Article Posted on : - Oct 04, 2009

A File Photo of MiG-29K

NEW DELHI (BNS): India is on the threshold of ordering fresh batch of MiG-29Ks from Russia.

According to The Times Of India, fresh order for 29 more MiG-29Ks from Russia for around Rs 5,380 crore (around $1.12 billion) will soon be sent to the Cabinet Committee of Security for the final approval.

"India wanted the MiG-29Ks to be proven in carrier-deck operations before inking the follow-on order for 29 more fighters. It was critical. Now, only a few weapon trials of MiG-29Ks are left,'' said a source.

Defence ministry sources said these aircrafts will be in addition to 16 MiG-29Ks already contracted through the initial $1.5-billion Admiral Gorshkov package deal, which earmarked $974 million for the aircraft carrier's refit and the rest for the fighters, inked in January 2004, as per the report.

The Mikoyan MiG-29K is an all-weather carrier-based multirole fighter aircraft developed in Russia.

The MiG-29K multirole carrier-based fighter is designed to air cover the ship grouping, gain air superiority and destroy sea surface and ground targets with guided high-precision weapons, day and night, in any weather. The aircraft is optimised for deployment on carriers of medium water displacement.