Article Posted on : - Aug 03, 2009

A File Photo

BANGALORE (BNS): Another mega Indo-Russian defence project is likely to be delayed after the multi-billion dollar Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier deal, a media report said.

The Hindu Sunday said the Indian Air Force (IAF) is worried over the likely delay in the MiG-29 upgrade programme.

“For the IAF already facing a serious depletion of fighter squadrons owing to a number of aircraft being ‘number plated,’ delay in deliveries of the frontline MiG-29 could mean compromising India’s air superiority,” it said.

India and Russia had signed a contract of nearly $850 million in March 2008 to upgrade MiG 29. “The MiG-29 was to have been upgraded from an interceptor and air superiority aircraft to a fighter-bomber capable of striking mobile and stationary targets on the ground and at sea with high-precision weapons under all weather conditions.”

With this upgrade the aircraft will become a multi role combat aircraft thus providing a edge for the IAF.

The daily quoting officials from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) said it will take at least eight months for the first upgraded aircraft to arrive due to delay by the IAF in finalising the ‘buyer furnished equipment.’

As per the contract, 54 single-seat fighters and eight trainers are being refurbished. The first upgraded MiG-29 was scheduled to fly into India in March 2010. Under the contract, the IAF have to indicate to Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG (RSK MiG) the list of equipment and their physical dimensions that they want fitted on the upgraded MiG-29’s.

The upgrade programme had also run into rough weather last year after a Russian Air Force MiG-29 crashed in December. The upgrade will allow the IAF to extend the life of the MiG-29 from 25 years (and 2,500 hours) to 40 years (3,500 hours), the report said.