India, Russia ink deal for Mig-29 upgradation

[tigershark]

India, Russia ink deal for Mig-29 upgradation

New Delhi, Mar 7(PTI) India and Russia today signed an estimated billion dollar deal for upgradation of Indian Air Force's 92 Mig-29 fighter planes to extend their lifespan by 40 years.
Under the deal, signed between Defence Ministry and Russian RAC-Mig company, the fighters are to be armed with top-notch avionics suites to bring them at par with latest shipborne Mig-29K/KUB fighters being made for Indian Navy, official sources dhere said.

This will be the first of the two major deals the IAF is planning to revamp its fast dwindling fighter squadron. In another major deal awaiting a go-ahead by the Cabinet Committee on Security, the Air Force aims to upgrade its 52 Mirage 2000 fighters to bring them to advanced level of French Air Forces Mirages.

Under the Mig-29 upgradation programme, the fighters would be fitted with Advanced Zhuk-ME, Optronics station based on space technology and colour multifunctional displays in the cockpit.

The fighter planes would also be armed with longer range beyond visual range air-to-air missiles, high accuracy guided missiles to destroy ground targets and smart aerial bombs.

The first of the six MIG-29 fighters would be upgraded in Russia and delivered in three years by 2011 and the remaining 86 would be modernised at IAF aircraft repair facilities utilizing kits supplied by the RAC-MIG. PTI

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[Air Marshal]

IAF’ s MiG-29s To Be Upgraded by RAC ‘MIG’
March 7, 2008

The MiG-29 fleet of the IAF will be upgraded by RAC ‘MiG’. A contract for the upgrade was signed by the Russian manufacturer and the Ministry of Defence.

The upgrade of the whole fleet of the IAF’s MiG-29s will include a top-notch avionics suite which is a feature of the ship-borne MiG-29K/KUB fighters being serially produced for the Indian Navy. The overhaul and retrofitting of the aircraft will extend their service life to 3,500 flight hours and 40 years.

The avionics modernization of the aircraft will considerably expand the range of missions of the IAF’s MiG-29 fighters. At present the MiGs are primarily intended for intercepting aerial targets and gaining air superiority. Besides the broadened aerial potential, the upgraded aircraft will acquire the ability to strike ground (sea-surface) mobile and stationary targets with high-precision weapons under all weather conditions.

Complete updating of the onboard data and sighting systems will include fitment of
state-of-the-art multifunctional radar Zhuk-ME, an advanced onboard computing complex, a new weapon control system, an optronic station based on space technologies and colour multifunctional displays in the cockpit
Armament upgrade of the IAF’s MiG-29s will include such most modern weaponry as substantially improved air-to-air missiles, high-accuracy guided missiles to destroy ground and sea surface targets and smart aerial bombs.

The retrofitted MiG-29s’ avionics suite will include a number of up-to-date systems developed and produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., Bharat Dynamics Ltd., and some foreign companies.

The first 6 fighters are to be upgraded and flight-tested in Russia. The overhaul and modification of the balance aircraft will be carried out in India at IAF aircraft repair facilities utilizing the equipment kits supplied by RAC ‘MiG.’

The contract includes an offset clause covering approximately 30% of the contract value. As part of the offset, RAC ‘MiG’ will set-up consignment depots and service centres for MiG fighters, service centres specializing in maintenance and repair of the Zhuk family radars and simulators centres equipped with the top-notch training aids.

With the transfer to HAL of the licence for production the RD-33 series 3 engines India will acquire the infrastructure for the MiG-29 family fighters’ indigenous maintenance, repair/overhaul and upgrade.

Should the Indian Air Force select the state-of-the-art MiG-35 fighter to meet its MMRCA requirement, all the key technologies including AESA radar manufacturing will be transferred to HAL. All possible assistance will be extended for serial production of the MiG-35 by HAL which has already successfully mastered the production of the MiG-21, MiG-27 and Su-30MKI combat aircraft. Other leading aviation companies of India will also be invited to participate in indigenous production of the MiG-35.

Asked about his views on the upgrade of the MiG-29, Air Marshal Harish Massand (Retd), one of the finest fighter pilots who commanded the first MiG-29 squadron in 1986, said,” The MiG-29 was always a superlative fighter and with the upgrade it will have unmatched capabilities”.