Sunday, February 06, 2011

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Russia Tests Upgraded MiG Fighter Jet For India

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Russia Tests Upgraded MiG Fighter Jet For India
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Ria Novosti
(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - February 6, 2011: Russia's MiG corporation on Friday carried out the first test fight of a MiG-29 fighter modernized under a contract with the Indian Air Force (IAF).

"On February 4, 2010, a MiG-29UPG fighter carried out its first test flight. The flight lasted for an hour and was flawless," MiG said in a statement.

The IAF has awarded the MiG corporation a $900 million contract to upgrade all of its 69 operational MiG-29s.

These upgrades include a new avionics kit, 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 refueling to increase flying time.

In 2007, Russia also gave India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) a license to manufacture 120 RD-33 series 3 turbojet engines for the upgrade.

The first six aircraft are being upgraded in Russia while the remaining 63 will be refitted at the HAL facility in India.

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  • DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Russia's Contender For Indian Fighter Deal To Stay Grounded At Aero India

    DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Russia's Contender For Indian Fighter Deal To Stay Grounded At Aero India
    ** Moscow earlier said if MiG-35 wins the tender, Russia is ready to transfer all key technology to India's Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. and provide assist
    Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Ria Novosti
    (NSI News Source Info) NEW DELHI/MOSCOW, - February 6, 2011: Russia's MiG-35 will not fly in the Aero India 2011 air show in Bangalore later this month, although its maker MiG maintains it is still a contender in a deal to supply 126 light fighter jets to the Indian air force.

    "The aircraft will not fly," a MiG representative in Delhi told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.

    Earlier this year, Indian media reports claimed that the Indian air force had made an unofficial decision to delete the MiG-35 and Lockheed Martin F-16IN from the list of contenders. Russia's United Aircraft Corporation, the holding company that includes MiG, denied the aircraft was out of the running.

    Six major aircraft makers — Lockheed and Boeing from the United States, Russia's MiG, France's Dassault, Sweden's Saab and Eurofighter, a consortium of British, German, Spanish and Italian companies — are officially in contention to win the $11 billion tender.T

    The MiG-35 Fulcrum-F, is an export version of the MiG-29M OVT fighter, is powered by RD-33 OVT thrust vectoring engines. The RD-33 OVT engines provide superior maneuverability and enhance the fighter's performance in close air engagements.

    India is expected to make a final choice in the tender in July this year.

    Moscow earlier said if MiG-35 wins the tender, Russia is ready to transfer all key technology to India's Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. and provide assistance for the production of the aircraft in the country.

    Aero India-2011, which will be held in the southern city of Bangalore on February 9-13, is likely to attract a record number of leading manufacturers, vendors and suppliers from 63 countries.

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    *This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com

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