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After a year of the signing of the Indo-Russian agreement pertaining to the upgradation of the MiG-29 fleet of the Indian Air Force (IAF), Russia has notified that the upgraded MiG-29 fighters will be ready by year 2013. Russia has also indicated that the current upgradation will increase the service life of the MiG-29s by 15 years.
As per the contract signed last year, Russia’s RAC MiG aircraft corporation will upgrade over 60 MiG-29 fighters and the service life of the aircraft was to be extended from 25 years (2,500 hours) to 40 years (3,500 hours). The fleet of the MiG-29 with the IAF has been with India since the 1980s. The contract also stipulates the construction of MiG consignment depots and service centres in India to resolve the problem of timely supply of spares and after sale services, as well as flight simulators for pilot training.
The upgraded MiG-29s will be fitted with advanced avionics, new multi-functional Zhuk-ME radars, a new weapon control system, as well as modernised RD-33 engines. The upgrade would also include a new fire-control radar to allow the use of advanced air-to-surface missiles and laser-guided bombs, cockpit modernization, weapons improvement, and replacement of computers for new combat tasks.
According to defence officials, the first four Indian MiG-29 fighters are being modernised and flight-tested in Russia and the remaining aircraft will be overhauled in India with the Russian technical assistance. India will also be the prime contractor in the upgrade contrary to the demand of Russia to allow only Russian Aircraft Corporation (RSK) MiG to be the prime contractor. In the course of this contract, India, and not RSK MiG, would procure sub systems and other equipment for the upgrade of the MiG 29. India will acquire several components from France, Israel and the United States. The subsystems to be included in the upgradation program include precision-guided missiles from Israel’s Rafael, while Elbit of Israel and Thales of France could carry out the avionics and electronic warfare suite upgrades.
Although the contract was implemented last year, the contract was plagued by delays due to erratic and unexpected price fluctuation from the Russian side and other negotiations. Although the current terms on which the contract is being implemented are not clear, sources said that Russians have managed to clinch a ten per cent increase in MiG-29 upgrade over and above the earlier quote of $800 million. Indian Defence Ministry officials refused to divulge into the financial details of the MiG-29 upgrade contract and indicated that the price has been negotiated to IAF’s satisfaction.
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