F-18 with Harpoons
Indian Jaguar with Sea-Eagle missile
Posted on 09/07/2007 9:12:27 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Front PageIAF Jaguars ‘sink’ USS Nimitz, F-18s return the favour to INS Viraat
Manu Pubby Posted online: Saturday, September 08, 2007 at 0000 hrs
Malabar Exercise: From tracking nuclear submarines to managing 200 aircraft and taking on deep-sea terror threat, five Navies cover sweeping range of maritime operations
ON BOARD USS Kitty Hawk (150 miles west of Port Blair), September 7: As the small green dots approached closer on the radar screen, the Indian officer sitting deep inside USS Nimitz knew it was too late to save the ship. Jaguar maritime fighters of the Indian Air Force (IAF), operating from the Car Nicobar air base, had managed to come dangerously within striking range to successfully launch anti-ship missiles on the super carrier.
The IAF registered its first “kill” of the day — none less than the mighty nuclear powered Nimitz with its compliment of 85 fighters. But the young officer, on a cross attachment to the US ship, barely had time to feel proud. The battle had begun in earnest and the target now was India’s lone aircraft carrier.
INS Viraat, however, proved easy meat for the joint striking force of US F-18 Super Hornets and IAF Jaguars with the American fighters deliberately flying over the ship to drive home their air-superiority skills.
With the five-nation Malabar 07-2 naval exercise entering its final two days today, the buzzword on board the Kitty Hawk — the US carrier coordinating the 30-warship mock battle — was the level of “interoperability” achieved by the participating Navies of India, US, Australia, Japan and Singapore.
From tracking and destroying a nuclear submarine, operating three aircraft carriers in close proximity, managing air traffic for over 200 aircraft spread over just 150 X 200 km (roughly the size of airspace between Mumbai and Pune), supporting an amphibious assault to taking on a deep-sea terror threat and tackling piracy, the five countries jointly carried out pretty much the entire range of modern maritime operations.
“We didn’t just get a chance to operate together but also the opportunity to assess our own capabilities by comparing them with the latest technology in the world,” says Vice Admiral R P Suthan, commander in chief of the strategic Eastern Command, who is the “tactical commander” for the mock battle over the next two days.
The location is less than 200 miles from the Chinese listening post in Coco Islands and touches the strategic Malacca Straits. But the US is quick to deny that this is an alliance to contain the military might of the Asian economic giant.
“This has not been put together as a signal against anyone. It is meant to bring Naval professionals together to practise,” Vice Admiral William Crowder, Commander of the Seventh fleet, the largest forward deployed fleet of the US Navy, told reporters on board the super carrier.
The war game is scheduled to culminate in a final mock battle involving all battleships over the weekend. The detailed scenario has not been revealed but is likely to be an intense air-dominated battle fought between two divided groups of the flotilla.
However, USS Nimitz, which headed home today after reaching the end of its deployment period, will be missed by the Indian fighters.
F-18 with Harpoons
Indian Jaguar with Sea-Eagle missile
Another gift that keeps on giving, on part of Nehru's string of follies. Those islands were Indian territory that Nehru gifted Burma.
Probably all of them!!Even if they were escorted by American jets.Just another exercise.
If this is has any 'truth,' I will be very disappointed that an aircraft that entered service in 1972, even if packing Sea Eagle missiles, managed to 'sink' an American carrier. That means we may have to bend over and kiss the inevitable triumph of Iran and their ragheaded muzzie allies!
September 9
September 5
"Given the US Congress's concerns over growing ties between India and Iran, the navy refused to comment on what the Iranians were being trained for."
"M.K. Bhadrakumar, an expert in West Asian affairs, said, Why is it (The Indian government.) not forthcoming with the details of the training?"
Perhaps you may be able to get over it, Bender, if you think about how little airframes mean as the electronix take over. A warplane ain’t nothin’ but a weapons platform. Missiles, radar, commo, infared, countermeasures, processing power, that’s what matters.
Why are they using Jaguars? I thought the Indian Navy has MiG-29Ks ()or have these not been supplied yet)? Also, is the air-to-ship BrahMos not in production yet?
The challenge is to win battles with the lowly Mine Sweeper or a Troop Transport?/Cruiser going up against a Destroyer or Battleship. Good times.
Who knows how realistic all this was in the first place or what was the scenario being played out.The Jag maybe old but it can fly at very low altitudes.You’d need scores of Sea Eagles to even get a chance of hitting a US carrier-let alone hit it.
The Jaguars are of the Indian Airforce-which has 2 squadrons solely for the maritime strike role.These cannot carry the Brahmos,but will probably get a small stock of new missiles like the Israeli ‘Delilah’ anti-ship variant or even the Exocet,once the Sea Eagles are retired.
The Jaguars will be eventually replaced by the SU-30 equipped with the air launched Brahmos-that will take atleast 5 years,given that the missile is yet to be tested.
The Mig-29Ks will only arrive next year,but the chances are that they won’t have a carrier to operate on for around 3 years given the delays in the Russian carrier’s upgradation.
make that let alone sink it!!!!
do all Jags have high wing hardpoints and some don't use them or some with and some without??? almost looks like the top of a rail over the inner hardpoint not being used.
Indian Jaguar with Sea-Eagle missile
Sorry, not to disagree with you... but the flag on the tail it Italy.... of course the jet in question would be one and the same...
MJ
I think the aircraft can be modified if the customer wants it-British & Indian aircraft have it.
Maybe I am misinterpreting this, but was the Indian officer in charge of the Nimitz’s defenses? Cause if he was then there is why the Nimitz was sunk. Obviously our boys are better trained and have a greater familiarity with he equipment. I would highly doubt if they were American sailors manning the post that the Jaguar would have even gotten within striking distance. Even without the carriers standard 50 mile defenses on board the ship there is the launch of strike fighters to intercept in coming bogie's. So I find this hard to believe.
Nope-The Italians don’t use the Jaguar.Those are Indian markings-The Indian & Italian insignia look similar barring for one color(red for the Italians/saffron for the Indians).Take a closer look at that flag.
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