In the air - the first MiG-29UPG

sayareakd

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In the air - the first MiG-29UPG







February 4, 2011 at the airport Flight Research Institute named after MM Gromov in Zhukovsky near Moscow hosted the first flight of the head of the upgraded fighter Indian Air Force MiG-29UPG (tail number KBU3301). The flight lasted about an hour and passed without comment. The plane was piloted by the head of flight services - senior test pilot MiG Mikhail Belyaev.
Work on this program made the Russian Aircraft Corporation "MiG" under the contract signed March 7, 2008, and providing comprehensive modernization of the entire fleet of MiG-29, consisting currently in service with the Indian Air Force. A total revision will be subjected to 62 aircraft, including several double combat-capable MiG-29UB. As a result of modernization, they will have modern avionics and extensive range of weaponry. Moreover, thanks to refinements of airframe and power plant will increase considerably and service life and will be translated plane on condition maintenance. Fuel on board will increase by applying superimposed fuselage tank for the cockpit. Simultaneously, the aircraft doosnaschaetsya system in-flight refueling.
In general, the concept of modernization of India's MiG-29 corresponds to the adopted for the MiG-29SMT held from 2009 to the Air Forces of Russia and has successfully mastered the Russian military pilots. Simultaneously, the composition of airborne equipment and weapons provides a high level of commonality with shipborne fighter MiG-29K/KUB taken at the Naval Forces of India February 19, 2010 When building a complex avionics upgraded MiG-29UPG on the customer realized the integration of production systems in different countries (so-called "international board"). A similar experience has already been received and worked well when the Russian-Indian contract on the modernization of MiG-21UPG Bison, design and construction of the Su-30MKI and MiG-29K/KUB.
The basis of armament control system of the upgraded MiG-29UPG is a new "Zhuk-M2E with slot array design and production corporation Phazotron-NIIR and optical-location station OLS-UEM with a laser, thermal, and televisions in the development of Institute of Semiconductor Devices (similar radar and infrared detection system used on MiG-29K/KUB). Information-control field crew cabin is built on multi-color liquid crystal display. "International" segment includes avionics Helmet-mounted target designation system the French company Thales, inertial-satellite navigation system with French company Sagem, as well as the Indian station and Israeli electronic intelligence station interference (similar systems are used to MiG-29K/KUB).
The main armament of the upgraded MiG-29UPG - such as the MiG-29SMT and MiG-29K/KUB: Unlike mass-produced MiG-29, supplemented by a missile air-to-air medium-range missiles with active radar homing type of RVV-AE as well as high-precision hitting the ground and sea targets - missile general purpose X-29T with a TV seeker, anti-ship missiles Kh-31A active radar GSN, anti-radar missiles Kh-31P with passive CSG responsive bombs KAB-500Kr with a television and homing etc.
MiG-29 are in service with the Indian Air Force since 1987 in total in this country during the second half of the 80's to mid 90's. was delivered 80 such planes, including about 70 single MiG-29 (option B) and a dozen double MiG-29UB. Deliveries of the first batch of 44 fighters began in 1987, the second party (26 cars) placed In 1989, a third (10 cars) - in 1994. MiG-29 are deployed in three squadrons Indian Air Force: December 1987 - 28 th and 47 th and from November 1989 - 223 th. According to the Indian website warbirds.in, at 11 Indian MiG-29 (including one MiG-29UB) were lost during the period from 1994 to 2008. in flight accidents (known at least four of the seven crashes and accidents). According to the weekly magazine "Flight International, the beginning of 2011 the Air Forces of India are 69 fighters of this type.
In accordance with the contract, the first six Indian MiG-29 (four single and two "Sparky") will be finalizing and testing in Russia, they came to this country from India in 2008, the remaining 56 aircraft will undergo upgrades directly to the customer site, on production capacity of 11 th Indian Air Force repair depot, using the supplied from Russia sets. As reported on Feb. 9 at the air show, Aero India 2011 in Bangalore, General Director - General Designer of RSK "MiG" Mikhail Pogosyan, after completion of testing in this year's first modernized MiG-29 UPG will be refunded to the customer.
 

jbgt90

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great news . finally the MIG 29 upgrades will be joining the iaf . any idea when they will all be completed?
 

Tshering22

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I always had this question in my head.... does anyone here have an idea regarding what parts do these upgrade change in an aircraft apart from weapon systems, avionics and radar? Any changes to the airframe skin?
 

Rage

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Come on Saya. This is old sh&t.
 

Agantrope

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Rage

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I always had this question in my head.... does anyone here have an idea regarding what parts do these upgrade change in an aircraft apart from weapon systems, avionics and radar? Any changes to the airframe skin?
The images posted by Agantrop give a good overview of the upgrade, if you can get them big enough to read them.

All of India's existing fleet of MiG-29B, MiG-29S, and two-seat MiG-29UB "Baaz" (Falcon) aircraft will be upgraded with avionics, weapons and engine enhancements. But the MiG-29s will also be upgraded with IFR and extra fuel tanks in a thickened center spine, that will arguably leave it comparable to the F-16C as a strike fighter, and, according to Defense Industry Daily, air-to-air performance that is superior to all but the F-16 Block 60's with their ultra-advanced AESA radar.

No, I think I get the point of saya's thread now. The ol' upgrade program was delayed by six months, was supposed to roll out in mid-July 2010, but instead rolled out in mid-Feb 2011 because of the GoI's inability to finalize "buyer furnishing equipment" <the majority of the avionics and parts were to be integrated or sourced from Indian companies>. This just validates that the project is finally on track.
 

Patriot

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Mig-29 – New Striker for Indian Air force

Recent successful first flight of the upgraded Mig-29UPG of Indian air force in Russian , marks the birth of a new striker platform for the Indian air force , India had awarded Mig-29 upgrade contract to Russia worth $900 million in 2006 and first flight of the upgraded Mig-29UPG makes it now more formidable strike platform ,which was missing in it earlier .

Mig-29A/B variants were first inducted into Indian air force in 1986 to counter Pakistan's acquisition of F-16 in their fleet , Mig-29 was designed to be a aerial interceptor aircraft and a dog fighter for the air force , it had little or no capabilities to strike ground targets , but with new upgrades to it avionics and airframe Indian air force will have that capability fighter-bomber capable of striking mobile and stationary targets on the ground and at sea with high-precision weapons under all weather conditions. from this superlative fighter.

This hold quite a importance to Indian air force since its plans to upgrade Mirage -2000 fleet has still not taken off due to higher price asked by the french vendor and also due to safety issues regarding Mig-27 fleet which forms a bulk of the Ground attack fleet along with the Jaguar strike aircraft's .upgraded Mig-29 fleet will only strengthen strike aircraft fleet of the Indian air force , since addition of MKI's in IAF's Fleet has strengthened both the roles for the air force .

Mig-29 as per the contract will get new increased range and payload, new glass cockpit, digital fly-by-wire control system, new avionics, improved radar, KOLS infrared search and track (IRST) and an in-flight refueling probe. The radar will be the Phazotron Zhuk-ME which is capable of tracking ten targets to a maximum range of 245km.

IAF has 69 operational MiG-29 ,while Russia will be upgrading 6 of this jets in Russia , while the Rest 63 jets will be upgraded locally in HAL facility from the upgrade kits provided by the Russia , HAL will also will be locally producing 120 RD-33 series 3 turbojet engines for the upgraded jets.

Mig-29 will also get Thales TopSight-E helmet-mounted sight and display (HMDS) which is also fitted to aircraft for the carrier borne Mig-29k for the Indian Navy.The armament upgrade will include the installation of modern weaponry like smart bombs and substantially improved air-to-air missiles and high-accuracy guided missiles to destroy ground and sea targets.
 

Godless-Kafir

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Does anyone know why we are going in for out dated pulse dopplar radars on both the Mirage and Migs-29s, when AESA Radars are the new generation today? What is the gyan IAF is using to go for outdated versions when the world is looking to switch to AESA radars?

Also does the new UPG upgrade include TVC engines?
 
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p2prada

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Does anyone know why we are going in for out dated pulse dopplar radars on both the Mirage and Migs-29s, when AESA Radars are the new generation today? What is the gyan IAF is using to go for outdated versions when the world is looking to switch to AESA radars?

Also does the new UPG upgrade include TVC engines?
A Block 52 F-16 cannot carry AESA, the same way a Mig-29A or Mirage-2000 cannot carry AESA. Only the Mig-35 can carry AESA.

The Mig-29s and Mirage-2000s radar will be as effective as an AESA in air to air modes, so what's the issue?
 

Godless-Kafir

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A Block 52 F-16 cannot carry AESA, the same way a Mig-29A or Mirage-2000 cannot carry AESA. Only the Mig-35 can carry AESA.

The Mig-29s and Mirage-2000s radar will be as effective as an AESA in air to air modes, so what's the issue?
How come your supportive of IAF now, earlier you where dead against the Tejas..? :p

Is there any source that the Migs cant carry AESA radar? The AESA more advanced and cant be jammed or detected easily and it has a lower failure rate.
 
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mayfair

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I wonder if we thought about supplementing our Mig29 fleet with Mig 35s. p2prada, do you think that was ever a viable option? What would it have meant in terms of logistics etc?
 

Godless-Kafir

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I wonder if we thought about supplementing our Mig29 fleet with Mig 35s. p2prada, do you think that was ever a viable option? What would it have meant in terms of logistics etc?
It would not mean much in terms of logistics because they share the same engine and it would be cheaper to go in for the Mig-35 instead of the European aircraft's. The Navy is also purchasing 35 more Mig-29Ks and that is supplement enough, beyond that putting all your eggs in one basket is inviting trouble. The Migs also have a poor track record on parts supply from vendor making it hard to maintain. Not to mention the Mig-29/35 dont have a good track record against the NATO fighters in combat.
 

SATISH

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How come your supportive of IAF now, earlier you where dead against the Tejas..? :p

Is there any source that the Migs cant carry AESA radar? The AESA more advanced and cant be jammed or detected easily and it has a lower failure rate.
Well you have grossly misunderstood his post. He was not against Tejas...but he was against rushing LCA into operation.... MiGs can carry PESA/AESA radars....but it's avionics must support it.

And AESA is not God-Sent, only AESA with LPI cannot be jammed. Older AESA can be jammed.
 

p2prada

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How come your supportive of IAF now, earlier you where dead against the Tejas..? :p

Is there any source that the Migs cant carry AESA radar? The AESA more advanced and cant be jammed or detected easily and it has a lower failure rate.
The Mk1 is useless and the Mk2 is late. IAF is busy with Flankers and MRCA investments along with FGFA and AMCA in the future. The Tejas is an important platform for our science and industry, but has little value to add to the IAF beyond adding numbers.

Migs can carry the AESA. But not our Migs which were built in the 80s and 90s. If we want to add the AESA to Mig-29, then we are going to have to change a lot of things inside the Mig-29, which includes the internal estate, wiring and plumbing.

Then there is a question of what we are going to do with this new capability. Even if we give the Mig-29A an AESA radar, the Mig-29 is not equipped with avionics that can use this new capability. For eg: The Mig-29A cannot carry the LITENING pod and cannot integrate a KAB-500 without making massive changes. This would mean the Mig-29A does not have a strike capability. The Mig-29A is and will always be an air superiority aircraft with little or no strike capability. So, when the aircraft is equipped for single role, then there is little need for AESA which is a cost prohibitive system. For eg: A Zukh ME may cost $3Million. But a Zukh-AE will cost $10-15million.

The Mig-29ks can be equipped with AESA and may see it in a future upgrade. However it depends on what the Navy wants at what price.

I wonder if we thought about supplementing our Mig29 fleet with Mig 35s. p2prada, do you think that was ever a viable option? What would it have meant in terms of logistics etc?
Expensive and time consuming. We will have 3 4th gen Mig-29UPG squadrons in a year or two as compared to taking 10 years in replacing the 69Mig-29s that we already have with the Mig-35. It would mean superior aircraft in the future but with nothing right now. We can't fight a war with stuff that still hasn't left the assembly lines.

Mig-35 would have a much higher logistics trail as it will have a strike capability as well.
 

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