The MiG-29K is a very different beast. Equipped with a host of new weapons and sensors, the jet is considered among the most capable of its generation, a fighter that could potentially threaten several contemporary Western fighters including newer variants of the F-15 or F-16.
By the way, the Russian Navy was not the first to deploy the advanced MiG-29K. It was the Indian Navy a few years ago. Along with the AC Vikramaditya, the Indian Navy had received the MiG-29K as part of a package deal.
According to Rear Admiral William D. Byrne, Jr., the Commander of Carrier Strike Group 11 which operates around the USS Nimitz, during a recent exercise said that the MiG-29s that were flying off the Vikramaditya and the FA-18 Super Hornets flying off Nimitz got up in the air and got to do some excellent and very impressive dogfighting. In a nutshell, the MiG 29K can give the Super Hornets a run for their money.
If you look deeply at the IN's capability to wage war with its aerial assets in this day and age, it is dismal. The capability in 1971 was far better in comparison with respect to those times. This is principally because the Navy lacks precision strike power from its carrier borne aircraft and doesn't have growler type aircrafts for dedicated EW roles. Also lacks synergy with IAF as far as integration with IAF's own battlefield management systems, AWACS, EW are concerned. This is a worry.
Also, buying Rafales and Hornets for our STOBARs is not worth it because they will remain under utilised because of STOBAR limitations. The 29K doesn't face this problem to that extent, and can always be topped up by a loitering buddy refueler immediately upon takeoff to top up the fuel load. The 29K is also very different from the rest of the Fulcrum family.
The 29K gives us an opportunity to MKIze it with all avionics that will go into the MWF and those that are there in the UPG and are planned for the MKI upgrade. We must upgrade it to the hilt. Few items that come to mind are:
1> D-29 EW suite with even more improvements.
2> MWFs panoramic glass cockpit.
3> MWFs mission computer.
4> BaE Lite HUD.
5> New generation radio altimeter and Thales highly accurate navigation system (similar to the M2K or Rafale) for easily flying to target area at low altitude, thereby reducing pilot workload. MWF will have some variant of this as well.
6> Vehicle health and stores management system like MWF.
7> Uttam AESA radar. Worst case Elta 2052.
8> New radome eliminating the pitot.
9> All aspect DRDO dual colour MAWS.
10> DRDO Digital RWR.
11> DRDO/BEL/Saankhya Labs SDR. Alternatively Rafael BNET.
12> BEL Datalink 2. This is a very vital component.
13> Litening 4 pod (I believe there are no targeting pods on the 29K)
14> Astra Mk1 (integration in progress).
15> Astra Mk2
16> Astra Mk3 SFDR
17> A towed decoy
18> Paveway kit
19> Spice kit
20> Garudaa kit
21> Garuthmaa kit
22> DRDO SAAW
23> Brahmos NG air launched variant
24> Rudram-1 A2G anti radiation missile
25> Rudram-2 A2A awacs killer
26> Rudram-3 A2G long range cruise missile (SCALP equivalent)
27> SANT for anti tank CAS operations (similar to Brimstone on Typhoon)
28> DRDO IRST for MWF.
If you observe carefully, all the above are present in aircrafts like Rafale and Hornet, but in their western avatars. When we have most of these solutions available and in progress domestically, then why not use them? Its not necessary that the upgrades happen all at once. They can happen in phases. Such an upgrade will give the naval air arm immense strike power. And it handsomely complements the 29Ks natural A2A agility. And these aircraft will be better than any F-16 Blk 52 or even J10C that the Pakis or Chinks can throw at us.
Also, naval air arm + IAF needs deeper synergy. IAF has lot of exp maintaining Fulcrums. That needs to be leveraged bigtime. Also, naval aircrafts need to be integrated within IAF's battle management system. That way when a carrier is in refit the MiGs can be sent to forward air bases. Such moves will also familiarise the pilots to fly in these conditions as well, and can be useful if say the VKD is in the dry dock during wartime. Fleet air arm also needs to do a lot more exercises involving deep strikes and precision strikes. I feel they lack terribly here.
Also I hope the missing pilot is found safe and sound, and the MiG 29Ks serve us well.