IAF set to place orders for 21 MiG-29 jets from Russia by Dec to shore up aircraft strength
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to place an order with Russia for 21 twin-engine MiG-29 jets by December, ThePrint has learnt.
Of the 1980s vintage, the jets are no longer in production but 21 airframes built then remain in Russia. Top sources in the security and defence establishment said the jets purchased by India will be upgraded to the latest version before they arrive here.
The purchase comes as the IAF faces a depleting force strength due to its fleet of legacy aircraft and budgetary constraints.
The IAF, the sources said, will first place orders for the MiG-29, and then go in for another 12 Su-30 MKI, which are being manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under licence from Russia.
The IAF is also expected to soon place a long-pending order for the indigenous 83 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mark 1A.
“We have completed the discussions with Russia. We are getting the MiG-29s at a very good price. We will soon finalise it. The order for the 12 additional Su-30 MKI will be placed with HAL after this,” a source said, refusing to get into the pricing details.
India and Russia have been in talks for the purchase of more MiG-29 jets since last year.
The Mig-29 airframes have been lying with Moscow since the late 1980s but have never been flown. The sources said a study conducted on the airframes had found them in good condition.
“The airframes are in good quality. They will now fit all the equipment and other systems as part of the deal,” the source quoted above said.
Dwindling numbers
The decision to purchase the aircraft comes amid a dwindling fighter aircraft strength in the IAF and budgetary constraints that make it difficult for the force to get new aircraft in the numbers it wants.
While the sanctioned strength of the IAF is 42 squadrons of fighters, the current strength is 30.
At his annual press conference Monday, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria said even if all acquisition plans are put in motion with strict timelines, he would be happy if the strength reaches 36-37 squadrons in the next decade.
He was also very candid about the challenge of budgetary constraints, saying their effect may not be felt immediately but will be in the future.
“Budgetary constraints will be there. It is not affecting us today. It will have an effect in due course if we don’t put the contracts in place,” he had said.
India currently has three squadrons of the MiG-29 — a twin-engine single-seat air superiority fighter aircraft. One squadron comprises 18 aircraft and all of them are currently being upgraded in-house by the IAF.
The aircraft is undergoing structural as well as avionics upgrade, besides being equipped with a new weapons package.
With the new air-to-air refuelling feature, an upgraded MiG-29 can cover larger distances compared to the previous aircraft, something the IAF is keen on, keeping in mind the possibility of a two-front war scenario.
The upgraded MiG-29s have all the latest features, including a glass cockpit with digital screens.
The upgraded aircraft can also do air-to-ground, air-to-air and even anti-shipping operations.
IAF set to place orders for 21 MiG-29 jets from Russia by Dec to shore up aircraft strength
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to place an order with Russia for 21 twin-engine MiG-29 jets by December, ThePrint has learnt.
Of the 1980s vintage, the jets are no longer in production but 21 airframes built then remain in Russia. Top sources in the security and defence establishment said the jets purchased by India will be upgraded to the latest version before they arrive here.
The purchase comes as the IAF faces a depleting force strength due to its fleet of legacy aircraft and budgetary constraints.
The IAF, the sources said, will first place orders for the MiG-29, and then go in for another 12 Su-30 MKI, which are being manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under licence from Russia.
The IAF is also expected to soon place a long-pending order for the indigenous 83 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mark 1A.
“We have completed the discussions with Russia. We are getting the MiG-29s at a very good price. We will soon finalise it. The order for the 12 additional Su-30 MKI will be placed with HAL after this,” a source said, refusing to get into the pricing details.
India and Russia have been in talks for the purchase of more MiG-29 jets since last year.
The Mig-29 airframes have been lying with Moscow since the late 1980s but have never been flown. The sources said a study conducted on the airframes had found them in good condition.
“The airframes are in good quality. They will now fit all the equipment and other systems as part of the deal,” the source quoted above said.
Dwindling numbers
The decision to purchase the aircraft comes amid a dwindling fighter aircraft strength in the IAF and budgetary constraints that make it difficult for the force to get new aircraft in the numbers it wants.
While the sanctioned strength of the IAF is 42 squadrons of fighters, the current strength is 30.
At his annual press conference Monday, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria said even if all acquisition plans are put in motion with strict timelines, he would be happy if the strength reaches 36-37 squadrons in the next decade.
He was also very candid about the challenge of budgetary constraints, saying their effect may not be felt immediately but will be in the future.
“Budgetary constraints will be there. It is not affecting us today. It will have an effect in due course if we don’t put the contracts in place,” he had said.
India currently has three squadrons of the MiG-29 — a twin-engine single-seat air superiority fighter aircraft. One squadron comprises 18 aircraft and all of them are currently being upgraded in-house by the IAF.
The aircraft is undergoing structural as well as avionics upgrade, besides being equipped with a new weapons package.
With the new air-to-air refuelling feature, an upgraded MiG-29 can cover larger distances compared to the previous aircraft, something the IAF is keen on, keeping in mind the possibility of a two-front war scenario.
The upgraded MiG-29s have all the latest features, including a glass cockpit with digital screens.
The upgraded aircraft can also do air-to-ground, air-to-air and even anti-shipping operations.
IAF set to place orders for 21 MiG-29 jets from Russia by Dec to shore up aircraft strength
Indian Force Modernization: A Threat to Strategic Stability in South Asia
Hans J Morgenthau in his classical work of Politics Among Nations stated that the aspiration for power on part of several nations
moderndiplomacy.eu
Don’t propagate Pakistani propaganda outlet. This blog is just another ISPR extension.Indian Force Modernization: A Threat to Strategic Stability in South Asia
Hans J Morgenthau in his classical work of Politics Among Nations stated that the aspiration for power on part of several nations
@Ashwin (or any mod online) please look into this. It’s a dummy Foreign Policy copy from Heera Mandi corp.
Well Truth be Told ,
There is a thing called operational Secrecy
And I DO NOT believe the Following statements
1 ) Indian Navy has only 15 Submarines
2) Indian Airforce has only 32 squadrons
3) Indian Army has Only 1.3 Million soldiers or that we dont have enough artillery
If India was really as weak as it is portrayed , Then China and Pakistan would have easily conquered it by Now
Bro better is to copy post it here instead of diverting internet traffic to propaganda sites. Nothing wrong with posting anything otherwise.
Dude all of the above are true... There would be no reason to conceal something like numbers of aircraft or arty. China is hesitant because they'll get squeamish about losses. Galwan proved that. The best time to confront China is now. The next best time is 2030, and they ain't gonna wait till then..
Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria interview: 'Indigenisation essential for strategic development'
Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria, who completed one in year office recently, tells Onmanorama in an interview that these are.Indian Air Force Day. IAF Day. IAF Chief. Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria. IAF's 88th anniversary. Onmanorama. Manorama Online
www.onmanorama.com
A significant part of China is out of range of Indian fighter bombers. Air refueling is not possible in enemy territory. Chinese bombers can reach much deeper inside India. The three major powers continue to develop future bombers. China will have a stealth bomber in near future. Larger bombers have greater real-estate onboard and will have greater power resource for both electronic warfare and to deploy directed energy weapons. A bomber can help India take the war deeper into enemy territory. It can be a bigger deterrent. Can India’s fighter-bombers, surface-to-surface missiles, and Cruise missiles stand-in for bombers remains a moot question. If it was so true then the major powers need not develop bombers. Also both India and China are large countries, therefore it may be of interest for India to have a bomber of its own. The bombers will carry a large complement of cruise missiles, both for land attack and anti shipping roles. They will be a great asset for dominance of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). One can expect India and China to maintain adversarial relations for some time to come. China will continue to use surplus resources to befriend India’s neighbours. A strategic bomber would be significant deterrent.
Options for India
Chinese bombers would remain a real threat for India in decades to come. If India has to become a significant power in the long run, it must develop bombers. Bombers as a platform can combine more roles. The future is in Directed Energy Weapons (DEW). A bomber class aircraft will have greater potential. A bomber could also become a platform for launching small satellites. Currently the IAF is down to 30 fighter squadrons. With current defence budgets, it could take nearly two decades and lots of money to reach back to the authorised 42 squadrons. India would also need funds for the fifth-generation fighters. Modern bombers are costly to acquire and maintain. Yet major powers see the investment as important. The American bombers are likely to be very expensive. Some defence analysts have been suggesting acquiring or joining in the development of the Russian stealth bomber PAK-DA. The only other source would be th Americans. India will have to consider acquiring some strategic bombing assets, at least 20 of them.
important part of that article
The Strategic Bomber – Necessity or Luxury – Hello India
With Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) H-6 bombers positioned in large numbers at Kashgar, and also a few at Hotan, both in Xinjiang, not too far from the Ladakh border, it i…
airpowerasia.com
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