air forces in the world.
However, it also faces enhanced challenges in the region, as it seeks to replace legacy systems, upgrade its combat and support assets and to also expand its force levels. Despite many problems, the IAF is facing the second decade of the twenty-first century with an increasingly rationalized doctrine, an inspiring air defence network , an array of new ordinance and electronics and a rejuvenated combat fleet.
THE BOOK:
Helion & Co. Ltd. is based in the UK.
This book is of soft-cover of 70 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ½” page format.
The cover art shows a color photo of a two-seat Rafale DH fighter seen head-on and taking off.
Below it is a color side-view illustration of the Rafale DH, that is repeated in the book.
The back cover shows 2 more color side-views. The top one is a Sepecat Jaguar. Below it is a Su-30 MKI. Again, both are repeated inside the book.
90 Years of the Indian Air Force examines the Indian Air Force as it exists today and its moves towards modernization, Each element of the IAG, along with the current inventory of aircraft as they relate to its combat squadrons, transport fleet, helicopter forces, training and electronic warfare and surveillance assets are discussed in addition.
The IAFs air defence network and its large SAM inventory are detailed along with the fledgling Defence Space Agency, which operates with air force assistance. India’s existing space assets are discussed as they relate to airspace intelligence and management.
The ongoing modernization of the Indian Air Force is examined in terms of acquisitions and the upgrading of older, but viable platforms. Similarly, the ongoing efforts to improve the Air Defence network, ISTAR systems, AEW platforms and new SAMs are analyzed.
Moreover, the focus on indigenous designs in respect of radars, aircraft, ordinance and SAMs is explored in detail. Two separate elements of the effort are discussed – license production of foreign designs and a renewed emphasis on local designs for combat aircraft, trainers, helicopters, weapons and SAMs.
This local production being key to the IAF’s future modernization.
90 Years of the Indian Air Force is illustrated with full-color photography throughout and includes 15 specially commissioned color artworks.
The book contains 61 color photos, including the front cover.
Thirteen are of aircraft in museums:
A Westland Wapiti, Hawker Tempest, DE Havilland Ouragan, DE Havilland Mystere IVA, Hawker Hunter F.Mk. 56,, Douglas C-47 Dakota, HT-2, Hal HF-24 Marut, Sukhoi Su-7BMK, TS-11 Iskra, Mig-23 MF and Mig-25RB.
There are 6 data lists. Color photos of officers, teachers and military students and civilians from associated countries.
A “Spyder” SAM missile truck.
Aircraft not in museums shown are:
Su-3 OMKI, Dassault Rafale, Dassault Mirage 2000H, Jaguar/Shamaker, AH-64 Apache helicopter, a Dhruv helicopter, Boeing C-17A, a HAL helicopter, a PC7 Mk. Ii, a Hawk Mk. 132, a Tijar, an IL-78 MKI tanker, a Darin III, a Mig-29 UPG, a Chinook helicopter, a LCH, a Cheetah helicopter, a Chetak helicopter, a HJT-36, a Hawk I, an Aruda radar truck, a ROHINI radar truck, an AKASH NG surface to air missile, an Asam surface to air missile, a MASAM radar truck, an AAD missile, a Su-30M, a Nirbhay cruise missile, HANI II, IV and V missiles, a polar satellite launch vehicle, an IRS-P-3 remote sensing satellite, a PDV Mk. 2 remote sensing satellite, a Cartosat-2C missile, a SAAW weapon, an Astra medium-range air to air missile and an HTT-40. and a GSLV missile.
There are 15 color side-view illustrations in the book:
Three of the IL-76, an Embraer ERJ-145, three of the Dassault Mirage 2000H, a Rafale, a Su-30MKI, a Mig-21F-13, a Mig-29, a Sepecat Jaguar, two photos of a HAL Tejas and a BAE Hawk T. Mk. 132.
The book ends with a 6 page BIBLIOGRAPHY and 2 pages of NOTES.
There are 11 maps. Nine data lists.
It begins with CONTENTS, ABBREVIATIONS, 8 CHAPTERS and ends with a BIBLIOGRAPHY, NOTES and ABOUT THE AUTHOR.-
Sanjay Badri-Maharaj from Trinidad received his MA and PHD from the Department of Studies, King College, London. His thesis was on India’s Nuclear Weapons Program. He has written and published extensively, including four books – The Armageddon Factor, Nuclear Weapons in India-Pakistan Context (2000) and Indian Nuclear Strategy Confronting the Potential Nuclear Threat From both Pakistan and China (2018) and a number of titles for Helion's various @War series.
He is an attorney at law and has served as a consultant to the Ministry of National Security in Trinidad and was a Visiting International Fellow at the institute for Defence Studies and Analyses in New Delhi.
This book will be of interest to modelers and aviation historians alike.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review copy. Casemate is the N. American distributor of Helion & Co. Ltd. Books and all Helion titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
Highly recommended.