| The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to place an order with Russia for 21 twin-engine MiG-29 jets by December, ThePrint has learnt. Of the 1980s vintage, the jets are no longer in production but 21 airframes built then remain in Russia. Top sources in the security and defence establishment said the jets purchased by India will be upgraded to the latest version before they arrive here. The purchase comes as the IAF faces a depleting force strength due to its fleet of legacy aircraft and budgetary constraints. The IAF, the sources said, will first place orders for the MiG-29, and then go in for another 12 Su-30 MKI, which are being manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under licence from Russia. The IAF is also expected to soon place a long-pending order for the indigenous 83 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mark 1A. “We have completed the discussions with Russia. We are getting the MiG-29s at a very good price. We will soon finalise it. The order for the 12 additional Su-30 MKI will be placed with HAL after this,” a source said, refusing to get into the pricing details. India and Russia have been in talks for the purchase of more MiG-29 jets since last year. The Mig-29 airframes have been lying with Moscow since the late 1980s but have never been flown. The sources said a study conducted on the airframes had found them in good condition. “The airframes are in good quality. They will now fit all the equipment and other systems as part of the deal,” the source quoted above said. Dwindling numbers The decision to purchase the aircraft comes amid a dwindling fighter aircraft strength in the IAF and budgetary constraints that make it difficult for the force to get new aircraft in the numbers it wants. While the sanctioned strength of the IAF is 42 squadrons of fighters, the current strength is 30. At his annual press conference Monday, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria said even if all acquisition plans are put in motion with strict timelines, he would be happy if the strength reaches 36-37 squadrons in the next decade. He was also very candid about the challenge of budgetary constraints, saying their effect may not be felt immediately but will be in the future. “Budgetary constraints will be there. It is not affecting us today. It will have an effect in due course if we don’t put the contracts in place,” he had said. India currently has three squadrons of the MiG-29 — a twin-engine single-seat air superiority fighter aircraft. One squadron comprises 18 aircraft and all of them are currently being upgraded in-house by the IAF. The aircraft is undergoing structural as well as avionics upgrade, besides being equipped with a new weapons package. With the new air-to-air refuelling feature, an upgraded MiG-29 can cover larger distances compared to the previous aircraft, something the IAF is keen on, keeping in mind the possibility of a two-front war scenario. The upgraded MiG-29s have all the latest features, including a glass cockpit with digital screens. The upgraded aircraft can also do air-to-ground, air-to-air and even anti-shipping operations. |
Stupid question , but can it take down AWACS..Rudram 1: Features of the next-gen anti-radiation missile, explained
On Friday, India successfully tested the indigenously developed Rudram 1, a tactical anti-radiation missile capable of being launched from the Indian Air Force’s Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets. There are, reportedly, plans to integrate the missile on to India’s Mirage and Tejas fighters as well. With a launch speed of up to Mach 2 – twice the speed of sound – the missile provides the nation’s jet with a critical air-to-ground weapon that can take out enemy radars and surveillance systems. This, however, is not the first time that the DRDO has tested the anti-radiation missile with a similar test being conducted as far back as January 2019. The specialised weapon is aimed to provide tactical air superiority in warfare. Feasibility studies on India’s next-generation anti-radiation missile (NGARM) began in 2012 with the intention of designing and configuring the missile fully indigenously. In order to do this, the DRDO needed to master the development of crucial technologies including a wide-band passive seeker, a milli-metric wave active-seeker, radome for the seekers and a dual-pulse propulsion system. As the name itself suggests, the missile is designed to eliminate or suppress radiation-emitting sources such as fire control or surveillance radars. With a reported length of 5.5m, and weighing 600kg, the missile is also integrated with a millimetre wave (MMW) active seeker terminal guidance system. The seeker is essentially how the missile identifies and locates its target. It sends out radio frequency pulses that bounce off the intended target and rebound back to it. Once the signal has been processed, the range and position of the target can be determined. Missile guidance and navigation toward its target while the missile is on course take place through continuous inputs from sensors and passive homing seeker technology. These inputs are processed by an on-board computer that generates autopilot commands, with a control system steering the missile towards the target. Suppression of radar systems will enable India’s jets to carry out missions without having to worry about facing threats from radar-guided surface-to-air missiles. The first anti-radiation missile – the AGM-45 Shrike – was developed by the United States. Since then, the US has developed several upgraded versions, with Russia and Brazil also having developed their own. All these missiles, including India’s, are reported to have a range of approximately 100km. It is also worth noting that the IAF already has the Russian-made Kh-31P anti-radiation missile in its arsenal.
It has a passive X band seeker and a MMW radar so it is specialized for striking ground based radar emitters. In theory it could be used to target AWACS but it is not optimal. Better to use a regular long range RF AAM for that role.
Just a wild suggestion. Covid 19 has decimated air traffic. Many airlines and aircraft leasing companies are struggling and their planes are sitting idle. So why not we buy second hand 737 and convert it into AEW&C.
