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.
“I assume you mean unreliability of supply”
As in, the US DOS just ordered GE to stop work on the new Indian ships. India is PO’d.
With good reason. WTF are we thinking?
Government thinks? If the US Government were a person, it would be involuntarily commited to a home for the insane.
Which makes it VERY difficult to sell US products outside the US.
Production of the F-18 stopped a few years back, so u only have second-hand jets and most folks don’t want used carrier aircraft. The Super Hornet though is on offer to India.
Those are Indian navy jets.
If there’s no supply reliability, nobody would want to test aircraft reliability.
Guess they should have picked on those surplus Scooters - Singapore did, and they are still flying.
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That is would be nice for India to be a better counter to the West for the expanding Chinese Navy?
India worried as Russia grounds MiG-29 fleet
The Times of India | 14 Mar 2009 | Rajat Pandit
Posted on 03/13/2009 8:37:58 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2206316/posts
Russia to show MiG-35 jet fighter at Aero India 2009
RIA Novosti | 02/ 02/ 2009
Posted on 02/03/2009 9:11:04 PM PST by pobeda1945
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2177946/posts
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