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However the IAF is confident that operational procurement plans are in place to ensure
its capability to operate in India’s expanding strategic environment, stretching from the
Persian Gulf right up to the Malacca Strait.
The 4th largest air force in the world’s eventual aim is to transform into an
‘Expeditionary aerospace force’, with an innate capability of rapid deployment and
operations at a global scale.
This commentary provides a quick round-up of some of the major upgrade programs
underway.
IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, Program: MIG 29 “BAAZ” upgrade / Engine
has outlined a three-pronged strategy
• Proposal finalized – December ‘06, inked in
for the Air Force. One, ‘to see first and March 2008 with RSK-MiG
see the farthest’, with air-borne warning
and control systems (AWACS) and • Price:
satellites. Two, ‘to reach first and the o US$ 1,000 million for 62 units
farthest’, with mid-air re-fullers to o US$ 250 million for 120 engines
enhance the radius of operations of its
fighters. And three, ‘to hit hard and
accurately’, with advanced missiles and Background: In February ‘06, the Indian
precision guided munitions. (PGM) government decided to upgrade its existing
fleet of MiG- 29S, MiG-29B and the twin seater
MiG-29UB. This upgrade would provide the
fighters with multi role capabilities and
improve their ability to carry advanced
weapons. The upgraded aircrafts would be
called MiG-29SMT / UBT fighters and their
flight-hour lifetimes would be extended from
25 years-2500hrs to 40 years-3500hrs. The
Russian company RSK-MiG already had a
dedicated upgrade kit for this program. It was
decided that the first 6 fighters would be
upgraded in Russia, while the rest would be
upgraded in India- at the base repair depot-
Nasik. The program was to be completed in 3
years from the date of the contract being
signed. (August 2008)
The upgraded fighters would be fitted with
extra fuel tanks in a thickened center spine.
Also included in the upgrade would be a new
avionics suite including the Phaztron Zhuk-ME
radar and in-flight refueling capacities.