India was the first international customer of the MiG-29. The Indian Air Force (IAF) placed an order for more than 50 MiG-29s in 1980 while the aircraft was still in its initial development phase. Since its induction into the IAF in 1985, the aircraft has undergone a series of modifications with the addition of new avionics, sub-systems, turbofan engines and radars. The upgraded Indian version is known as Baaz and forms a crucial component of the second-line offensive aircraft-fleet of the IAF after the Sukhoi Su-30MKI.
The MiG-29’s good operational record prompted India to sign a deal with Russia in 2005/06 to upgrade its 67 MiG-29s for US$888 million. Under the deal, the Indian MiGs were modified so as to deploy the R-77RVV-AE (AA-12 Adder) air-to-air missile, also known as the Amraamski. The missiles were successfully tested in October 1998 and have been integrated into IAF's MiG-29s. IAF has also awarded the MiG Corporation another US$900 million contract to upgrade all of its 69 operational MiG-29s. These upgrades will include a new avionics fit, with the N-109 radar being replaced by a Phazatron Zhuk-M radar. The aircraft is also being equipped to enhance beyond-visual-range combat ability and for air-to-air refuelling to increase endurance. In 2008. Russia also gave India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited the license to manufacture 120 RD-33 series 3 turbojet engines for the upgrade. The upgrade will also include a new weapon control system, cockpit ergonomics, air-to-air missiles, high-accuracy air-to-ground missiles and "smart" aerial bombs. The first six MiG-29s will be upgraded in Russia while the remaining 63 MiGs will be upgraded at the Hindustan Aeronautics facility in India. India also awarded a multi-million dollar contract to Israel Aircraft Industries to provide avionics and sub-systems for the upgrade.
In January 2004, the Indian Navy signed a contract for the delivery of 12 MiG-29K and 4 MiG-29KUB which will be operated from INS Vikramaditya. The first MiG-29KUB manufactured for the Navy took to the skies in May 2008. The first four aircraft were delivered to India in February 2009. There were also reports that the Indian Navy would purchase an additional 30 MiG-29Ks and -KUBs for the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier.
The Indian Air Force expressed concern after 90 MiG-29s were grounded in Russia. After carrying out an extensive inspection, the IAF cleared all MiG-29s in its fleet.*
"Russia has pointed out structural faults in MiG-29 aircraft. There was a MiG-29 accident in Russia in December 2008. RAC-MiG has intimated that corrosion on the fin root ribs has been identified as the cause of crack development. There is no plan to decommission MiG-29 aircraft," said Antony.
The Indian Air Force ordered a thorough inspection of its MiG 29 fleet after the crash and obtained details of the structural defects experienced by the Russian Air Force, said a senior Indian Air Force official.
India is already committed to the MiG-29K, the naval variant of the MiG 29, for the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov.
Russia is also competing its MiG 35 aircraft in India's $10 billion Medium Range Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) program. The Indian Air Force official said the MiG 35 has structural similarities with the MiG 29, and in fact borrows from the MiG-29 SMT, a modernized MiG-29, for the Russian Air Force, added the official.
The Indian Air Force also proposes to upgrade its existing MiG 29s by Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG at a cost of $ 963 million.
The Indian Air Force wants to extend the life of the fighter aircraft from 25 years (2,500 hours) to 40 years (3,500 hours). The Air Force proposed the immediate upgrade of its MiG-29 fighters after the Pakistan Air Force added beyond-visual-range missiles and other advanced weaponry in 2003 that India's MiG-29s cannot carry.
Friday, July 17, 2009
DTN News: India Will Not Ground MiGs Despite Russian Crash
DTN News: India Will Not Ground MiGs Despite Russian Crash
*Source: DTN News / Defense Media
(NSI News Source Info) NEW DELHI, India - July 17, 2009: Despite December's crash of a Russian MiG 29 aircraft, India will not decommission the 67 MiG 29s in the fleet, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said in a written to a reply to the Indian Parliament July 15. India was the first international customer of the MiG-29. The Indian Air Force (IAF) placed an order for more than 50 MiG-29s in 1980 while the aircraft was still in its initial development phase. Since its induction into the IAF in 1985, the aircraft has undergone a series of modifications with the addition of new avionics, sub-systems, turbofan engines and radars. The upgraded Indian version is known as Baaz and forms a crucial component of the second-line offensive aircraft-fleet of the IAF after the Sukhoi Su-30MKI.
The MiG-29’s good operational record prompted India to sign a deal with Russia in 2005/06 to upgrade its 67 MiG-29s for US$888 million. Under the deal, the Indian MiGs were modified so as to deploy the R-77RVV-AE (AA-12 Adder) air-to-air missile, also known as the Amraamski. The missiles were successfully tested in October 1998 and have been integrated into IAF's MiG-29s. IAF has also awarded the MiG Corporation another US$900 million contract to upgrade all of its 69 operational MiG-29s. These upgrades will include a new avionics fit, with the N-109 radar being replaced by a Phazatron Zhuk-M radar. The aircraft is also being equipped to enhance beyond-visual-range combat ability and for air-to-air refuelling to increase endurance. In 2008. Russia also gave India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited the license to manufacture 120 RD-33 series 3 turbojet engines for the upgrade. The upgrade will also include a new weapon control system, cockpit ergonomics, air-to-air missiles, high-accuracy air-to-ground missiles and "smart" aerial bombs. The first six MiG-29s will be upgraded in Russia while the remaining 63 MiGs will be upgraded at the Hindustan Aeronautics facility in India. India also awarded a multi-million dollar contract to Israel Aircraft Industries to provide avionics and sub-systems for the upgrade.
In January 2004, the Indian Navy signed a contract for the delivery of 12 MiG-29K and 4 MiG-29KUB which will be operated from INS Vikramaditya. The first MiG-29KUB manufactured for the Navy took to the skies in May 2008. The first four aircraft were delivered to India in February 2009. There were also reports that the Indian Navy would purchase an additional 30 MiG-29Ks and -KUBs for the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier.
The Indian Air Force expressed concern after 90 MiG-29s were grounded in Russia. After carrying out an extensive inspection, the IAF cleared all MiG-29s in its fleet.*
"Russia has pointed out structural faults in MiG-29 aircraft. There was a MiG-29 accident in Russia in December 2008. RAC-MiG has intimated that corrosion on the fin root ribs has been identified as the cause of crack development. There is no plan to decommission MiG-29 aircraft," said Antony.
The Indian Air Force ordered a thorough inspection of its MiG 29 fleet after the crash and obtained details of the structural defects experienced by the Russian Air Force, said a senior Indian Air Force official.
India is already committed to the MiG-29K, the naval variant of the MiG 29, for the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov.
Russia is also competing its MiG 35 aircraft in India's $10 billion Medium Range Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) program. The Indian Air Force official said the MiG 35 has structural similarities with the MiG 29, and in fact borrows from the MiG-29 SMT, a modernized MiG-29, for the Russian Air Force, added the official.
The Indian Air Force also proposes to upgrade its existing MiG 29s by Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG at a cost of $ 963 million.
The Indian Air Force wants to extend the life of the fighter aircraft from 25 years (2,500 hours) to 40 years (3,500 hours). The Air Force proposed the immediate upgrade of its MiG-29 fighters after the Pakistan Air Force added beyond-visual-range missiles and other advanced weaponry in 2003 that India's MiG-29s cannot carry.
India was the first international customer of the MiG-29. The Indian Air Force (IAF) placed an order for more than 50 MiG-29s in 1980 while the aircraft was still in its initial development phase. Since its induction into the IAF in 1985, the aircraft has undergone a series of modifications with the addition of new avionics, sub-systems, turbofan engines and radars. The upgraded Indian version is known as Baaz and forms a crucial component of the second-line offensive aircraft-fleet of the IAF after the Sukhoi Su-30MKI.
The MiG-29’s good operational record prompted India to sign a deal with Russia in 2005/06 to upgrade its 67 MiG-29s for US$888 million. Under the deal, the Indian MiGs were modified so as to deploy the R-77RVV-AE (AA-12 Adder) air-to-air missile, also known as the Amraamski. The missiles were successfully tested in October 1998 and have been integrated into IAF's MiG-29s. IAF has also awarded the MiG Corporation another US$900 million contract to upgrade all of its 69 operational MiG-29s. These upgrades will include a new avionics fit, with the N-109 radar being replaced by a Phazatron Zhuk-M radar. The aircraft is also being equipped to enhance beyond-visual-range combat ability and for air-to-air refuelling to increase endurance. In 2008. Russia also gave India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited the license to manufacture 120 RD-33 series 3 turbojet engines for the upgrade. The upgrade will also include a new weapon control system, cockpit ergonomics, air-to-air missiles, high-accuracy air-to-ground missiles and "smart" aerial bombs. The first six MiG-29s will be upgraded in Russia while the remaining 63 MiGs will be upgraded at the Hindustan Aeronautics facility in India. India also awarded a multi-million dollar contract to Israel Aircraft Industries to provide avionics and sub-systems for the upgrade.
In January 2004, the Indian Navy signed a contract for the delivery of 12 MiG-29K and 4 MiG-29KUB which will be operated from INS Vikramaditya. The first MiG-29KUB manufactured for the Navy took to the skies in May 2008. The first four aircraft were delivered to India in February 2009. There were also reports that the Indian Navy would purchase an additional 30 MiG-29Ks and -KUBs for the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier.
The Indian Air Force expressed concern after 90 MiG-29s were grounded in Russia. After carrying out an extensive inspection, the IAF cleared all MiG-29s in its fleet.*
"Russia has pointed out structural faults in MiG-29 aircraft. There was a MiG-29 accident in Russia in December 2008. RAC-MiG has intimated that corrosion on the fin root ribs has been identified as the cause of crack development. There is no plan to decommission MiG-29 aircraft," said Antony.
The Indian Air Force ordered a thorough inspection of its MiG 29 fleet after the crash and obtained details of the structural defects experienced by the Russian Air Force, said a senior Indian Air Force official.
India is already committed to the MiG-29K, the naval variant of the MiG 29, for the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov.
Russia is also competing its MiG 35 aircraft in India's $10 billion Medium Range Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) program. The Indian Air Force official said the MiG 35 has structural similarities with the MiG 29, and in fact borrows from the MiG-29 SMT, a modernized MiG-29, for the Russian Air Force, added the official.
The Indian Air Force also proposes to upgrade its existing MiG 29s by Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG at a cost of $ 963 million.
The Indian Air Force wants to extend the life of the fighter aircraft from 25 years (2,500 hours) to 40 years (3,500 hours). The Air Force proposed the immediate upgrade of its MiG-29 fighters after the Pakistan Air Force added beyond-visual-range missiles and other advanced weaponry in 2003 that India's MiG-29s cannot carry.
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