Indian Air Force: MiG-23BN Fighters to Bid Adieu to Active Service

[A.V.]

The MiG-23BN ground attack aircraft, which never saw action during its 26 years with the Indian Air Force, will bid adieu to the service on Friday.

The MiG-23BN, currently operated only by the 221 Squadron of the IAF's 9 Wing, will be phased out at the Halwara airbase in Punjab after a flying display and touchdown, air force officials said today.

Bought from Russia in 1982 to counter Pakistan's air superiority F-16 fighters, the fighters never took part in any operation against the enemy.

But they were pressed into service during the 1999 Kargil war and carried out patrols during the 2001-02 stand-off with Pakistan as part of Operation Parakram.

With a dubious safety record and beset with engine troubles, the aircraft's phase out comes at a time when there were reports of burgeoning maintenance costs and problems relating to non-availability of spare parts.

Of the four squadrons the IAF had -- over 70 aircraft -- half of them were lost in air crashes and other mishaps.

"Maintaining the aircraft fleet is very expensive for the IAF, so we have to phase out the aircraft, which has served us well over two decades-and-a-half. The aircraft incur heavy financial costs for repairs and spares," an official said.

Its air superiority version, the MiG-23MF, used as an interceptor in air defence roles by the IAF, was phased out in 2007.


http://www.india-defence.com/reports/4263

 

[screwterrorists]

I actually welcome this news.
Interesting how mig 23s are phased out before mig 21s.
I understand some of the Mig 21s have recently been upgraded.

Desperately gonna need new airframes within 10 years India. Lets get to it.

 

[rock45]

air crashes and other mishaps

Hi InViNCiBlE
Were half really lost in air crashes and other mishaps? That's some number rough on the pilots and families. Don't know tons about the aircraft just its a average turner but fast, I guess speed was its best asset? I remember seeing a upgrade out there like the Mig-21/93 but Mig-23/93, don't thing any country actually had their Mig-23's done.

If it was worth it I'm sure India would have put a better radar, changed out the cockpit, and wired those babies for AA-12's, but like the article says engines & maintenance problems can hurt.

Hope the pilots and crews transfer to safer types.

 

[Triton]

Final touchdown for IAF's MiG-23 fighter jets

HALWARA: The Indian Air Force's (IAF) swing-wing ground attack fighter jet MiG-23 BN took to the skies for one last time Friday at this airbase, as the force bid a nostalgic adieu to the formidable supersonic combat aircraft.

The MiG-23 BN, renamed in the IAF as Vijay (victory), was retired after 28 years of glorious service and flying more than 154,000 hours.

"We know that airplanes, like air warriors, cannot go on forever. While there is thunder and pride in their prime, they fade away with quiet dignity when the time comes," the IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major, said at the phasing out ceremony.

As Wing Commander Y.J. Joshi and Squadron Leader T.R. Sahu of the No.221 Squadron flew the aircraft from this airbase in Punjab, many eyes went moist at this airbase near Ludhiana. Present at the phasing out ceremony was Air Marshal N. Chatrath, under whose command the squadron known as 'Valiant' was formed in 1963.

Over the years, the No.221 Squadron had become the lone squadron with the MiG-23 BN on its inventory.

The 'Valiants' entered the swing-wing era with the induction of MiG-23 BN in the IAF Jan 24, 1981 as a result of the force's need for tactical air strike aircraft in the late 1970s and to counter the Pakistan's then newly acquired F-16 fighter aircraft.

The jets were designed to replace the ageing fleet of MiG-21.

"The MiG-23 BN entered the IAF with an awesome reputation. It was the most powerful single-engine fighter in the world, was of a revolutionary design with a variable wing sweep and air intake and a very complex weapon delivery system, that was fairly advanced for its times," a nostalgic air chief said.

"It gave the IAF a tremendous boost in its capability and we had to get used to the tremendous roar of its R-29 engine. They also played havoc with the surfaces of our runways!"

This single seater ground attack aircraft, which was brought from the erstwhile USSR, had a 'swing wing' concept to compromise on the conflicting requirement of high-speed flight with good low speed handling.

"Whilst being immensely capable, it was also not easy to fly. It had tremendous thrust, its handling characteristics at high angles of attack were tricky, to say the least. And there was one other thing - landing the BN�. It separated the men from the boys and has been the stuff of many bar-room yarns," Major added.

The air force got its first taste of operation with the aircraft April 4, 1984 when the squadron was alerted for the launch of Operation Meghdoot for securing the Siachen Glacier in northern Ladakh.

"Intensive flying began in Kashmir Valley, the Mig-23 BNs were employed to the limits, flying in the mountainous region by day and night. In 1985, the MiG-23 BN got the unique distinction of being the first fighter aircraft ever to cross Banihal Pass in Jammu and Kashmir region by night," an IAF official said.

On May 25, 1999, Operation Safed Sagar (Operation White Sea) was launched during the Kargil conflict. The IAF was to commence offensive air action at first light of the next morning. The MiG-23 BNs were launched into action targeting enemy positions at Tiger Hill with rockets and bombs.

"The ensuing seven weeks from May 26 to July 15 saw the squadron fly 155 attack missions more than those during December 1971 operations.

"During the 1999 Kargil conflict, this aircraft had the distinction of being the single aircraft type to fire the maximum weapon load over the dizzy heights of Drass and Kargil," the official added.

Most of the IAF's MiG-23s had already been phased out. Its superior version the MiG-23 MF was phased out in 2007.

We got to phase out more oldies which are expensive to maintain and at the same time get latest hardware to maintain the ratio.

Bye bye MIG 23... Salute to your service :sCh_drummer:

 

[A.V.]

Pioneers of Swing – IAF MiG-23 flies into sunset

The MiG-23 BN of Indian Air Force retired yesterday on 06 Mar 09, after 28 years of glorious service to the Nation. A befitting farewell in the form of a ‘phasing out ceremony’ was held at its last home, No. 221 Squadron at Air Force Station Halwara. The ceremony was presided over by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major. Wg Cdr YJ Joshi and Sqn Ldr TR Sahu of 221 Sqn flew the aircraft on its last flight.

The Air Force Station Halwara had become home to No.221 Squadron ever since they converted to MiG-23 BN in February 1982. 27 years on, No.221 Squadron is lone Squadron with MiG-23 BN on its inventory. The squadron known as the ‘Valiants’ was formed on 1963 at Barrackpore under he command of Sqn Ldr N Chatrath with 22 officers. It was then a part of the 55 Bengal Auxillary Air Force Squadron. Initially equipped with Vampire, Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft, it assumed the mantle of an operational unit when selected to support Indian Army’s blitzkrieg advance in East Bengal during Dec 1971.

The ‘Valiants’ entered the Swing Wing era with the induction of MiG-23 BN in IAF on 24 Jan 1981 as a result of the IAF’s need for Tactical Air Strike Aircraft in the late 1970s. This single seater ground attack aircraft was the result of Mikoyan Design Bureau’s radical approach to incorporate variable geometry wings in the aircraft, a swing wing concept to compromise on the conflicting requirement of high speed flight with good low speed handling. An IAF test pilot team led by Wg Cdr Philip Rajkumar had test flown and evaluated the MiG-23 BN at Lugovaya in April – May 1979 after which the Cabinet Committee for Political Affairs (CCPA) cleared an acquisition of 95 MiG-23 BNs. Eight Pilots, nine engineering officers and 55 airmen of IAF left for Soviet Union on 01 Sep 1980 for conversion training on MiG-23 variable sweep fighters. The aircraft were then transported to HAL facility at Ozar near Nasik where they were assembled, test flown by Soviet pilots before being handed over to the IAF on 20 Jan 1980. The first IAF unit to be inducted with these Swing Wing fighters was No. 10 Squadron.

The aircraft got its first taste of operation on 04 April 1984 when the Squadron was alerted for the launch of ‘Operation Meghdoot’ for securing the Siachen Glacier in Northern Ladhakh. Intensive flying began in Kashmir valley, the Mig-23 BNs were employed to the limits, flying in the mountainous region by day and night. In 1985 MiG-23 BN got the unique distinction of being the first fighter aircraft ever to cross Banihal Pass in J&K region by night.

On 25 may 1999, ‘Operation Safed Sagar’ was launched. The Indian Air Force was to commence offensive air action at first light of the next morning. The MiG-23 BNs were launched into action targeting enemy positions at Tiger Hill with 57 mm rockets and 500 Kg bombs. The ensuing seven weeks from 26 May and 15 July saw the squadron fly 155 attack missions more than those during December 1971 operations and accounted for 28 percent of total load drop and 30 percent of all missions flown in that area.

During the Kargil conflict this aircraft had the distinction of being the single aircraft type to fire the maximum weapon load over the dizzy heights of Dras and Kargil. The MiG-23s have had flown more than 154000 hrs in the service of the nation.

 

[SATISH]

So the great Mig 23 is retiring...Wonder what is going to replace it.

 

[Payeng]

So the great Mig 23 is retiring...Wonder what is going to replace it.

The HAL Tejas?