Russia to the rescue of IAF, offers 21 MiG-29s to boost strength

[Ashwin]

New Delhi: Faced with a depleting strength, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is in talks with Russia to buy 21 MiG-29 fighter aircraft that are lying with Moscow since the late 1980s.

Top IAF sources told ThePrint that the Russians will upgrade the aircraft to the standard that India wants.

“The price offered by the Russians is good. Even though it was built at the same time when we bought the earlier MiG-29 squadrons, they have never flown,” a source said.

India currently has three squadrons of MiG-29 — a twin-engine single-seat air superiority fighter aircraft. One squadron comprises 18 aircraft.

These aircraft are currently being upgraded in-house by the IAF.

“The Russians will upgrade the 21 aircraft to the standard of the upgraded ones here. We are in talks to see how and at what price the deal can be done,” a source said.

Sources said this also rules out any additional orders for Su-30 MKI to the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) except for the nine aircraft that the IAF might order to replace the ones that crashed.

A high-level IAF team was in Russia last month to check on the fighter aircraft and it has submitted a favourable report to the Air Headquarters.

India was the first international customer of Russia for its MiG-29s

Russia to the rescue of IAF, offers 21 MiG-29s to boost strength

 

[R!cK]

New Delhi: Faced with a depleting strength, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is in talks with Russia to buy 21 MiG-29 fighter aircraft that are lying with Moscow since the late 1980s.

Top IAF sources told ThePrint that the Russians will upgrade the aircraft to the standard that India wants.

“The price offered by the Russians is good. Even though it was built at the same time when we bought the earlier MiG-29 squadrons, they have never flown,” a source said.

India currently has three squadrons of MiG-29 — a twin-engine single-seat air superiority fighter aircraft. One squadron comprises 18 aircraft.

These aircraft are currently being upgraded in-house by the IAF.

“The Russians will upgrade the 21 aircraft to the standard of the upgraded ones here. We are in talks to see how and at what price the deal can be done,” a source said.

Sources said this also rules out any additional orders for Su-30 MKI to the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) except for the nine aircraft that the IAF might order to replace the ones that crashed.

A high-level IAF team was in Russia last month to check on the fighter aircraft and it has submitted a favourable report to the Air Headquarters.

India was the first international customer of Russia for its MiG-29s

Russia to the rescue of IAF, offers 21 MiG-29s to boost strength

Hopefully not another scam in the making. Mig-29s that are not flown for the last 30 years, why were they stored for so long when Russia could easily upgrade and use them? The storage conditions for even active Russian aircraft are pitful, wonder how could they manage to store these aircraft for several decades without any severe degradation in airframe quality. Sometimes price is not the only concern, dealing with old Russian hardware had already cost us alot in the past.

 

[Himanshu]

“The price offered by the Russians is good. Even though it was built at the same time when we bought the earlier MiG-29 squadrons, they have never flown,” a source said.

Upgrade costs $15 mn per piece so I'm hoping it will not cost more than $25 mn per piece.

@randomradio

Taiwan won't sell their M2K so this is the best option right now.

 

[vstol Jockey]

Upgrade costs $15 mn per piece so I'm hoping it will not cost more than $25 mn per piece.

@randomradio

Taiwan won't sell their M2K so this is best option right now.

I will go for two sqns of Mig-29s and all the M2Ks of UAE for IAF. This will make five sqns of each of these aircraft. and provide 4.5 sqns for IAF in next 2-3 yrs. Add to that additional SU-30MKI sqn. and two Rafale sqns. We will have a 37 sqn IAF by 2023.

 

[Ashwin]

Hopefully not another scam in the making. Mig-29s that are not flown for the last 30 years, why were they stored for so long when Russia could easily upgrade and use them? The storage conditions for even active Russian aircraft are pitful, wonder how could they manage to store these aircraft for several decades without any severe degradation in airframe quality. Sometimes price is not the only concern, dealing with old Russian hardware had already cost us alot in the past.

We can easily check the state of the airframe. It's not an issue. They are also far cheaper to procure compared to mirage.

Upgrade costs $15 mn per piece so I'm hoping it will not cost more than $25 mn per piece

They should be offering the airframe for free.

Taiwan won't sell their M2K so this is best option right now

Why?

 

[Himanshu]

They should be offering the airframe for free.

Well we're talking about Russia

Why?

I don't think M2K are available for sale and MiG-29UPG are great.

Mirage 2000 jets only need 6 minutes to prepa... | Taiwan News

 

[randomradio]

I will go for two sqns of Mig-29s and all the M2Ks of UAE for IAF. This will make five sqns of each of these aircraft. and provide 4.5 sqns for IAF in next 2-3 yrs. Add to that additional SU-30MKI sqn. and two Rafale sqns. We will have a 37 sqn IAF by 2023.

UAE has no interest in selling their aircraft yet. But the Taiwanese want to sell their M-2000s.

 

[RATHORE]

I will go for two sqns of Mig-29s and all the M2Ks of UAE for IAF. This will make five sqns of each of these aircraft. and provide 4.5 sqns for IAF in next 2-3 yrs. Add to that additional SU-30MKI sqn. and two Rafale sqns. We will have a 37 sqn IAF by 2023.

Agreed, India needs to pounce on these opportunities. I've heard Malaysia and Greece & Taiwan also have MiG-29's and Mirages (respectively). We need an interim "band aid" solution so we can hold the fort until Tejas & Rafales arrive in significant numbers.

This also pertains to the discussion we had on one of the Pakistan threads; a short term bulk up for the Air Force would come in handy in the event of an imminent conflict.

 

[Ankit Kumar]

Better get Qatari Mirages, and even UAE was looking to sell some of theirs to Egypt. French are now replacing theirs too, and Greeks aren't in a great financial situation, and have already shown their preference for F16s. So options are there.

Don't buy any more Migs, please. The era of Migs is over.

 

[Sathya]

Better get Qatari Mirages, and even UAE was looking to sell some of theirs to Egypt. French are now replacing theirs too, and Greeks aren't in a great financial situation, and have already shown their preference for F16s. So options are there.

Don't buy any more Migs, please. The era of Migs is over.

Mirages are expensive to upgrade.
Hal speed isnt enough already. With big backlog.
Will Dassault upgrade in france at cost suitable for us ?

Migs getting upgraded in Russia.
Probably at low cost.

Money is the factor i guess .

If LCA mk1 is at same 25 million $ ,
Why don't we build the same for 2 more squads .

Performance is not satisfied yet better than mig 21 s.
And facilities are getting expanded.
Single engine , cheaper to operate.
New frames with longer life .


@randomradio

 

[Sathya]

IAF in talks with Russia for urgent MiG 29 purchase

Seems at 40 million$ a pop.
With weapons and accessories.

 

[Himanshu]

Broadsword: IAF wants to accept Russian offer for 21 surplus MiG-29 fighters

IAF has been invited to buy them at the price they were built – which is below $25 million (Rs 175 crore). “A high-level IAF team has returned from Russia, where we found the MiG-29s to be in excellent condition. They could make an excellent addition to our fleet and we are submitting a positive report,” said a senior air marshal who is directly involved in air force acquisitions.

Russia has confirmed that it will upgrade the 21 MiG-29s now being offered to the same standard as IAF’s other three MiG-29UPG squadrons. That would add another $15 million or so to each fighter’s price.

 

[Ashwin]

Broadsword: IAF wants to accept Russian offer for 21 surplus MiG-29 fighters

IAF has been invited to buy them at the price they were built – which is below $25 million (Rs 175 crore). “A high-level IAF team has returned from Russia, where we found the MiG-29s to be in excellent condition. They could make an excellent addition to our fleet and we are submitting a positive report,” said a senior air marshal who is directly involved in air force acquisitions.

Russia has confirmed that it will upgrade the 21 MiG-29s now being offered to the same standard as IAF’s other three MiG-29UPG squadrons. That would add another $15 million or so to each fighter’s price.

View attachment 4335

They want us to pay $25 million for airframes left unused last 25+ years ?

 

[vstol Jockey]

They want us to pay $25 million for airframes left unused last 25+ years ?

No complete aircraft with full fitments but additional USD15m/each for making them UPG standard. Which is what we paid for 69 aircraft. But these will be zero airframe hour aircraft and not used airframe like our own Mig-29s.

 

[Proud_Indian]

No complete aircraft with full fitments but additional USD15m/each for making them UPG standard. Which is what we paid for 69 aircraft. But these will be zero airframe hour aircraft and not used airframe like our own Mig-29s.

I heard they have 34 aircraft to offer then why don't we buy all of them why only 21?

 

[vstol Jockey]

I heard they have 34 aircraft to offer then why don't we buy all of them why only 21?

Have faith. We might go for all of them to have a total of five squadrons.

 

[Ashwin]

No complete aircraft with full fitments but additional USD15m/each for making them UPG standard. Which is what we paid for 69 aircraft. But these will be zero airframe hour aircraft and not used airframe like our own Mig-29s.

But the original equipment would be useless as we will be replacing them with new UPG standard. Why should we pay for it ?

 

[Himanshu]

I heard they have 34 aircraft to offer then why don't we buy all of them why only 21?

I believe IAF buying best airframes out of the total.

Have faith. We might go for all of them to have a total of five squadrons.

69 aircraft= 3 squad, right

One squad is usually 16-18 aircraft so its make 54 aircraft for 3 squads, remaining 15 aircraft. We are buying 21 so 21+15=36= 2 squad.

5th squad= hidden?

 

[Ashwin]

69 aircraft= 3 squad, right

One squad is usually 16-18 aircraft so its make 54 aircraft for 3 squads, remaining 15 aircraft. We are buying 21 so 21+15=36= 2 squad

For Russian aircrafts we usually order more than 18 aircrafts per sqd to offset it's lower availability.

In the case of MKI at any given time 20+ aircraft are undergoing repair/overhull in BRD or HAL.

 

[Bharath]

If LCA mk1 is at same 25 million $ ,
Why don't we build the same for 2 more squads .

Performance is not satisfied yet better than mig 21 s.

Mig 29 - 20t max weight take off - twin engines - better for air attack roles
LCA is not in the same class.

heck if we are getting a used Mig 29 for same cost as LCA, thats not good for HAL - LCA was touted to be the "cheap to produce in mass" option.