Indian Air Force: News & Discussions

Dark Sorrow

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I've never heard of it being used in any of the recent operations. Not even in Kargil. It's almost always the Mig 21, Mirages and Su 30s
Mig-29 is an air superiority fighter. It is not optimized A-G operations compared to Mirages not it can carry versatile heavy ordinance like Su-30 MKI. It mainly behaves like escorts for Mirages and Jaguars.

On a second note Mig-29 is quite old aircraft. Its quite obsolete and has not been upgraded much.

Third Mig-29 is not an front-line interceptor like Mig-21 or Tejas hence we won't hear much of it during any Skirmish.

Only in hot-war will we hear Mig-29 in action.
 

couchPotato

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What's the difference between an air superiority fighter and an interceptor? I've always wondered, a mig 29 has more weapon pylons than the two on the mig 21
 

Dark Sorrow

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What's the difference between an air superiority fighter and an interceptor? I've always wondered, a mig 29 has more weapon pylons than the two on the mig 21
An interceptor aircraft is a type of fighter aircraft designed specifically for the defensive interception role against an attacking enemy aircraft particularly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Mig-21 is an interceptor aircraft. It was designed to intercept i.e. neutralize enemy strike packages (in modern sense even air superiority fighter)

An air superiority fighter is a fighter aircraft designed to seize control of an enemy airspace by establishing tactical dominance (air superiority) over the opposing air force. Mig-29 is an air superiority fighter. It tends to achieve temporary local air-dominance so that allied strike package can execute their mission.

The reason Mig-29 has more weapons pylons is because it is expected to dominate enemy air-space. Its mission typical last longer compare to Mig-21 who can return to base to re-arm and re-fuel.
 

johnj

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I've never heard of it being used in any of the recent operations. Not even in Kargil. It's almost always the Mig 21, Mirages and Su 30s
IAF used mig 29 during kargil and mig 29 able to acquire bvr lock on paf f16. Mig 29 is a air superiority fighter jet and iaf use mig 29 for providing air cover for strike and intercepting enemy jets behind enemy lines.
Today mirage is better than mig29 thanks to mica, so iaf giving importance to mirage.
 

Flying Dagger

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What's the difference between an air superiority fighter and an interceptor? I've always wondered, a mig 29 has more weapon pylons than the two on the mig 21
In today's context not much apart from the fact usually interceptor are fast and cheaper to operate and maintain.

Mig 29 isn't used much because we don't have them in numbers and there was a time we didn't had stable spare supply for them , nor we have maintenance centre throughout all airbases like we have for mig 21 or Sukhoi , so just like Mirage they are selectively used.

They perform exceptional during Kargil war and make sure that No F-16 dare to come around and involve when Mig 27/Mirage were performing strike role for IAF. But since you are new you may not know this.

They are the best interceptor and dogfighter of their time and even today are most lethal adversary to be up against.

Earlier they had R-73 and R-27 like missiles which were best at their time but not anymore.

Lack of AESA radar is another drawback

And they don't carry Derby ER like long range missile so unless SFDR Astra series become mature their BVR advantage will be limited.
 

Flying Dagger

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IAF used mig 29 during kargil and mig 29 able to acquire bvr lock on paf f16. Mig 29 is a air superiority fighter jet and iaf use mig 29 for providing air cover for strike and intercepting enemy jets behind enemy lines.
Today mirage is better than mig29 thanks to mica, so iaf giving importance to mirage.
MICA IR can be fired from Migs too

It's just the lack of AESA radar and Astra/SFDR development which makes Mig 29 not the top of the line fighter apart from the fact we don't have much of them though now they are serving frontline in Srinagar if i remember correctly even during clashes with china we used Mig 29k of IN against them.
 

johnj

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MICA IR can be fired from Migs too

It's just the lack of AESA radar and Astra/SFDR development which makes Mig 29 not the top of the line fighter apart from the fact we don't have much of them though now they are serving frontline in Srinagar if i remember correctly even during clashes with china we used Mig 29k of IN against them.
But still no mica ir for migs. IAF mig29 upgrading to latest level. Mig29 capable tracking and identifying paf f16 and jf17 100km away. Also paf also don't having aesa radar and only now j10ce having aesa. Lacking aesa not the issue but don't having weapons like aim120c5 and aim9x is the issue. IAF mig29 is more advanced than navy mig 29k. IN used p8i and mig 29k [thanks for info, may be for escort]. Both mirage and mig29 getting latest modification in same periods and mirage 2000 comes with mica. Also asea not available during that time and only japan, usa and israel having such tech. Radar of mig29upg, mirage 2000mk5 and lca ioc are similar[not same, but similar] in air to air modes.
 

Covfefe

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There are serious leadership issues with our forces. Not in terms of taking the men into the battlefield and fighting a war, but in terms of organisational capabilities. With what face would you go before the Parliament and say that there's a fund shortage when you aren't able to utilise the fund already allocated. There is so much of inconsistency and lack of uniformity across Army- some guys are using jacked up AK47s, others INSAS with an eccentric scope where the shooter has to account for offset, somebody uses Patka somebody uses ballistic helmet. If the funds being tied to domestic procurement is the impediment then why weren't the foreign OEMs pursued to partner with a desi company and manufacture locally? Every single item isn't a fighter jet procurement- still they are unable to utilise funds. Can't buy jets easily, but can't buy stuff like plates and scopes too? They really need some management lessons from a good business school.
Babudom-lobby-CAG doesn't let them move ahead, pride of Uniform doesn't make them accept that there are several lacunae in the organisational procurement, training, doctrine everything.
 

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