:lol:
Yeah I hear ya. But my heart genuinely goes out to the poor gent that hairy guy is delightfully snapping in two. That grimace of pain can't be acted for the camera :lol:
FlyingFrog,
The EE Canberra's are the IAF's longest serving aircraft type with the IAF. The bomber has participated in the 1962 India-China war, the 1965, 1971, and the Kargil war with distinction. A total of 110 of them were procured.
There are only 8 remaining Canberras in active service. 6 of these are used for Aerial photography and surveying, and are to be formally retired in a couple years, as they are replaced by satelites. 2 are used for shady, elint-type duties and no one talks much about them :cen: . One Canberra was used as a target drone puller and was retired several years back, iirc
IAF Canberra:
IMHO, the Canberra remains one of the top three most beautiful aircraft ever made.
Even with much of the glamour going to IAF fighters, the IAF remains an mudpounding, attack-heavy airforce, with most of the fleet being fighter-bombers. The main mudmovers are the Jaguars and the MiG-27upg. But every aircraft in service is multirole, and the MiG-21s, Mirages, MiG-29s, Su-30MKI, and Indian Navy Harriers are also tasked with attack missions. The Mirages in particular are India's primary long-range tactical nuclear weapons delivery platform, but the MKIs are also now also specially tasked with this role (with induction of the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile.) However, every a/c are nuclear weapons capable.
The IAF doesn't have a strategic nuclear delivery/long range strike aircraft. However, it is almost certain India will go for acquisition of Tu-22Ms from Russia as a standoff nuclear weapons platform (haggling over price and the holdoff until indgenous nuclear missiles are matured have delayed the aquisition.) The Backfires will most likely be inducted with the Indian Navy and will be primarily used for super long-range maritime strike (currently IN Harriers, and IAF MiG-27s, Jags, MKIs are used in this role.)
Cheers,
Raj
