70% of IAF fleet is Russian, also lower availability is no longer the issue.
Don't understand your point
BRD just started overhauling MKIs last year while HAL do 12/yr.
IAF needs more multi-role aircraft, MMRCA won't be coming before 2023.
Russia to the rescue of IAF, offers 21 MiG-29s to boost strength
- Thread starter Ashwin
- Start date
70% of IAF fleet is Russian, also lower availability is no longer the issue.
Don't understand your point
BRD just started overhauling MKIs last year while HAL do 12/yr.
IAF needs more multi-role aircraft, MMRCA won't be coming before 2023.
What do you mean? Those are different platforms.
They also do regular maintenance and repair for which the aircrafts would be unavailable for the squadron. Soviet maintenance philosophy was swapping utilized planes for repaired ones in a continuous fashion from the maintenance deport. As oppose to Western of having an particular number of airframes to a sqd/base and maintain a certain percentage airworthiness. Russian origin fighters are cheaper to procure but harder and costly to maintain.
We will have 270+ MKIs while IAF insisting a total sqd of 13-14 (13.5*18=243). Remaining will be unassigned in BRD or HAL undergoing maintenance or overhaul.
Case in point 2015 report:
I'm assuming (b)(c) won't be considered as part of a sqd when calculating percentage availability.
Last edited:
This was my point, $25 million for a shell that doesn't include engine, cockpit instruments and most of the electronic equipments. Why would we pay $40 million just for the aircraft that wont include weapons or training?
Meanwhile Egypt paid just $45 Million per jet for their brand new Mig-29Ms, that includes training, spares and logistics since Egypt has no existing infrastrucre for Mig-29s.
Russia's Landmark $2Bln Deal With Egypt for MiG Fighter Jets
15:10 25.05.2015(updated 15:58 25.05.2015)
Russia has agreed to deliver 46 MiG-29 air superiority fighters to Egypt and is soon expected to sign a deal worth approximately $2 billion, what might become the largest order since the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia’s business daily Vedomosti reports, quoting a source close to the aviation industry.
Earlier in February Sergei Korotkov, the CEO of Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG, said that his company was ready to supply MIG-35 jets to Egypt. The MiG-35 is Russia's latest generation fighter, and is a successor to the MiG-29M/M2 and MiG-29K/KUB.
Russia's Landmark $2Bln Deal With Egypt for MiG Fighter Jets
Sir, you and me both know that it's not just the utilisation of the airframe that matters. The amount of corrosion and the condition of storage for 30 years are also important factors. You can polish it outside and give it a clear coat to make it look brand new outside but inside it might be another rust bucket. If the figures in the article are correct, its beyond stupidity to spend $25+15 = $40 million dollar on this junk. Just my personal opinion.
Mig squadrons usually constitute of 21 aircraft due to longer maintenance duration and difficulty in sourcing spares. Usually few aircraft are cannibalize to keep the other operational. It is not very different from the Mig-29s IAF currently operate. 66 units were ordered to keep 3 operational squadrons.
Sukhoi squadrons are usually composed of 19 aircraft per SQ, with the exception of Brahmos SQ which will have 20 aircraft per SQ. Each SQ sends out their unit one by one for long term maintenance sequentially to prevent low availability condition. However the short term checks are performed in the base and usually have a grounding duration from few hours to few days. The aircraft that are not cleared for active operation are called AoG or Aircraft on Ground. The aircraft undergoing short term maintenance are also included when you calculate serviceablity as they are undergoing scheduled short term maintenance. Hence every SQ is only expected to have about 14-16 units that are in serviceable condition. And 1 unit is designated as attrition replacement.
Good Day!
Last edited:
Algeria returns 'faulty' MiG-29s
Algeria is returning 12 RSK MiG-29SMT single-seat fighters and UBT-model trainers to Russia, after refusing to accept the aircraft amid allegations of poor manufacturing quality.
The aircraft are part of a package for 34 MiG-29SMT/UBTs worth $1.3 billion, with an additional $500 million for the modernisation of 36 early-model MiG-29s acquired for $18 million each from Belarus and Ukraine.
These should have been upgraded to the SMT/UBT standard, but following shipment of the first batch last year, the Algerian air force found that some "new" equipment actually dated back to the early 1990s, when the aircraft had been manufactured.
Algeria returns 'faulty' MiG-29s
$40M is too expensive if the price is for the jets and upgrade alone. But if the price includes a very large spares pool, then it's a very good deal.
A brand new Mig-29M can come in at the same cost after all.
A brand new Mig-29M can come in at the same cost after all.
I am in India, and will meetup with some old friends and a couple of russian techs tonight, will ask about the process for mothballed aircrafts.
not for me atleast, now in the last leg in phuket.
on the Mig 29's , mothballed airframes are preserved by the manufacturer, while the aircrafts issued to RuAF are under the base commander, and thus in some cases not taken care of, with some looking like rust buckets literally plants and weed growing on the aircraft. The russians seemed to didn't admit there was anything wrong with the Mig29 and its always someone else's fault.
Is it feasible to have AESA radar for just one squad?
"Phazotron-NIIR is completing manufacture of the first AESA radar for the MiG-29," the source said. "In December we will assemble the unit and deliver it to the RSK MiG corporation that will integrate it onto a specially prepared fighter jet … and trials are scheduled for early 2019." According to the source, several foreign MiG-29 operators have expressed interest in the sensor, with one of these potentially fielding AESA-equipped 'Fulcrum' before Russia.
Phazotron-NIIR readies new AESA radar for Russian fighter trials | Jane's 360
@Ashwin
Its 62 MiG-29 fighters (54 fighters and 8 trainers); 18-20 fighter jets in a squadron. So yeah its 4 squads then. India to Purchase 21 Russian MiG-29 Jets to Improve Air Combat Strength - Report
Its unnecessary hassle to got for AESA on a single sqd. Uniformity and maintainability will take a hit. On top of it integration will take additional time which is something we don't have.
No, it's not feasible. The new AESA is being readied for the Mig-35, which is a modernised Mig-29M. The Mig-29s we are going for is the older 80s era jet, so installation of AESA on it requires a new development program, which is unnecessary expenditure on just 1 squadron. Based on the current threats we face and the short life of the jets themselves, we have no need for AESA anyway.
It is feasible on the IN's Mig-29s though, but their jets are still quite new and the current radars have a long life ahead of them. In case we end up buying more squadrons of the Mig-29K, then we can modernise it to the same standards as the Mig-35.
Sigh!
Reminds me of the situation I recall of our Tunguska AD system purchase - the Russians palmed off their used pieces of Chechen War vintage to India. Some had bullet holes on their 'skirt' which came undone in first local unit overhauling, 'friendly' rates offered to 'bargain' seeking bureaucrats. Of course, politics disallowed any action on that.
Reminds me of the situation I recall of our Tunguska AD system purchase - the Russians palmed off their used pieces of Chechen War vintage to India. Some had bullet holes on their 'skirt' which came undone in first local unit overhauling, 'friendly' rates offered to 'bargain' seeking bureaucrats. Of course, politics disallowed any action on that.