Indian Army Air Corps
Founded in 1914 a couple of months before the beginning of the Great War the Imperial Army Air Corps received their baptize during the wars in the Asir Mandate. The battles in the Arabian Peninsula shaped this force into one tasked to defend the country against the designs of the European nations (1) and support the Army in their military operations for that same purpose. Currently close to 15% of the manpower of the Standing Army is part of the Air Corps; either as pilots, mechanics, air crews, logistics personnel, AA guns crewmen and other assorted personnel. The Air Corps is the second largest in the World as today, only second the one fielded by Russia.
Five major companies control the aeronautical business in India; Alleppey Aeronautics, Kiran Industries, Mayawati, Awali Brothers and Imperial Aeronautics. While Kiran Industries and Awali Brothers by the beginning of the 1930’s started to concentrate in the Naval Aviation the other three companies started to compete for the more profitable Army Air Corps contracts. By the year 1936 Alleppey lost their fight with Imperial Aeronautics for the fighter market while the smaller Mayawati started to use Imperial engines in their bomber designs since early in the decade.
By 1936 the Indian Imperial Air Corps was composed of 80 fighter regiments, 60 bomber one and 12 ground attack ones. While Alleppey fighters are know for the use of radial engines the one from Imperial plus the bombers build by Mayawati are powered by inline engines and after the performance first of the Mayawati bombers and later of the Imperial fighters cemented the dominance of inline engines in the procurement and requirements bureau.
List of new aircrafts since 1932; the rest of the regiments are fielding aircrafts designed before the aircraft that follow. Those must likely will be phased out with the new aircrafts entering service.
Fighters since 1932:
Name: Alleppey Aeronautics Sikara I (Hawk)
Type: land based fighter
Crew: 1
Max Speed: 250 mph at 13,000 feet
200 mph at sea level
Engine: 1 x AA 200 at 650 hp radial
Range: 630 miles
Armament: 1 x 7.92mm machine guns(Nose), 1 x 15mm machinegun(Nose); 5 30lbs bombs or 2 100lbs bombs.
Notes: Started production on January 1932 and by the time production was ended in December 1935 over 1500 of then were build between it and their improved version. Exported to Persia. Over 30 regiments currently using this aircraft or the improved version.
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Name: Alleppey Aeronautics Sikara II (Hawk)
Type: land based fighter
Crew: 1
Max Speed: 260 mph at 13,000 feet
220 mph at sea level
Engine: 1 x AA 200 at 750 hp radial
Range: 640 miles
Armament: 1 x 7.92mm machine guns(Nose), 1 x 15mm machinegun(Nose); 5 30lbs bombs or 2 100lbs bombs.
Notes: Using a newer engine that raised the horsepower by one hundred. Over 30 regiments currently using this aircraft or the improved version.
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Name: Imperial Aeronautics Sher (Lion)
Type: land based fighter
Crew: 1
Max Speed: 290 mph at 14,000 feet
260 mph at sea level
Engine: 1 x IA 300 at 750 hp inline
Range: 510 miles
Armament: 1 x 7.92mm machine guns(Nose), 1 x 15mm machinegun(Nose); 5 30lbs bombs or 2 100lbs bombs.
Notes: Started production in early 1933 and was the reason Alleppey increased the horsepower of their engine in an attempt to keep at par with their competition. Close to 20 regiments currently using this aircraft. Faster that their competition but with shorter legs.
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Name: Imperial Aeronautics Syen (Falcon)
Type: land based fighter
Crew: 1
Max Speed: 355 mph at 15,000 feet
300 mph at sea level
Engine: 1 x IA 350 at 1150 hp inline
Range: 350 miles
Armament: 2 7.92mm machine guns(Nose); 2 15mm machine guns(wings)
Notes: The lessons of the concluded war in Asir were mated with the newest Imperial Aeronautics engine to build the most heavily armed and armored fighter in the world by the time it entered began production on January 1935. Currently serving in less than 10 regiments.
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Interceptors since 1932:
Name: Imperial Aeronautics Garu (Eagle)
Type: land based interceptor
Crew: 1
Max Speed: 380 mph at 25,000 feet
370 mph at 15,000 feet
340 mph at sea level
Engine: 2 x IA 350 at 1150 hp inline
Range: 800 miles
Armament: 2 7.92mm machine guns(Wings); 2 25mm cannons (Nose)
Notes: First twin engine fighter in the Imperial Air Corps; using the same engine as the Syen it was 40mph faster and carried the heaviest main armament in the world at the time. It was ordered in anticipation to what was perceived as the eventual war with the European powers and their large fleets of bombers. Serving in less than 10 regiments.
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Bombers since 1932:
Name: Mayawati Haathee I (Elephant)
Type: land based bomber
Crew: 4
Max Speed: 230 mph at 13000 feet
Engine: 2 x IA 300 at 750 hp inline
Range: 700 miles with 2000lbs of bombs
Armament: 1 7.92mm machinegun (Nose), 1 7.92mm machinegun (Dorsal), 1 7.92mm machinegun(Ventral Hole); 3000lbs maximum bomb payload.
Notes: Mayawati’s decision of dropping of the fighter competition and to concentrate in bombers paid off by getting the contract for the Haathee in late 1932. The production of the Haathee started in 1933 and continues strong; with the improved Haathee II entering service early in 1935. Close to 30 regiments either with the Haathee I or II versions.
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Name: Mayawati Haathee II (Elephant)
Type: land based bomber
Crew: 4
Max Speed: 260 mph at 16000 feet
Engine: 2 x IA 350 at 1150 hp inline
Range: 900 miles with 2000lbs of bombs
Armament: 1 7.92mm machinegun (Nose), 1 7.92mm machinegun (Dorsal), 1 7.92mm machinegun(Ventral Hole); 4500lbs maximum bomb payload.
Notes: Improved Haathee with extended range, speed and payload.
(1) the Air Corps is being designed to protect the nation of enemy aircrafts and to support the ground forces. The navy is considered the one that should project power abroad but in operations like Asir is considered necessary to take the offensive.