Indian Air Force (IAF): News

MoD India ready to sign a contract for the modernization of fighters Mirage 2000
17.07.2009

MOSCOW, July 16. (ARMS-TASS). The Indian defense establishment and the French producers are ready to sign agreement on realization of the modernization program fighters Mirage 2000, consisting in the armament of the Indian Air Force. The cost of the agreement will be about 100 billion rupees (2.05 billion dollars), according to The Times of India. "

In the case of an agreement, it will be the second largest contract in the history of military-technical cooperation between the two countries after the estimated 187.98 billion rupees in the construction of six submarines of "Scorpio" at "Mazgon dock in Mumbai. On signing the agreement could be announced during the start of his visit to France, Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh.

India and France are negotiating about the modernization of 51 multipurpose fighter Mirage-2000N "for more than two years. The main obstacle to signing the agreement is its cost. The French company, contractors' Aviación Dassault and Thales "insisted on payment of 140 billion rupees, while the Defense of India appreciates the program only in the 100 billion rupees. According to the newspaper, recently controversy was resolved, and French manufacturers had agreed on the terms of India's Ministry of Defense.

As planned, from 4 to 6 first aircraft Mirage will be upgraded in France, the remaining aircraft are planned to improve the capacity of Khal. Modernization, which will be upgraded on-board equipment, engines, structural components and weapons systems will permit to extend the life of the 51 aircraft Mirage 2000N "Indian Air Force by 20-25 years.

"Dassault" Upgrade fuselage, mechanical systems, neaviatsionnogo equipment and engines, as well as providing certification of the aircraft. During the modernization of the aircraft fuselage paneling will be dismantled to replace the cable equipment.

Modernization project will include installation of high-performance on-board computer with extended memory, multimode radar, capable of detecting target at a distance of 70 nautical miles (130 km) in terms of interference, multichannel digital data transmission systems, advanced equipment for the use of missiles near and long-range navigation and equipment.

The cockpit will be equipped with two side digital displays and an improved bottom dashboard, Helmet display systems. Communications, navigation and identification will be replaced to meet the standards of "glass cockpit".

Upgrading of the complex electronic warfare includes the installation of an integrated receiver warning of approaching enemy missiles, providing continuous information to the issuance of timely action to counter, a fully integrated system of stationary jamming and transmitter interference.

Standard fuel tanks will be increased. The system of sealing the aircraft will be modified to improve the functioning of tropical and desert climates. The system of filling with liquid oxygen will be replaced by on-board system, the production of oxygen, engines will be equipped with a digital control system.

As stated previously the Director of the modernization program fighters "Mirage" of Thales' Federico Andre, India has also proposed a project that would reduce the signature of the aircraft and provide them with greater security from detection and attack aircraft destruction and their means of air defense.

There are currently 8 countries, including India, exploiting fighters Mirage 2000. The Indian Air Force received the first "Mirazh-2000H/TH" in mid-1980. to equip two air defense squadrons. Originally adopted were adopted by 40 aircraft. Another 20 fighters "Mirage-2000 were purchased in subsequent years. At this point in a plane crash lost at least seven cars. The fighters were widely used during the conflict in Kargil.

Права на данный материал принадлежат АРМС-ТАСС

Delivery of the Indian Air Force aircraft LCA "Tejhas" may be postponed to a later date
22.07.2009

MOSCOW, July 21. (ARMS-TASS). Since a large proportion of the probability of the National Indian industry, light combat aircraft LCA "Tedzhas" will not be certified by December 2010, reports Flight International. Date of achieving primary air alert will also be scheduled at a later date.

According to the representatives of the Agency's aviation development ADA (Aeronautical Development Agency), a developer of "Tedzhas, the first flight of the third and most advanced aircraft, manufactured in the small-scale production of LSP-3, could take place no earlier than September. By this time it shall be equipped with a digital flight control computer, as well as obtain the latest version of software for multi-radar Israeli production.

Continuing problems with the on-board aircraft Tedzhas "engine. For equipping the first squadron of LCA aircraft the Indian Air Force signed a contract for the supply of 20 power plants F404-GE-IN20 company General Electric, but for the serial version is scheduled to purchase the engine, with minimal weight and thrust of 90 kN, which is to provide high Attack aircraft specifications, including at low altitudes. Recently, the Indian Air Force rejected the proposal by the French company SNEKMA of working with Indian research center in gas turbine engines GTRE (Gas Turbine Research Establishment) refinement engine "cover."

LCA is a single odnodvigatelny supersonic multipurpose light fighter aircraft, designed to gain superiority in the air, as well as the destruction of land and surface targets. Its length is 13.2 m, wing span - 8.2 m, take-off weight - 8500 kg payload - 4500 kg. It has a glass cockpit, equipped with the DASH Helmet system target company Elbit and sighting-navigation system "Lightning" the Israeli company Rafael. "

The program to develop aircraft LCA to replace MiG-21 began in 1983. Initially, its value was estimated at 5.6 billion rupees. To date, the project cost has increased almost 10 times and was 54.89 billion rupees. The first flight of the aircraft LCA TD-1 made a 4 January 2001. The first supersonic flight took place in August 2003.

In 2005, the Indian Air Force entered into with the company Khal contract to supply the first 20 series of aircraft, including 16 fighter planes and 4 training and combat aircraft worth some 20 billion rupees (about 505 million USD). In total, by the Air Force the country planned to take about 150 aircraft Tedzhas. Small-scale production "Tedzhas began in 2007.

At this point in the flight test program involved seven aircraft. According to the ADA, on July 16, LCA "Tedzhas completed 1147 successful test flights, including flights of technology demonstrators (TD-1 -233, TD-2, -305), experimental samples (PV-1 -206; PV-2 -125, PV-3 -146) and the samples produced at the stage of small-scale production (LSP-1 -52, LSP-2, -80).

The engine of the Indian aircraft revised for trains and ships
04.08.2009

Indian scientists are considering the use of aircraft engine Kaveri, intended for light multipurpose fighter HAL Tejas, in the construction of tanks, railway locomotives, as well as military and civilian ships, reported The Times of India. The reason was the delay in the project to develop combat aircraft, forcing the Indian Government to seek support from private companies to implement it.

It clarifies the issue, currently Indian military scientists are working on a version of the marine gas turbine engines, which can be used in the construction of ships of the type of Rajput. Prototype is already being tested at the shipyard of the Indian Navy Vishakapatnam (Vishakapatnam). After the end of the development of the engine can be used in any of the Indian warships, consider the project participants.

In addition, according to the companion publication, Kaveri could be employed on Indian railways to transport iron ore, steel and other heavy loads. It will not only reduce the weight of the locomotive, but also accelerate the transport by rail. Another source in defense circles of the country said in an interview with The Times of India, the engine can also be used in the construction of tanks and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Note that the HAL Tejas fighter committed to develop India's first flight in 2001, though the first squadron of these aircraft, as previously reported, should appear in the composition of the Indian Air Force in late 2010 or early in 2011. One of the reasons for the delays of protracted development of the engine called the Kaveri, which decided to replace the imported production F404 General Electric. In 2006, the Indians signed a contract with French company Snecma, which helped New Delhi in its development.

http://www.lenta.ru/

ok this is presently not fit for HAL TEJAS but being used for some good works any way for nation.

http://www.drdo.com/pub/techfocus/2009/oct09.pdf?bcsi_scan_0752DDFA1B5B7E84=0&bcsi_scan_filename=oct09.pdf

Two pilots and a civilian were killed after a naval aircraft crashed on Wednesday morning, Hyderabad police sources said.

The aircraft belonging to a naval aerobatic team crashed on Wednesday morning during an airshow in Hyderabad.

Four others were injured on the ground, the police added.

The Kiran MK-II plane, which was part of the 'Sagar Pawan' aerobatic team participating in a display at the India [ Images ] Aviation show, crashed into a building, Hyderabad Police Commissioner A K Khan said.

"So far one building is damaged. We have to see how many people were inside it... Four persons have been injured," he said.

Khan said that the injured have been sent to a hospital.

The cause of the crash is being ascertained, official sources said.

The plane, which was part of a formation of four aircraft, crashed into a three-storeyed building at Bowenpally area near Begumpet airport where the airshow was on.

Black smoke billowed from the building after the crash and firemen were seen at work. Fuel could also be seen dripping from the mangled remains of the aircraft.

The police, which reached the crash site, kept at bay a large crowd of onlookers which had gathered there and put a cordon around the area. One vehicle parked outside the building into which the plane went down was also damaged.

About Sagar Pawan team:

The formal unveiling of the Sagar Pawan aerobatic team was done on 11 May 2003, on the occasion of celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Indian Naval Aviation in Kochi. Thereafter, the Sagar Pawans have performed in Kochi, Mumbai [ Images ], Vizag and Goa [ Images ] and has enthralled many an audience with their spectacular array of breathtaking combination aerobatic manoeuvres like loops, barrel rolls, upward rolls, high speed run, bomb burst and rotates.

In line with the Indian Air Force nine aircraft formation aerobatic team, Surya Kirans, the Sagar Pawan team also operates the indigenous HAL Kiran Mk II aircraft. The Kiran is a basic jet trainer built by Hindustan Aeronautical Limited.

source-rediff.com/news

REST IN PEACE

A naval aerobatic plane, flying in a formation during an airshow, crashed into a three-storeyed residential building in Hyderabad on Wednesday, killing two pilots and injuring seven persons on the ground.

The Kiran MK-II plane, which was part of the 'Sagar Pawan' aerobatic team participating in a display at the India [ Images ] Aviation show, crashed around noon, causing a loud bang in the New Bowenpally area, about 4 km from the Old Begumpet Airport.

Navy chief Nirmal Verma, who was in Bhopal, said the pilots had not ejected.

"So the possibility is either timewise there was a problem or they (the pilots) were making all efforts to ensure that damage is minimised to any civil area. They are no more," he said.

"The inputs that I have got is that about seven people are injured," he said, adding, "I have to wait for more information. It is premature for me to say what could have caused the crash at this stage."

The pilots were Commander S K Maurya and Lt. Commander Rahul Nair, a navy spokesman said in New Delhi [ Images ].

Nair belongs to Delhi.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner A K Khan said the plane crashed into the residential building, which had a cellphone tower on top. A car parked outside the building was smashed as one of the plane's wings fell on it.

The injured have been sent to a hospital, Khan said. Black smoke billowed from the building after the crash and firemen were seen at work. Fuel could also be seen dripping from the mangled remains of the aircraft. The third floor of the building had suffered major damage.

The police, which reached the crash site, kept at bay a large crowd of onlookers which had gathered there and put a cordon around the area.

A senior police officer, supervising the rescue operations, said the bodies of the pilots had been charred and one of those wounded on the ground had suffered burn injuries.

He said that one parachute found in the area had apparently not opened properly.

Formed in 2003, the Sagar Pawan team had last performed at a ceremony on February 19 in Goa [ Images ] to mark the induction of Russian-made MiG 29K combat aircraft of the navy.

It is one of the only two naval aerobatic teams in the world--the other being the 'Blue Angels' of the US Navy. It uses Kiran MK-II trainer aircraft based at the Indian Naval Air Station, Hansa in Goa.

This is the second mishap in three days involving aerobatic display teams of the Indian armed forces.

On February 27, advanced light helicopter Dhruv of IAF's 'Sarang' display team crash-landed in Jaisalmer due to loss of power while rehearsing for the Vayu Shakti air show, which had taken place in Pokhran the next day. No one was, however, injured.

An aircract of IAF's 'Surya Kiran' aerial display team, which also flies the Kiran MK-II planes, had met with an accident on January 21, last year, killing the pilot.

Another Surya Kiran aircraft had crashed on March 18, 2006 near its home base in Bidar during a training sortie, killing pilots Wing Commander Dheeraj Bhatia and Squadron Leader Shailender Singh.

In 2010, the IAF has lost two fighter aircraft --a MiG-27 and a MiG-21. Last year, the IAF had recorded 11 air mishaps, of which five involved MiG-21 aircraft.

Its a shame to see so many of India's pilots dying in these crashes. They need to increase training but is hard with the grounding of their trainers.

Vladimir79 wrote:Its a shame to see so many of India's pilots dying in these crashes. They need to increase training but is hard with the grounding of their trainers.

Bro!! The trainer planes are ageing(the plane that crashed was almost 35 yrs old)...Tthere was no pilot's fault at all..even they didnot eject just tried to deviate it frm residential area till end...they were very highly trained and experienced one..

MiG-27 aircraft of Indian Air Force crashes in Rajasthan

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, Nov 10, IRNA -- A MiG-27 fighter plane of the Indian Air Force (IAF) Wednesday crashed near Jodhpur in Rajasthan state shortly after it took off for a routine sortie.

The crash occurred 15 minutes after the aircraft took off from Jodhpur air base. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant A Patni who bailed out safely, had reported trouble in the aircraft, pti reported quoting a defence official as saying, adding there is no damage on the ground.

The IAF has ordered a court of inquiry into the mishap.

This is the Fourth Mig-27 crash. In February this year, the IAF's entire fleet of over 100 Mig 27s were grounded for technical inspection, after a pilot was killed in a crash near Siliguri in West Bengal.

2160**1394
Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30067660

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/india/2010/india-101110-irna01.htm

Pop open the Champagne, its time to celebrate? When the world is moving over to 5th Generation, a certain large country, was celebrating something else. A fighter designed by the country which even its Airforce is hesitant to induct in decent numbers. The fighter which was supposed to replace the good ol' Mig-21, but strangely still in development. After numerous prototypes & cost-overruns the fighter has now finally progressed to IOC.
But the specs of this fighter is not something to write home about.

It has a G Tolerance of only 6Gs. When compared its rivals, Pakistan's JF-17/FC-1 is 8Gs, and Mig-21(which it is supposed to replace) is 8.5Gs.

Its empty weight is a staggering 6540kgs. This is a fighter which is said to have composites extensively. Just leaves you wondering what kind of a low quality shitty composites its got to have a weight this heavy. The JF-17s(similar in size to the LCA) weigh, eventhough it has a metal body, is only 6586kgs and the Mig21s is 5460kgs.

Its Max angle of attack is only 22, compared to the Mig-21s Max AoA of 28 Degrees(recoverable).

Its radar is still under perpetual development. The Israelis were supposed to give their radar, but new news reports suggests they have pulled the plug. So LCA currently has no working radar.

Its new IN20 engine has a thrust of 19100lbf or 8660kgf of the new engine. It is also a superior engine to RD-93 on the JF-17 which has a thrust of only 18300lbf. But the Mig-21s Tumansky monster can throw out a jaw dropping 21829lbf during interception, and 15654lbf during dogfighting. However the MTBO, SFC and other parameters favor the LCAs engine. So the Indians have atleast one feather in their cap. Or do they? When all the parameters are shitty, this one alone stands out. So it seemed kinda strange, so I look up, and this engine which this LCA owes its life to was straight out of the General-Electric's industry right here!

Its max speed is unknown. While JF-17s is 1.6M and Mig-21s is 2.2M.

Its price is a staggering 1.9 billion Rupees or $41-42 million at the current exchange rate(fly away cost, not the cost with development taken into account). When compared to JF-17s $15 million and Mig-21s <$2 million.

Their development agency has promised these shitty specs will be improved to 8Gs, 24 Degrees, 1.8M, indigenous engine, dvd player and what not in, 3-4 years. But no one buys that crap(except rabid fanboys) given that when it took them almost 3 decades to get to these piss poor specs, its only logical to assume they need a miracle to improve their specs in such a short amount of time.

Their Airforce Chief came out with the truth that this plane isn't a 4th Generation plane but rather only a Mig-21 on steroids. Perhaps he should have checked the specs first. But then again the Foreign engine and foreign Radar is indeed state of the art. He must have kept these 2 components in minds when he said that.

With such a shitty specs my heart goes out to the brave souls who would be flying this junk. It really lives up to its name - Least Combat Aircraft!

Well lets be a bit more honest... when three countries in the world have displayed 5th gen fighters or prototypes of such aircraft, a country that doesn't have a long history of building its own aircraft has developed a complex and expensive item called a fighter aircraft.

Simply comparing empty weights tells you very little about an aircraft you need to know rather more about it before passing judgement.

To be brutally honest most countries never get what they really need, which is a cheap light modest performance aircraft that is cheap to fly and own, and can use modern weapons.

If it is you only aircraft then it will need to be very good. If you are spending billions on a 5th gen stealth fighter then the LCA does not need to be a bleeding edge fighter. It can be a cheap simple fighter able to carry a good weapon load over a reasonable distance.

If top speed is so important why is it so rarely used?

Flying at Mach 2.2 burns up enormous amounts of fuel very quickly and can only be done at relatively high altitudes... there is a reason why the F-16 can only fly at a top speed of Mach-2 and the later F/A-18 at Mach 1.8.

LCA was meant to be a cheap Indian knockoff of a Mirage-2000. That failed miserably about as bad as JF-17 was supposed to compete with an F-16. Israel blocks sales for any AESA, but they are still selling the PESA used on their Sufa F-16s. That radar is going to be superior to JF-17 and will likely use Derby BVRAAM. LCA being a better bomber with Israeli pods and more survivable. Of course the more pods you carry, the less ordinance.

KRON1 wrote:LCA was meant to be a cheap Indian knockoff of a Mirage-2000. That failed miserably about as bad as JF-17 was supposed to compete with an F-16. Israel blocks sales for any AESA, but they are still selling the PESA used on their Sufa F-16s. That radar is going to be superior to JF-17 and will likely use Derby BVRAAM. LCA being a better bomber with Israeli pods and more survivable. Of course the more pods you carry, the less ordinance.

Sir you are very misinformed.
JF-17 isn't meant to substitute our front-line fighters I.e F-16. NOwhere we ever stated to pit it against F-16. The notion behind JF-17 is that it can replace our aging Sabres & aging Mirages(~much like HAL Tejas, though they fauiled we WON) of which the procurement of missiles & related stuff from WEST is the evil politics!!

The issues with the LCA are unimportant really... it all comes down to what they are armed with and the R-73 is a good proven missile.

When the T-50 gets closer to production the Indians will likely introduce a newer short range AAM with much better performance like the lock on after launch 9M100 Morfei which will make close in dogfights relatively pointless so the fact that they saved some money making it a 6 g fighter instead of a more expensive stronger 8-9 g fighter is a good planning move.

Top speed and altitude start to be important issues when you look at BVR missile performance because the same missile fired from low level at subsonic speeds will have less range and terminal performance than the same missile fired at higher altitude during a short burst into supersonic flight.

Obviously the missile can compensate for the aircraft so a Mig-29SMT firing an R-37 (the R-37 is supposed to be able to be carried by all new generation Russian fighters... not just the Mig-31M and BM) will be in a better position engaging an AWACs aircraft than an F-16 with the latest model AMRAAM at high altitude and supersonic speed firing back at the Mig simply because the R-37 flys at Mach 6+ and has a longer range than AMRAAM in any launch profile.

This is not to say the LCA is some super fighter... it will likely spend most of its time operating with other aircraft as a bomb truck carrying guided bombs and a targeting pod and a couple of jamming pods and a couple of AAMs for self defence.

My whole point is
Tejas have failed for the purpose being built;doesnt the word LCA appeals??

They needed a light attack fighter which they miserably failed to proof & then turned to French Dassault to lighten-up their design..
BANGALORE (PTI): Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik has said the indigenously manufactured Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) would be an advanced version of the MiG 21 fighters, which have been the mainstay of the force and are on their way to be phased out in near future.

"Considering the technologies involved, it (LCA Mk II) will be a MiG 21 + + aircraft and it will render yeoman service to the IAF," he said when asked about his assessment of the aircraft.
The IAF chief was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function to grant Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) to the LCA here.

The Russian-origin MiG 21s started being inducted into the IAF in the 1960s and despite their old technology, continue to be in operation to date and are expected to be phased out by the IAF in near future.

The DRDO is developing a more capable version of the LCA called the Mk II, which is expected to be ready by the end of December 2014.

Asked if the present version of the aircraft could be called a fourth generation aircraft, as DRDO was claiming it to be, the IAF chief said with future developments, it could become one but was not so at the moment.

Explaining the parameters on which he called the LCA Mk II as MiG 21 + + aircraft, the Naik said, "This means first in endurance, second in performance, third in load carrying, fourth is the number of weapons it can deliver. Fifth is the weight with which it can navigate with and the vintage of the aircraft or avionics and sixth is radar."

Asked to compare the aircraft with its contemporaries, Naik said it would be just short of Swedish Gripen NG single engine aircraft.

On the role to be played by the LCAs in the IAF, he said an air force requires high, medium and low end aircraft to perform its tasks and the indigenous fighter would be used to fill in the gaps at the "medium and low" level.

IAF has placed orders for 40 LCAs in IOC mode and is expected to procure another 160 LCA Mk II later in the decade

Tejas have failed for the purpose being built;doesnt the word LCA appeals??

Not really.

It was supposed to be a numbers aircraft and replace the Mig-21 and other aircraft.

They were 3rd gen aircraft which when upgraded might be classed as 3+ gen.

The LCA in its first version would be a 4- gen and with improvements will become a 4th gen aircraft.

It will be a locally produced aircraft with some foreign parts, which puts it a step up from the Mig-21 which was a foreign aircraft locally assembled.

It is actually something the Russians could do with to be honest... a cheap to operate fighter with modern weapons a modern radar and a modest performance...

The F-16 was supposed to be a day fighter with excellent radar a couple of sidewinders and a couple of bombs and a fuel tank. In the end they spent lots more money on the damn thing and gave it all sorts of rubbish it didn't need and it ended up being as expensive as the aircraft it was supposed to replace in enormous numbers because it was supposed to be cheap.

Not to say the F-16 is a bad aircraft but when push came to shove at the end of the Cold War and it was tested face to face with the Mig-29 it was found that 62% of the time the F-16 out manouvered the Mig-29 in close combat. Unfortunately for the F-16 however in 100% of the cases the Mig-29 was able to launch an R-73 using its high off boresight seeker with helmet mounted sights before the F-16 was able to get on the Migs tail and fire... and of course the Mig could have launched missiles at the F-16 at longer range to as it actually had BVR missiles, unlike the F-16 at the time.

What I am trying to say is that the high g performance would not have saved the F-16 in combat with an aircraft with a missile like R-73 and a helmet mounted sight, and it wouldn't have been much use in a BVR missile duel either.

Hollywood movies showing planes dodging missiles is rubbish... missiles don't fly up behind targets like they do in X men 2, most of them are flying faster than rifle bullets travel.

Russia may deliver first upgraded MiG to India in 2011

RIA Novosti

17:37 09/02/2011

NEW DELHI, February 9 (RIA Novosti) - Russia could deliver the first modernized MiG-29 fighter jet to India as early as in 2011, the head of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) said on Wednesday.

India signed a $960 million contract with Russia in 2008 to upgrade its five squadrons of 69 MiG-29 fighters, which have been in service with the Indian Air Force (IAF) since mid-1980s.

"The first upgraded plane, I think, will be delivered in 2011," Mikhail Pogosyan said on the sidelines of the Aero India 2011 air show, which opened on Wednesday in Bangalore.

"The whole upgrade program will be carried out on schedule agreed with the Indian side, and it will take several years to implement it," Pogosyan said.

The 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.

The upgraded aircraft will be armed with sophisticated air-to-air missiles, high-accuracy air-to-ground missiles and 'smart aerial' bombs.

In 2007, Russia also sold 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.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/india/2011/india-110209-rianovosti01.htm

With all the new components this will make these aircraft much more capable, while also reducing their operating costs as it is cheaper and easier to maintain new equipment than old equipment.

The weapons could also be unified with the Flanker fleet as well as the Mig-29s weapon set is a subset of the Flankers weapon set. The Flanker of course being able to carry much heavier weapons like the 1,500kg guided bombs.

February 4, 2011 at the airport Flight Research Institute named after MM Gromov in Zhukovsky near Moscow hosted the first flight of the head of the upgraded fighter Indian Air Force MiG-29UPG (tail number KBU3301). The flight lasted about an hour and passed without comment. The plane was piloted by the head of flight services - senior test pilot MiG Mikhail Belyaev.
Work on this program made the Russian Aircraft Corporation "MiG" under the contract signed March 7, 2008, and providing comprehensive modernization of the entire fleet of MiG-29, consisting currently in service with the Indian Air Force. A total revision will be subjected to 62 aircraft, including several double combat-capable MiG-29UB. As a result of modernization, they will have modern avionics and extensive range of weaponry. Moreover, thanks to refinements of airframe and power plant will increase considerably and service life and will be translated plane on condition maintenance. Fuel on board will increase by applying superimposed fuselage tank for the cockpit. Simultaneously, the aircraft doosnaschaetsya system in-flight refueling.
In general, the concept of modernization of India's MiG-29 corresponds to the adopted for the MiG-29SMT held from 2009 to the Air Forces of Russia and has successfully mastered the Russian military pilots. Simultaneously, the composition of airborne equipment and weapons provides a high level of commonality with shipborne fighter MiG-29K/KUB taken at the Naval Forces of India February 19, 2010 When building a complex avionics upgraded MiG-29UPG on the customer realized the integration of production systems in different countries (so-called "international board"). A similar experience has already been received and worked well when the Russian-Indian contract on the modernization of MiG-21UPG Bison, design and construction of the Su-30MKI and MiG-29K/KUB.
The basis of armament control system of the upgraded MiG-29UPG is a new "Zhuk-M2E with slot array design and production corporation Phazotron-NIIR and optical-location station OLS-UEM with a laser, thermal, and televisions in the development of Institute of Semiconductor Devices (similar radar and infrared detection system used on MiG-29K/KUB). Information-control field crew cabin is built on multi-color liquid crystal display. "International" segment includes avionics Helmet-mounted target designation system the French company Thales, inertial-satellite navigation system with French company Sagem, as well as the Indian station and Israeli electronic intelligence station interference (similar systems are used to MiG-29K/KUB).
The main armament of the upgraded MiG-29UPG - such as the MiG-29SMT and MiG-29K/KUB: Unlike mass-produced MiG-29, supplemented by a missile air-to-air medium-range missiles with active radar homing type of RVV-AE as well as high-precision hitting the ground and sea targets - missile general purpose X-29T with a TV seeker, anti-ship missiles Kh-31A active radar GSN, anti-radar missiles Kh-31P with passive CSG responsive bombs KAB-500Kr with a television and homing etc.
MiG-29 are in service with the Indian Air Force since 1987 in total in this country during the second half of the 80's to mid 90's. was delivered 80 such planes, including about 70 single MiG-29 (option B) and a dozen double MiG-29UB. Deliveries of the first batch of 44 fighters began in 1987, the second party (26 cars) placed In 1989, a third (10 cars) - in 1994. MiG-29 are deployed in three squadrons Indian Air Force: December 1987 - 28 th and 47 th and from November 1989 - 223 th. According to the Indian website warbirds.in, at 11 Indian MiG-29 (including one MiG-29UB) were lost during the period from 1994 to 2008. in flight accidents (known at least four of the seven crashes and accidents). According to the weekly magazine "Flight International, the beginning of 2011 the Air Forces of India are 69 fighters of this type.
In accordance with the contract, the first six Indian MiG-29 (four single and two "Sparky") will be finalizing and testing in Russia, they came to this country from India in 2008, the remaining 56 aircraft will undergo upgrades directly to the customer site, on production capacity of 11 th Indian Air Force repair depot, using the supplied from Russia sets. As reported on Feb. 9 at the air show, Aero India 2011 in Bangalore, General Director - General Designer of RSK "MiG" Mikhail Pogosyan, after completion of testing in this year's first modernized MiG-29 UPG will be refunded to the customer.

Reminds me of the first MIG-29K pic from few years back only with little less composites on its surface.

Basically its purpose is as an upgrade for older model Mig-29s to allow them to use a lot of the equipment and systems of the Mig-29K which is based on the Mig-29M body.

Pretty much they are attempting to make their Air Force Mig-29s as similar as they can in terms of avionics, radar, sights, weapons, engines, etc etc to their Navies Mig-29K2s presumably to reduce support costs and perhaps combine support efforts in terms of allowing parts purchases to be combined to save money in bulk purchases, and of course training in support.

I think it makes a lot of sense and something that so rarely happens these days because most military arms are so keen to stay separate and any merging of effort could lead to other cost savings they don't want.


Considering the Russian Navy is buying Mig-29K2s as well there is potential for this upgrade to be applied to Russian AF Mig-29s that are not worn out. In many ways it adds SMT upgrades to the basic Mig-29 design but it also adds commonality with the Navy as well for the same benefits the Indian AF and Navy will be getting.

It would be a good way of significantly improving performance and keeping aircraft numbers without having to spend a fortune on brand new aircraft.

Mig29UPG

http://aviaforum.ru/attachment.php?attachmentid=256713&d=1312387649

Notice jammer on right vertical fin.

Interesting photo... thanks.

They will send the last 5 Mig-29Ks this year of the 16 ordered in 2004 as part of the Gorshkov deal.
This will free up capacity to start on the new Indian Navy order from 2010 for 29 and the new Russian AF order for 22-26 new Mig-29Ks.
The new Indian Migs from this second batch will start being delivered in 2012.