Upgraded Mig-21s — Air Chief to visit Russia to see trials

The chief — who celebrated his 60th birthday today — will be accompanied by Air Marshal J.S. Rai, Air Officer C-in-C (Training Command), apart from three other officers.

“The MiG-21s have been upgraded with better armament, delivery system and avionics. The Russians were testing the weapon firing capabilities and the chief is likely to witness the trials. The aircraft is Russian but not all of its avionics and the new equipment being added to it,” sources added.

Explaining the delay in the upgradation, an official said that the IAF was not relying just on Russian systems in the upgraded aircraft and had been scouting world over for best available. “Integrating better navigation equipment, radars, armament into the Russian system takes time. Therefore, the project is about two years behind schedule,” he revealed.

Tipnis had gone on record to say that MiG-21 aircraft would stay in the IAF till at least the end of this decade and sources say efforts are on to ensure that the 125 aircraft which will join the present fleet, in batches, by end 2001, are safe. “Most of the flight trials (of the two aircraft the chief will see in Russia) are over. In fact, the IAF insisted on two-and-a-half time more sorties during the trials. The armament trials are on and there have been some changes in the air frame to accommodate upgraded weapon systems,” an official added.

Though doubts have been raised about the safety record of the IAF’s warhorse — the oldest MiG-21 flying is 37-years-old, having clocked 3,300 flying hours — the IAF insists the upgraded aircraft will be safer, with enhanced operational capabilities with greater assurance of hitting the target. “With upgraded avionics, it will acquire the target faster, attack better and will have greater maneuverability,” sources said.

During his stay in Russia, the Air Chief will also see the progress in the Su-30 aircraft. The IAF has already acquired 18 such aircraft and with the number of stages cut down to three, the next batch (closest to what was envisaged) will arrive by end 2001.

Tipnis will also meet General A.M. Kornukoe, the commander-in-chief of the Russian Air Force, apart from interacting with other defence heads.