MiG 21s to be phased out from 2014

[Yusuf]

MiG-21 being phased out: Defence minister Antony

NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force has initiated the process to phase out MiG-21 fighter aircraft, defence minister A K Antony told the Lok Sabha on Monday.

The MiG-21 aircraft are in their final phase of service and in the process of phase-out, he said answering supplementaries in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour.

Antony said the IAF maintains a mix of old and new aircraft in its fleet and each plane has a life span of 30-40 years.

The minister dismissed criticism over the crash of Kiran trainer aircraft during an airshow at Begumpet airfield in Hyderabad in March. He said the Kiran aircraft was inducted in the Navy in 1985 and the fleet has reported only three accidents in the past 25 years. All accidents are taken seriously by the government.

On compensation to crash victims, minister of state for Defence M M Pallam Raju said it would be awarded by the Navy on completion of the Court of Inquiry.

In the interim period, as a precaution, one time check of the engine and flying controls of the entire Kiran fleet of the Indian Navy has been undertaken, the minister said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...fence-minister-Antony/articleshow/5831487.cms

 

[BunBunCake]

Wait, are they going to phase out the Mig-21bis also??
I thought they were going to stay in service till 2020.

Well, good move anyways... now to get rid of the Jaguars and Mig-27's.

 

[A.V.]

so finally its being done one way its good another way is where are the replacements?
can the mig21 workman like capabilities be replaced effectively? time is ripe to increase the rate of induction at any cost replacing the whole fleet would be a big mess anyway the BIS wont be phased out as of now i guess still the need is to fast tract the LCA anyhow and look for next variants of the LCA quicker than originally projected

anyways salute to one of the best fighters of its time although criticized to no end

 

[bhramos]

may be not Bison model,
they were just upgraded. to stay until FGFA/ PAKFA arrives or last till 2020......

 

[Yusuf]

I think the Bisons and bis will stay. Rest will go. I think this may also hint at the number of MRCA to go up. I think the timing of the announcement is well in time for the final prices to be worked out for all parties.

 

[ppgj]

Well, good move anyways... now to get rid of the Jaguars and Mig-27's.

no chance my friend and don't write them off just yet. most of our jaguars have been updated to Darin 2 status. there is move to upgrade the engines too with Rolls Royce and Honeywell slugging it out. there is a Darin 3 upgrade too in the pipeline. an interesting read -

As the small green dots approached closer on the radar screen, the Indian officer sitting deep inside USS Nimitz knew it was too late to save the ship. Jaguar maritime fighters of the Indian Air Force (IAF), operating from the Car Nicobar air base, had managed to come dangerously within striking range to successfully launch anti-ship missiles on the super carrier.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/i...f18s-return-the-favour-to-ins-viraat/215163/0

take a look at the jaguar story here -

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Aircraft/Current/607-Jaguar-25.html

besides the some 40 mig 27's have already been upgraded too. go through this -

http://livefist.blogspot.com/2009/01/dare-completes-iaf-mig-27-upgrade.html

there is still lot of life in them and after the recent upgrades - are quite potent and will serve IAF well. possibly with MRCA coming online and LCA's production picking up, the older ones will retire gracefully and incrementally.

 

[Rebelkid]

The IAF currently operates a little over 200 MiG-21s. Of these, 121 have been upgraded to the Bison version and are likely to fly till 2017, an IAF source said. [QUOTE/]

they will phase out the non upgraded MIg-21's..around 80-90 of them in next 2-3 years

 

[Armand2REP]

Indian Air Force phasing out MiG-21s: Antony
April 19th, 2010 - 3:42 pm ICT by IANS Tell a Friend -

New Delhi, April 19 (IANS) The Indian Air Force (IAF) is gradually phasing out its older MiG-21 combat jets, many of which have been lost in crashes, parliament was informed Monday.

"The MiG-21 is a very old aircraft. It is now in the process of being phased out," Defence Minister A.K. Antony said during question hour in the Lok Sabha.

"The normal life of an aircraft is 30-34 years," he added.

The IAF currently operates a little over 200 MiG-21s. Of these, 121 have been upgraded to the Bison version and are likely to fly till 2017, an IAF source said.

The remaining 80-90 aircraft will be phased out in the next two-three years, the source added, requesting anonymity.

The IAF first acquired MiG-21 Between 1966 and 1984, the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) built four variants of the aircraft, initially from completely knocked down kits and eventually from Indian-made components for a total of 658 planes.

In the mid-1990s, despite a series of crashes, the IAF decided to upgrade 121 planes of the fourth variant, the MiG-21bis, to the Bison category.

The complete phase out of the MiG-21 was also linked to the acquisition of new aircraft, the IAF source pointed out.

Towards this end, the IAF will induct two squadrons - 16 aircraft each - of the indigenous Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) and another six squadrons of the plane within six years.

Then, the IAF will, by the end of April, complete its evaluation of the six jets contending for its order of 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) in a deal worth $10 billion.

"If all goes well, we should be able to zero in on the winner within 18 months, with the first aircraft arriving about a year after that," the IAF source said.

Around the time production of the MiG-21 seized, the IAF had felt the need for a suitable replacement and made known its requirements for a LCA to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The first LCA prototype flew in 2000 but there are still major glitches with its engine which are in the process of being ironed out.

Even so, the IAF is known to be not entirely happy with the aircraft, which is why is had ordered a mere six squadrons.

The delays in the LCA project prompted the IAF to embark on the MMRCA programme.

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal...rce-phasing-out-mig-21s-antony_100350172.html

 

[Armand2REP]

So it doesn't look like there are going to be any extra squadrons created after buying LCA and MRCA as they are meant as a unit replacement of MiG-21s. The only extra builds are coming from the MKIs but there is coming a point soon where the MiG-27s and Jaguars will have to retire. MKIs would replace those numbers and then some, add some FGFA and you get more squadrons but IAF is going to be in a declining state if LCA, MRCA get dragged out and if MKI production doesn't increase substantially. The only way to keep up squadron numbers is to drag out the lives of MiG-21bis, MiG-27, and Jaguars well into 2020.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

India should gift these to India friendly countries who share common interests with us.

 

[SATISH]

LF these birds have been flown to its limits. And they will be put in reserves incase of war.

 

[Yusuf]

India should gift these to India friendly countries who share common interests with us.

We will be accused of selling coffins to friendly countries and damage our good relations with them. LoL

 

[LETHALFORCE]

We will be accused of selling coffins to friendly countries and damage our good relations with them. LoL

ok then how about India unfriendly countries.LOL

 

[Rebelkid]

So it doesn't look like there are going to be any extra squadrons created after buying LCA and MRCA as they are meant as a unit replacement of MiG-21s. The only extra builds are coming from the MKIs but there is coming a point soon where the MiG-27s and Jaguars will have to retire. MKIs would replace those numbers and then some, add some FGFA and you get more squadrons but IAF is going to be in a declining state if LCA, MRCA get dragged out and if MKI production doesn't increase substantially. The only way to keep up squadron numbers is to drag out the lives of MiG-21bis, MiG-27, and Jaguars well into 2020.

yeah but considering the fact, we will be having a fully modern airforce by 2020. even though we may have only same number of aircraft's we will definitely be far more powerful

 

[LETHALFORCE]

yeah but considering the fact, we will be having a fully modern airforce by 2020. even though we may have only same number of aircraft's we will definitely be far more powerful

How will we have the same number of aircraft when we are adding atleast 2-3 new platforms and retiring one so far?? The number of aircraft will be much higher Mirages and MIG-29 have also been upgraded and Jaguars may still be in service just for political reasons alone.

 

[Rebelkid]

How will we have the same number of aircraft when we are adding atleast 2-3 new platforms and retiring one so far?? The number of aircraft will be much higher Mirages and MIG-29 have also been upgraded and Jaguars may still be in service just for political reasons alone.

by 2020 200 Mig 21's willbe out of service and maybe the MIg-27's too...adding another 126 MRCA and (i heard 200 Tejas by 2020 but i dough thats is possible)...but thats good none the less

 

[LETHALFORCE]

by 2020 200 Mig 21's willbe out of service and maybe the MIg-27's too...adding another 126 MRCA and (i heard 200 Tejas by 2020 but i dough thats is possible)...but thats good none the less

you are forgetting sukhois are being produced 2-3 monthly and PAKFA 200 are ordered by India how many will be delivered by 2020 is uncertain?

 

[Armand2REP]

yeah but considering the fact, we will be having a fully modern airforce by 2020. even though we may have only same number of aircraft's we will definitely be far more powerful

Just getting MRCA would double the effectiveness of the current IAF. But if the stated goal is to also increase squadron numbers, or just keep current levels, there is going to be a huge shortfall after 2017 when all MiG-21s will be withdrawn. MRCA and LCA production will have to be able to match the withdrawal of 200 MiG-21s by 2017. MRCA induction isn't likely to get started until 2014 and LCA in a similar time frame. You are looking at a 100 plane gap unless you count MKI production which will still be a squadron lower than current levels. The stated goal is to increase squadron numbers but by 2017 there will be fewer unless you count Navy squadrons.

 

[Armand2REP]

you are forgetting sukhois are being produced 2-3 monthly and PAKFA 200 are ordered by India how many will be delivered by 2020 is uncertain?

Please show me where MKIs are being produced 24-36 a year. Last I checked it was 14.

 

[Yusuf]

Yes its 12 a year. The IAF has asked HAL to reach a target of i think 16-18 a year.