IAF to induct upgraded Migs next year

“We consider ourselves to be a strategic air power establishment of the IAF in the western sector,ever ready for operations. We are fully geared up to operate in any given time frame like any other Air Force station of the country,” said Air Commodore H S Arora,Air Officer Commanding of the Adampur air base.

The Adampur base,the second largest IAF base in the country,already has two frontline fighter squadrons and will see another squadron moving from Jamnagar in Gujarat soon.

The IAF is also working on extending the service life of MiG 29s from 25 to 40 years,for which the Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG has signed a contract with the MoD to upgrade over 60 fighters in service with the IAF since 1980. The upgrade is taking place under the $950-million contract signed in March 2008.

While the first lot would be inducted by mid-2010,all the 60 fighters are scheduled to be in by 2013. “We are looking forward to inducting upgraded MiG 29s which will happen sometime next year. The Ministry of Defence and IAF headquarters are monitoring the upgrade,” said Arora.

He said while six MiG-29 fighters are being upgraded and flight-tested in Russia,the remaining aircraft will be overhauled in India with the aid of Russian experts. “The upgraded MiG 29 fighters will have better radar systems and avionics to help fighters,a new weapon control system,modernised RD-33 engines,which would increase the aircraft hitting capability from long ranges. Its lethality would be increased,” said Arora.

“The idea is to upgrade the MiG-29 from an aerial interceptor,air superiority aircraft to a multi-role fighter-bomber aircraft capable of striking mobile and stationary targets on the ground and at sea,” said another officer.

The IAF,which turns 77 this year,has been undergoing modernisation in a big way. It has inducted one Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft,while two more will follow in 2010. Apart from this,the IAF is also acquiring three mid-air refuelers,six C-130 transport aircraft,80 medium-lift helicopters,Spyder air defence systems,medium power radars and low-level transportable radar. The IAF is also upgrading six airstrips in Arunachal Pradesh.