Indian Navy MiG 29K

Flying Dagger

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Out older fulcrums are from the '80-90s. The MiG-29Ks were recieved post 2010 (thus 2050 approx.)

There is nothing in inherentlynwrong with the jets, all of them are UPG standard. But like any other Russian Naval aircraft they simply can't takeoff carriers with anything more than few AAMs... As we are trying to drift from that air-defence-missile-attack doctrine, IN have need for specialised TEDBF. But IAF can make good use of them for another 2-3 decades.
Carrier operation takes a toll on the airframe too due to hard and short landings. Even F-18s suffered the same in USN but their airforce counterparts among other airforces operating them are able to use them with less maintenance and more flight hours.

I doubt we will take them till 2050 max 40 around. But yes airforce will be taking over them once Navy is able to find replacement .


Regarding UPG upgrade well IAF upgrade was based on Navy's Mig 29 k. So they are already upgraded though there have been another upgrades of mission computer and IAF may seek AESA too so eventually they will need upgrade in next 5 years or so.
 

Bleh

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Carrier operation takes a toll on the airframe too due to hard and short landings. Even F-18s suffered the same in USN but their airforce counterparts among other airforces operating them are able to use them with less maintenance and more flight hours.

I doubt we will take them till 2050 max 40 around. But yes airforce will be taking over them once Navy is able to find replacement .


Regarding UPG upgrade well IAF upgrade was based on Navy's Mig 29 k. So they are already upgraded though there have been another upgrades of mission computer and IAF may seek AESA too so eventually they will need upgrade in next 5 years or so.
Ok. Valid points... But I meant if the navy fighters were moved to IAF in Ladakh, then.
 

Flying Dagger

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Ok. Valid points... But I meant if the navy fighters were moved to IAF in Ladakh, then.
One sqd is already there.

IAF Mig 29 upgrade will begin from 2022/23 onwards I guess. And unless it includes AESA and avionics upgrade too the minor mission computer etc upgrade will be done by HAL so IN Migs can get them too anytime it is needed
 

Ghost hale

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One sqd is already there.

IAF Mig 29 upgrade will begin from 2022/23 onwards I guess. And unless it includes AESA and avionics upgrade too the minor mission computer etc upgrade will be done by HAL so IN Migs can get them too anytime it is needed
In ladakh, Its Mig 29 UPG squadron right? 29Ks are not there.
 

Ghost hale

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IN Mig 29Ks are operating from there too 20 aircrafts were provided to raise one sqd rest were kept by IN for carrier operation.
So out of 41, with 50% availability rate, IN gave IAF 20 to raise a squadron. And what about INS vikramaditya then?
 

Trololo

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Carrier operation takes a toll on the airframe too due to hard and short landings. Even F-18s suffered the same in USN but their airforce counterparts among other airforces operating them are able to use them with less maintenance and more flight hours.

I doubt we will take them till 2050 max 40 around. But yes airforce will be taking over them once Navy is able to find replacement .


Regarding UPG upgrade well IAF upgrade was based on Navy's Mig 29 k. So they are already upgraded though there have been another upgrades of mission computer and IAF may seek AESA too so eventually they will need upgrade in next 5 years or so.
IMO IAF should not take them over from IN for 2 main reasons:

1> IN pilots can train to conduct missions around our land borders from land itself, which includes CAPs, strike roles, and offensive A2A missions.
2> Required numbers of TEDBF won't come overnight. So having a carrier capable aircraft till then is key. And only navy pilots can man those.
 

Trololo

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One sqd is already there.

IAF Mig 29 upgrade will begin from 2022/23 onwards I guess. And unless it includes AESA and avionics upgrade too the minor mission computer etc upgrade will be done by HAL so IN Migs can get them too anytime it is needed
When the time for the upgrade comes the MiG 29K should get almost all of the avionics and weapons from the LCA Mk2 project.
 

Flying Dagger

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IMO IAF should not take them over from IN for 2 main reasons:

1> IN pilots can train to conduct missions around our land borders from land itself, which includes CAPs, strike roles, and offensive A2A missions.
2> Required numbers of TEDBF won't come overnight. So having a carrier capable aircraft till then is key. And only navy pilots can man those.
You mean for maritime patrol and strike ... For the purpose of anti sub et Navy is acquiring more P-8 and using them. The rest is for IAF to take care.

Sukhoi /Jags are also doing the role to an extent and will meet the need better specially sukhois.

If Navy is going to wait for Tedbf and there are no plans for acquiring anything in between than it is highly unlikely Navy will be able to free these Mig 29Ks and might have to continue using them.
 

omaebakabaka

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For us air to air refuelling refers to Buddy refuelling not via tanker most of the time, on the aircraft carriers right?
Generally most carrier take off's are not at full load and most missions do not require full loads for the role of these aircraft. In the missile era, bramhos and others will do their job first to take out airfields and missile bases and radars before getting the carrier into that range of the enemy in this case Pakis for the most part. Most of the time its buddy refueling for us and even the US but their carriers have huge number to do that without resulting in mission rate drop
 

omaebakabaka

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You mean for maritime patrol and strike ... For the purpose of anti sub et Navy is acquiring more P-8 and using them. The rest is for IAF to take care.

Sukhoi /Jags are also doing the role to an extent and will meet the need better specially sukhois.

If Navy is going to wait for Tedbf and there are no plans for acquiring anything in between than it is highly unlikely Navy will be able to free these Mig 29Ks and might have to continue using them.
Yes, considering Tedbf is still years away realistically speaking...mig-29ks are here to stay for while and doubt if they will get the deep upgrades either like avionics and what not. Mostly they will go for imports for IAC-1 and IAC-2 hopefully tedbf.
 

Trololo

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You mean for maritime patrol and strike ... For the purpose of anti sub et Navy is acquiring more P-8 and using them. The rest is for IAF to take care.

Sukhoi /Jags are also doing the role to an extent and will meet the need better specially sukhois.

If Navy is going to wait for Tedbf and there are no plans for acquiring anything in between than it is highly unlikely Navy will be able to free these Mig 29Ks and might have to continue using them.
Doesn't have to be maritime patrol and strike. It can also mean stationing a MiG 29K squadron manned by the navy at a forward base in RJ or J&K, where they will conduct missions in step with the IAF. In exercises like Gagan Shakti and Vayu Shakti we do not see IN bombing runs. And TBH IN's air arm capabilities wrt A2G strikes is quite limited because of the handicaps in the current 29Ks. And same goes for their A2A load out. Which is where the comprehensive upgrade from the LCA Mk2 comes in.
 

Aniruddha Mulay

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Should additional Mig 29K be considered so that both INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant have a full complement of 26 jets per carrier?
 

omaebakabaka

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IAC-1 was designed around the 29K.
Yes, plus recent US attitude towards India increased the odds of not considering F-18 hornets, so that leaves Rafale's but very unlikely (1 in 10000 odds)....so mig-29k is the most likely option but perhaps upgraded with AESA and so on....tedbf certainly wont be ready by that time.
 

Trololo

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Yes, plus recent US attitude towards India increased the odds of not considering F-18 hornets, so that leaves Rafale's but very unlikely (1 in 10000 odds)....so mig-29k is the most likely option but perhaps upgraded with AESA and so on....tedbf certainly wont be ready by that time.
Rafale M won't fit in IAC-1. TEDBF is designed for VKD and IAC-1. Till TEDBF comes its the MiG 29K.
 

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Can anybody tell us what kind of precision strikes the IN MiG 29Ks can do? What PGMs are used by the IN's MiG 29K?
 

Flying Dagger

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Should additional Mig 29K be considered so that both INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant have a full complement of 26 jets per carrier?
I don't think they are still in production it stopped long back why would we pay extra for it now ? May be russia can sell the second hand ones it operate .

But should have went for it earlier when they costed less than 30 mn or clubbed it with mmrca entirely then. Better lease a sqd of Rafale or operate the existing ones with 18 fighter jets each and eight in reserve and wait for tedbf
 

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