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India worried as Russia grounds MiG-29 fleet
Times of India ^ | March 13,2009 | Rajat Pandit

Posted on 03/13/2009 9:37:24 PM PDT by NoLibZone

NEW DELHI: In a move fraught with major implications for India, Russia has grounded a major chunk of its MiG-29 fleet due to structural defects. The Indian Air Force (IAF) operates over 60 MiG-29s as "all-weather air-superiority fighters".

Moreover, the Indian Navy is soon to get 16 MiG-29Ks—the fighter's naval variant designed to operate from an aircraft carrier's deck—as part of the original $1.5 billion package deal signed with Russia in 2004 for Admiral Gorshkov.

Sources said a navy team recently returned empty-handed from Russia after the delivery of its 16 MiG-29Ks was postponed because of Moscow's decision to ground its own MiG-29s. Russia apparently grounded its entire fleet of about 300 MiG-29s, codenamed 'Fulcrum' by Nato during the Cold War, after a couple of them crashed in southern Siberia in October-December due to the disintegration of their tail fins.

Subsequently, around 90 MiG-29s have so far been found unsafe to fly during ongoing checks, while 100 have been cleared to take to the skies. Incidentally, Algeria had last year returned its 15 MiG-29s to Russia, holding that their quality was poor, which was strongly contested by Moscow.

This does not augur well for India. As earlier reported by TOI, the IAF is already grappling with a huge dip in the number of its fighter squadrons, down to just 32 from the "sanctioned strength" of 39.5. The IAF hopes to reach its "desired strength" of 42 squadrons only by 2020 or so.

Another reason is that even as India haggles with Russia over its additional $2 billion demand for Gorshkov's refit, the defence ministry has cleared the navy's proposal to buy 29 additional MiG-29Ks for Rs 5,380 crore.

The procurement has been approved because both Gorshkov and the indigenous aircraft carrier, being built at the Cochin Shipyard, will operate MiG-29Ks once the two desperately needed warships are inducted into service in the next decade.

The immediate concern, however, is for the IAF, which operates three MiG-29 squadrons along the western front for air defence purposes. "We have received no word from Russia. We are continuing to fly our MiG-29s from Halwara and Jamnagar," a senior officer said.

The IAF had inducted over 70 twin-engined MiG-29s from 1986 onwards but has lost several of them in crashes, though these fighters are not as accident-prone as the single-engined MiG-21s or the recently phased out MiG-23s.


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: india; navair; putin; russia
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1 posted on 03/13/2009 9:37:24 PM PDT by NoLibZone
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To: NoLibZone

2 posted on 03/13/2009 9:38:14 PM PDT by NoLibZone (The ObamaNation - Calls 911 to report : "My McNuggets are an emergency")
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To: NoLibZone

3 posted on 03/13/2009 9:49:14 PM PDT by Westlander (Unleash the Neutron Bomb)
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To: NoLibZone
This does not augur well for India.

More like:

These will auger into the ground well for India.

4 posted on 03/13/2009 9:56:12 PM PDT by dersepp (I Am A Militia Of One)
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ahhhhhhh....the poor little miggees go boom-boom. My heart bleeds......NYET!!!


5 posted on 03/13/2009 9:57:42 PM PDT by ak267
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To: NoLibZone

Has there ever been such a recall of F-16s?


6 posted on 03/13/2009 9:59:55 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet ("To insist on strength is not war-mongering. It is peace-mongering." Barry Goldwater)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I don’t know.

Has there?


7 posted on 03/13/2009 10:03:22 PM PDT by NoLibZone (To save our nation a Strongly Worded e-mail may be in order.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Not that I am aware of. There may have been for certain F-15 variants when they were still flying but they were flying for so long, too.


8 posted on 03/13/2009 10:07:09 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
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To: NoLibZone

Can’t we sell India the F-18?


9 posted on 03/13/2009 10:08:43 PM PDT by ROTB (It is easy being "pro-choice" when you're not the one getting killed.)
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To: ROTB

We?

Obama believes that war planes are very bad.

They create a large carbon footprint in manufacture and operation and they hurt people.


10 posted on 03/13/2009 10:13:46 PM PDT by NoLibZone (To save our nation a Strongly Worded e-mail may be in order.)
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To: NoLibZone
The Indian Air Force (IAF) operates over 60 MiG-29s as "all-weather air-superiority fighters".

No problem.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) operates over 60 MiG-29s as "all almost-all-weather air-superiority fighters".

11 posted on 03/13/2009 11:07:37 PM PDT by VeniVidiVici (Yes, Gorbachev is better than Obama. At least Gorbachev admitted he was a Communist)
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To: NoLibZone

What? No “Lemon Law”?


12 posted on 03/14/2009 12:03:13 AM PDT by Birdsbane (4 Eyes on the Demo-Commie Muzzie Lovers!)
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Comment #13 Removed by Moderator

To: NoLibZone; Allegra; big'ol_freeper; Lil'freeper; TrueKnightGalahad; blackie; Larry Lucido; ...
Re: India worried as Russia grounds... MiG-29 fleet

It is the same... old story, campers---

Where... there is smoke--

There... is fire!

14 posted on 03/14/2009 12:36:29 AM PDT by Bender2 ("I've got a twisted sense of humor, and everything amuses me." RAH Beyond this Horizon)
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To: Bender2

Looks like an f-fiftenski that can’t take the heat. nice lines though.


15 posted on 03/14/2009 12:51:38 AM PDT by Dosa26
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To: NoLibZone
Here is 25% of India's fleet.


16 posted on 03/14/2009 3:25:54 AM PDT by jws3sticks (Hillary can take a very long walk on a very short pier, anytime, and the sooner the better!)
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To: ROTB
Can’t we sell India the F-18?

Maybe, but I suspect the Indians view the US as market of last resort, due to unreliability.

17 posted on 03/14/2009 5:10:34 AM PDT by Oztrich Boy ( As for a future life, every man must judge for himself between conflicting vague probabilities. - D)
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To: Bender2

Fire is a bitch!!


18 posted on 03/14/2009 7:22:52 AM PDT by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: ROTB

F-18’s have short range and require in-air refueling...not entirely appropriate for India’s vast size and topography and budget and infrastructure.

F-15’s and F-16’s would be a better fit...neighboring Pakistan shares much of the same terrain (e.g. long hostile distances between airports) and loves the F-16.

The F-35 would be appropriate for India, as well...if a bit pricey.


19 posted on 03/14/2009 7:33:13 AM PDT by Southack (Media Bias means that Castro won't be punished for Cuban war crimes against Black Angolans in Africa)
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To: Oztrich Boy
Maybe, but I suspect the Indians view the US as market of last resort, due to unreliability.

I assume you mean unreliability of supply. If I was an Indian pilot I would be more concerned about aircraft reliability that supply unreliability.

20 posted on 03/14/2009 9:37:06 AM PDT by freedumb2003 (Communism comes to America: 1/20/2009. Keep your powder dry, folks.)
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