IAF Mig-29

Payeng

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Structural fault in MIG-29 Fighter Planes detected

Structural fault in MIG-29 Fighter Planes detected

RAJYA SABHA

Russia has pointed out structural faults in MiG-29 aircraft. There was a MiG-29 accident in Russia in December 2008. RAC-MiG has intimated that corrosion on the Fin Root Ribs has been identified as the cause of crack development. There is no plan to decommission MiG-29 aircraft. The repair scheme and preventive measures are in place and IAF has not encountered major problems concerning the issue. IAF has not entered into a new deal for procurement of MiG-29 aircraft.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri Prabhat Jha & Balavant Alias Bal Apte in Rajya Sabha today.

Samir/SK
PIB Press Release
 

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Russia has pointed out structural faults in MiG 29: Govt

15 Jul 2009

NEW DELHI: Russia has pointed out structural faults in its MiG 29 warplane but there

was no plan to decommission the aircraft as Indian Air
Force has not encountered any
major problems, Government on Wednesday said.

"There was a MiG 29 accident in Russia in December 2008. RAC MiG has intimated that corrosion on the fin root ribs has been identified as the cause of the crack development," Defence Minister A K Antony said while replying to a question in Rajya Sabha.

He added that there was no plan to decommission the aircraft from Indian Air Force (IAF).

"The repair scheme and preventive measures are in place and IAF has not encountered major problems concerning the issue," Antony said.

Meanwhile, replying to another query, he said that the Defence Ministry has agreed to release 25 Mega Hertz in 3G Band and 40 MHz in 2G Band on operationalisation of nationwide armed forces network.

He added that the phased release of spectrum was linked to the completion of armed forces network.

Replying to a query on Navy's P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft, Antony said that the aircraft would be inducted into the Navy between 2013 to 2015.

Russia has pointed out structural faults in MiG 29: Govt- Politics/Nation-News-The Economic Times
 

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India Will Not Ground MiGs Despite Russian Crash

16 Jul 2009

NEW DELHI - Despite December's crash of a Russian MiG 29 aircraft, India will not decommission the 67 MiG 29s in the fleet, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said in a written to a reply to the Indian Parliament July 15.

"Russia has pointed out structural faults in MiG-29 aircraft. There was a MiG-29 accident in Russia in December 2008. RAC-MiG has intimated that corrosion on the fin root ribs has been identified as the cause of crack development. There is no plan to decommission MiG-29 aircraft," said Antony.The Indian Air Force ordered a thorough inspection of its MiG 29 fleet after the crash and obtained details of the structural defects experienced by the Russian Air Force, said a senior Indian Air Force official.

India is already committed to the MiG-29K, the naval variant of the MiG 29, for the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov.

Russia is also competing its MiG 35 aircraft in India's $10 billion Medium Range Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) program. The Indian Air Force official said the MiG 35 has structural similarities with the MiG 29, and in fact borrows from the MiG-29 SMT, a modernized MiG-29, for the Russian Air Force, added the official.

The Indian Air Force also proposes to upgrade its existing MiG 29s by Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG at a cost of $ 963 million.

The Indian Air Force wants to extend the life of the fighter aircraft from 25 years (2,500 hours) to 40 years (3,500 hours). The Air Force proposed the immediate upgrade of its MiG-29 fighters after the Pakistan Air Force added beyond-visual-range missiles and other advanced weaponry in 2003 that India's MiG-29s cannot carry.

India Will Not Ground MiGs Despite Russian Crash - Defense News
 

Arjak

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the fact is,india CAN NOT afford to ground to ground its fleet of mig29 more than anything else
we have a huge airspace to cover,and grounding our mig29-s at this moment is not at all feeasable......with only 98 of our 230 sukhois operational at this moment and with the mirages also set to be upgraded
 

Sridhar

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same news from Army times publishing

India Will Not Ground MiGs Despite Russian Crash

BY : Army Times Publishing Company

Despite December’s crash of a Russian MiG 29 aircraft, India will not decommission the 67 MiG 29s in the fleet, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said in a written to a reply to the Indian Parliament July 15.

“Russia has pointed out structural faults in MiG-29 aircraft. There was a MiG-29 accident in Russia in December 2008. RAC-MiG has intimated that corrosion on the fin root ribs has been identified as the cause of crack development. There is no plan to decommission MiG-29 aircraft,” said Antony.

The Indian Air Force ordered a thorough inspection of its MiG 29 fleet after the crash and obtained details of the structural defects experienced by the Russian Air Force, said a senior Indian Air Force official.

India is already committed to the MiG-29K, the naval variant of the MiG 29, for the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov.

Russia is also competing its MiG 35 aircraft in India’s $10 billion Medium Range Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) program. The Indian Air Force official said the MiG 35 has structural similarities with the MiG 29, and in fact borrows from the MiG-29 SMT, a modernized MiG-29, for the Russian Air Force, added the official.

The Indian Air Force also proposes to upgrade its existing MiG 29s by Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG at a cost of $ 963 million.

The Indian Air Force wants to extend the life of the fighter aircraft from 25 years (2,500 hours) to 40 years (3,500 hours). The Air Force proposed the immediate upgrade of its MiG-29 fighters after the Pakistan Air Force added beyond-visual-range missiles and other advanced weaponry in 2003 that India’s MiG-29s cannot carry.

IDRW.ORG Blog Archive India Will Not Ground MiGs Despite Russian Crash
 
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But the fact remains that the Russians will try to make the mrca deal very juicy in order to win and we have to make sure we don't fall in the same trap again. Russians have a knack for sounding very persuasive. no matter what fuck the migs. no way mrca is going to the Russians.
 

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Antony spills the beans, says MiG-29 structurally flawed

New Delhi: The MiG-29, which was thought to be one of India's most potent weapons, is a defective aircraft. The stunning disclosure that the MiG-29 is structurally flawed was made in Parliament by Defence Minister A K Antony.

The Russian-made MiG-29 has a tendency to develop cracks due to corrosion in the tail fin. Russia has shared this finding with India, which emerged after the crash of a Russian Air Force MiG-29 in December 2008.

"There was a MiG 29 accident in Russia in December 2008. RAC MiG has intimated that corrosion on the fin root ribs has been identified as the cause of the crack development," Antony said while replying to a question in Rajya Sabha.

He added that there was no plan to decommission the aircraft from IAF.

"A repair scheme and preventive measures are in place and IAF has not encountered major problems concerning the issue," Antony said.

The MiG-29 is the most advanced aircraft of the MiG series so far.

Antony's statement is the first official acknowledgment by India that the MiG-29 has serious limitations.

Despite this scare, India recently signed a billion-dollar deal with Russia for the upgrade of its MiG-29 fleet.

Antony spills the beans, says MiG-29 structurally flawed
 

wild goose

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Hi,

How can 'corrosion' to the tail fin be termed as a 'structural flaw'. May be lack of routine maintenace might have caused the problem for the Russians.
Anyway , IAF should be concerned because one of the MiG29 squadron is based in Jamnagar and they may be flying above the sea pretty much during regular sorties.

And it seems like media overhyping whatever loose informations they get.
In matters concerning defence,atleast they must make sure someone with basic knowledge in this matter is covering the subject.
 

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MiG-29 upgrade may be delayed Ravi Sharma BANGALORE: The cost escalation and time overrun that is plaguing the multi-billion dollar Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier deal could soon haunt another mega Indo-Russian defence deal. 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,’ the delay in deliveries of the frontline MiG-29 could mean compromising India’s air superiority.
In a contract signed in March 2008 of nearly $850 million between India and the Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG (RSK MiG) , the MiG-29 was to have been upgraded from an aerial interceptor and air dominance 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.
As per the contract, 54 single-seat fighters and eight trainers are being refurbished.
While six aircraft will be upgraded by the MiG-29’s original equipment manufacturer (OEM), the remaining aircraft will be refurbished with kits supplied by RSK MiG at the IAF’s 11 Base Repair Depot (BRD) at Nasik. As per the original schedule, the first upgraded MiG-29 was scheduled to fly into India in March 2010.
However, officials from the OEM told The Hindu that there will be a delay of at least eight months in the arrival of the first upgraded aircraft. The Russians are attributing this to a delay in the IAF finalising the ‘buyer furnished equipment.’
The delay will translate into a year-long delay in the start of production aircraft at 11BRD. Fourteen aircraft are scheduled to roll out of 11BRD between April 2010 and March 2011.
Under the contract, the IAF have to indicate to RSK MiG the list of equipment and their physical dimensions that they want fitted on the upgraded MiG-29’s. Many of these items are to be sourced or integrated by Indian companies.
The upgrade programme had also run into rough weather last year after a Russian Air Force MiG-29 crashed in December, with talk of the IAF even toying with decommissioning the fighter.
However, with the Russians furnishing the reasons for the crash - structural faults in the aircraft due to corrosion on the fin root ribs – and after the IAF conducted a thorough inspection of its entire fleet, flying recommenced.
Extension of life 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 Air Force had first proposed the upgrade after the Pakistan Air Force added beyond-visual-range missiles and other advanced weaponry in 2003, something that the IAF’s MiG-29s presently do not carry.



The Hindu : National : MiG-29 upgrade may be delayed
 

tharikiran

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Who is this writer.
Hasn't done his homework well.

"with talk of the IAF even toying with decommissioning the fighter."
I don't believe that at all.

Pakistan Air Force added beyond-visual-range missiles and other advanced weaponry in 2003, something that the IAF’s MiG-29s presently do not carry.


Don't believe this either.
 

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India’s Fighter Modernization: Add MiG-29s to the List (updated)

03-Aug-2009

The Indian Air force is dealing with the same fighter modernization numbers crisis that affects a number of air forces around the world. Its MiG-21s are retiring fast, and so are the subsequent generation of MiG-23/27 and MiG-25 aircraft. At the same time, India’s locally-developed Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas) program has been beset by numerous problems and ongoing delays, raising questions concerning its readiness and ability to begin filling some of that void in time. India’s MMRCA light-medium fighter competition will fill other gaps with 126 imported fighters, but it has yet to produce a winner, let alone a delivery date.

As the timelines for replacements stretch, India’s defense planners are concluding that more upgrades will be necessary in order to keep their existing fleet viable. February 2006 reports discussed a decision to upgrade India’s existing fleet of MiG-29B, MiG-29S, and two-seat MiG-29UB “Baaz” (Falcon) aircraft as well, in order to give them multi-role capabilities and improve their ability to carry advanced weapons. December 2006 reports from MosNews et. al. indicated that a contract has been signed, but it wasn’t until March 2008 that a deal was finalized.

While Russia’s grounding of its own MiG-29 fleet hasn’t stopped India’s plans, the IAF’s own failure to deliver key specifications may be about to create a serious delay…

The Numbers Problem

By 2010, the IAF will have phased out most of its 300-or-so MiG-21s, the 16-18 aircraft in its only remaining swing-wing MiG-23 ground attack squadron, around 100-110 related swing-wing MiG-27M Bahadur ground attack fighters that are not being upgraded, and the MiG-25 Foxbat strategic reconnaissance jets (already phased out).

125 MiG-21 Bis interceptors and 40 upgraded MiG-27ML fighters will remain. India’s updated MiG-21 ‘Bisons’ caused a lot of trouble for American jets at COPE India 2004 & 2005, but are not expected to last beyond 2016.

India continues to field over 100 SU-30MKI aircraft, under a joint agreement with Sukhoi. These aircraft will be the high end of India’s air power, and are competitive with or superior to top-end European fighters and American F-15 variants.At the lower end currently occupied by the MiG-21s, an initial order has been placed for 24 of HAL’s LCA Tejas light fighters. They are currently expected to arrive by the end of 2010, but that will not even begin to dent the fighter gap. Further orders are held up by the fact that key design choices for the full production “Tejas II” upgrade remain in limbo.

With MMRCA unlikely to even produce a contract by the end of 2010, India is forced to look to upgrades of her most modern legacy fighters, in order to maintain competitive strength. The IAF’s Mirage 2000 fleet has been the subject of numerous reports concerning upgrade agreements and supplementary buys, none of which have come to fruition yet.

That leaves India’s MiG-29 fleet of air superiority fighters. Under a proposed set of upgrades, these planes would see a set of improvements that would address their biggest deficiencies, insert important upgrades, and give them full multi-role capability. A total of 54 single-seat fighters and 8 trainers are being refurbished.

Wanting a New Baaz: The Upgrades

IANS reported in December 2006 that India was “finalizing” a proposal to have its fleet of MiG-29 lightweight fighters refurbished for $888 million by the Russian company RSK-MiG, which has a dedicated upgrade set designed to turn older MiG-29 air defense fighters into multi-role MiG-29SMT/UBTfighters. India’s focus on its domestic industries will ensure that its modifications will include their share of unique attributes and equipment, in addition to the standard set – an insistence that is now causing problems for the program.

The 62 upgraded MiG-29s are expected to remain in service for 10-15 years, with their flight-hours lifetimes extended from 25 years/2,500 hours to 40 years/ 3,500 hours.

The planes will be fitted with upgraded weapons and a new avionics suite, including the Phazatron Zhuk-M radar. Phazotron’s Zhuk-M is a derivative of the baseline Zhuk radar, but its acquisition range has increased 1.5 times, with a wide scan and tracking area of + / – 85 deg. in azimuth and + / – 60 deg. in elevation. It also adds terrain following mode, and ground target acquisition including high-resolution modes.

Normally, these moves would accompany weapons upgrades. India’s MiG-29s are already believed to be capable of firing the R-77/AA-12 “AMRAAMski” medium range air-air missile, but photos consistently show the R-27/ AA-10. The new systems will offer certain R-77 compatibility, along with the ability to mount precision air-to-ground weapons. Upgraded electronic warfare systems round out the package, to improve survivability against modern threats.

In terms of aerodynamic performance, India’s MiG-29s will be upgraded with extra fuel tanks in a thickened center spine, but the MiG-29SMT upgrades will continue to suffer from “Soviet short-legs syndrome.” Adding mid-air refueling capability completes the upgrade, offering dramatic changes to the fighters’ deployment range. Unspecified engine modifications may also correct some of the problems experienced with the R-33 engine, such as the visible smoke trails that have already been addressed in the MiG-29M2. Local R-33 production will offer much improved turnaround time, which will hopefully improve the Indian MiG-29 fleet’s poor overall availability record.

This will not quite bring the older MiG-29s up to the status of the MiG-29M2 multi-role aircraft, let alone the thrust-vectoring MiG-29OVT/MiG-35 model that Russia is reportedly offering for India’s MMRCA competition. Nevertheless, India will be left with an aircraft that is comparable to the F-16C as a strike fighter, and air-to-air performance that is arguably superior to all but the F-16 Block 60s with their ultra-advanced AESA radar.

RSK-MiG will be the sole vendor to perform the upgrades and service life extension tasks, delivering the first 6 aircraft from Russia and then supplying upgrade kits. Other components would reportedly come from a range of Indian, Russian, French, Israeli (Elbit has its own MiG-29 ‘Sniper’ upgrade program), and possibly even American vendors, though that list has yet to be finalized. The Americans would represent a new source, but the others all contributed to the MiG-21 Bis upgrade, and the $130+ million MiG-27ML upgrade sources equipment from Russia, Israel, and Britain (Vinten optical pod), and may include other countries as well.

India Defense has more details re: the IAF’s overall upgrade programs, including timeline slippages on the upgrades. DID has noted before that this is not an unusual problem; India’s defense industry is heavily state-owned, and it also has unique systemic problems in its defense procurement apparatus.

A Better Baaz: Program Updates


Aug 2/09: The Hindu reports that India’s MiG-29 upgrade could be delayed by a year or more. The first upgraded MiG-29 was scheduled to fly into India in March 2010, but the entire project is reportedly being held up by IAF non-performance.

India typically insists on including an array of locally-developed electronics in military orders, and the MiG-29 upgrade is no exception. In order to accomplish that, the contract stipulates that the IAF must give RSK MiG the associated list of equipment, dimensions, and specifications. That list has yet to be finalized, leading officials at RSK MiG to tell The Hindu that they now expect a delay of at least 8 months.

Under the contract, RSK MiG is to upgrade the first 6 aircraft in Russia, then ship kits that will allow the IAF’s 11 Base Repair Depot (BRD) at Nasik to handle the other 56 planes. A total of 14 more refurbished MiG-29s were supposed to roll out of 11BRD between April 2010 – March 2011, but the delay at RSK-MiG is likely to translate into a delay of at least a year for Nasik.


India’s Fighter Modernization: Add MiG-29s to the List (updated)
 
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Russia to deliver MiG-29 engines to India

RUSSIA: Russia will deliver 26 engines for upgrading the MiG-29 combat jets of the Indian Air Force (IAF), with another 120 to be assembled in
India, following an agreement with the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) at the ongoing MAKS 2009 air show near Moscow, officials said Friday.

The RD-33/series 3 engine, being delivered by state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport, is an upgraded version of the powerful RD-33 turbofan with thrust vectoring for the MiG family of fighters. The engine provides superior maneuverability and enhances the fighter's performance in close air combat.

In 2005, Russia signed a $250 million deal to modernise the MiG-29's engines. According to the terms of the deal, HAL will make 120 RD-33/series 3 jet engines at its Koraput plant for the upgrades of the fighters.

The contract will help HAL master the assembly of the RD-33 jet engines and use the experience in the assembly of next generation jet engines.

"These engines are installed on MiG aircraft, including the MiG-35 fighters that are participating in the tender for 126 fighters for the Indian Air Force," a Rosoboronexport official said.

Six aircraft majors - Lockheed Martin and Boeing from the US, Russia's MiG, France's Dassault, Sweden's Saab and the EADS consortium of British, German, Spanish and Italian companies - are in contention for the $10 billion contract.

Russia will fly in two MiG-35 aircraft to India later this month for the test flights that have begun of the six contenders in the fray. A series of trials with live firing will be conducted for an IAF delegation at a testing ground in Russia late this year.

Russia has also said it is ready to transfer all key technology to HAL and provide assistance for the production of the aircraft in India if the MiG-35 wins the tender.

Russia to deliver MiG-29 engines to India- Politics/Nation-News-The Economic Times

gr8 news to know that our mig-29 upgraded SMTs will have multi axis TVC. Will make it one of the most maneuverable aircraft in the world.
 

Arjak

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120 more engines for what?.....we have only 67 mig29s.....are the other migs gonna be fitted with these engines too?
 

Payeng

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gr8 news to know that our mig-29 upgraded SMTs will have multi axis TVC. Will make it one of the most maneuverable aircraft in the world.
Not necessarily all RD-33 engines have multi axis thrust vectoring, but TVC is an option for RD-33 series 3, still their is no report of whether India would opt for TVC Klimovs or not.

120 more engines for what?.....we have only 67 mig29s.....are the other migs gonna be fitted with these engines too?
why isn't the Mig-29 twin engined?
 

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Damn!..i missed the twin engined part completely!....thnx payeng
 

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