*Source: DTN News / Defense Media
(NSI News Source Info) NEW DELHI, India - October 3, 2009: Russia's MiG aircraft maker said on Tuesday it has successfully tested on board the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier four MiG-29 carrier-based fighter jets due to be delivered to India. 
The new MiG-29K carrier-based fighter started its sea trials on Russia’s only aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, on September 28-29. According to MiG, two aircraft – a MiG-29K single-seater and a two-seat MiG-29KUB - made several take-offs and landings from the carrier in the Barents Sea.
Russia and India signed a contract on January 20, 2004, stipulating the supply of 12 single-seat MiG-29Ks and four two-seat MiG-29KUBs to India as part of a $1.5 billion deal to deliver the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier, currently being retrofitted in Russia for the Indian navy.
"During the tests on September 28-29, the MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB fighters conducted several take offs and landings on the deck of the [Admiral Kuznetsov] aircraft carrier in the Barents Sea," the company said in a statement.
Admiral Kuznetsov is the only aircraft carrier in the Russian Navy.
The two MiG-29Ks and two MiG-29KUBs were officially transferred to India earlier this year. They were inspected by Indian technical experts and used in a five-month flight training course for the Indian pilots.
The aircrafts are expected to be delivered to India in mid-October.
Meanwhile, Russia and India are still negotiating a new deal on the completion of the Admiral Gorshkov overhaul.
Russia has pledged to finish the Admiral Gorshkov's overhaul as soon as possible and deliver it to India in 2012 if the additional $1.2 bln funding is provided by New Delhi.
After modernization, the carrier will join the Indian Navy as INS Vikramaditya, and is expected to be seaworthy for 30 years.
The new MiG-29K carrier-based fighter started its sea trials on Russia’s only aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, on September 28-29. According to MiG, two aircraft – a MiG-29K single-seater and a two-seat MiG-29KUB - made several take-offs and landings from the carrier in the Barents Sea.
Russia and India signed a contract on January 20, 2004, stipulating the supply of 12 single-seat MiG-29Ks and four two-seat MiG-29KUBs to India as part of a $1.5 billion deal to deliver the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier, currently being retrofitted in Russia for the Indian navy.
"During the tests on September 28-29, the MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB fighters conducted several take offs and landings on the deck of the [Admiral Kuznetsov] aircraft carrier in the Barents Sea," the company said in a statement.
Admiral Kuznetsov is the only aircraft carrier in the Russian Navy.
The two MiG-29Ks and two MiG-29KUBs were officially transferred to India earlier this year. They were inspected by Indian technical experts and used in a five-month flight training course for the Indian pilots.
The aircrafts are expected to be delivered to India in mid-October.
Meanwhile, Russia and India are still negotiating a new deal on the completion of the Admiral Gorshkov overhaul.
Russia has pledged to finish the Admiral Gorshkov's overhaul as soon as possible and deliver it to India in 2012 if the additional $1.2 bln funding is provided by New Delhi.
After modernization, the carrier will join the Indian Navy as INS Vikramaditya, and is expected to be seaworthy for 30 years.MiG says that the tests mark the completion of development of the MiG-29K, which made its first flight in 2007. It is a “deeply modernized” version of the original Soviet-era MiG-29. It features an upgraded airframe with more composite material, digital fly-by-wire system, in-flight refueling capabilities and new avionics, including a full glass cockpit and Zhuk-ME slot array radar. The MiG-29K has reduced radar signature and a much larger combat load, including air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons.
The MiG-29K has been developed for the Indian Navy, which has ordered 12 single-seat and 4 two-seat aircraft to be based on INS Vikramaditya, formerly the Russian Navy’s Admiral Gorshkov. Indian pilots have already trained on the MiG-29K, but all flights from the Kuznetsov were performed by Russian pilots. MiG representatives confirmed to Ares that the first fighters will be delivered to India by the end of the year, although the delayed Vikramaditya - being rebuilt with a full-length flight-deck, ski-jump ramp and arrester gear - is not expected to be ready before 2012.
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