The Indian Air Force, which has been operating MiG-29s for over 20 years, has three operational squadrons with the type. According to well informed sources, the IAF has its own system of regular maintenance and stringent technical checks and its MiG-29s continue in frontline service even as the upgradation programme is underway in Russia. Apart from this, in January 2009 RAC “MiG”, for the purpose of prompt notification of the IAF, forwarded a methodic for inspection of critical zones of the aircraft fins.
As concerns the new MiG-29K / KUB carrier-based aircraft, these have been designed and produced in full consideration of the maritime conditions in which they will be operated. These aircraft have been suitably ‘marinised’ and there is no question of any defects in the airframe structure even during the aircraft long term storage.” Indian Naval aircrew are presently converting to this type in Russia.”
Now that’s nice to know
After learning that USD 1600 billion is stashed away in secret Swiss banking accounts by the Indians – and a lot of it due to dubious defense procurement – I am wondering how much of our armaments is really “fighting fit?”.
Whether the fighters have been suitably “marinized” is open to question?
long live the MiG-29KUB…….it’s far superior than anything the west has to offer
thanks for that update shiv, good job.
to shiv and other friends
if US can convert it f15 into stealthy aircraft by building four internal bays and there was need to change airframe structure to build internal bays and this is something like offering old wine in new bottle
then su30mki,mig29,29k,35 can also b converted into stealthy aircraft without changing aircraft structure
there is ample centreline space
between airintakes,just need to build removable composite bay which will house weapons internally
and which can fit in the centreline space between air intakes
also build carbon composite radar blockers caps for airintakes for
su30,mig29,35.
in this way su30 can house upto 8 missiles in bay and mig29,35 can carry 4-6 missiles internally and apply RAM coatings on all of airframe
doing this is much harder on rafale,typhoon,f18,gripen,lca because engines in these aircraft r close to each other but su30,
mig29,35 have space between engines and building internal bays requires much more redesign and structure change in these aircraft compared to at no cost for su30,
mig29,35
so in this way RCS of mig29,35 can be reduced to significantly less than 1 meter square and composite bay can house 4-6 missiles and PGMs internally it will provide capability of JSF and this can be done in just 2-3 years
so better buy mig35 and build composite bay for centre line space,make composite radar blockers,apply RAM COATINGS and make it stealthy like americans did with f15 and stealthy mig35 will cost no more than $ 50 million per aircraft
all this provides first shoot capability against j10,f16,fc-1
also no need to build MCA(it is just like reinventing wheel)when mig29,35,su30 can be converted in stealthy aircrafts in just 2-3 years and going for whole new research for MCA makes no sense
Russia has withdrawn 90 nos mig29 with some problems in structural , these problems could be easily solved with help from mig corporation , to stop depletion in indian IAF , india can purchase these 90 mig29 & with help from mig corp it will be easily solved , normally for getting 90 nos jets india will take to purchase it for around 15 to 20 strong years, so buying these mig's we can get Immediately and also we can stop deflections in sqn's level in IAF, and more over russian mig's are agile than indian mig's .
'Every is possible ' in this world , only the thing we should need TRUE PATRIOTISM .