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All Issues Pertaining to Serviceability of MiG-29K Sorted Out - Indian Navy

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https://sputniknews.com/military/201812041070349589-indian-navy-resolves-service-issue-mig29/

MiG-29K, being the choice of aircraft for both the aircraft carriers, viz. INS Vikramaditya and an under-construction domestically-produced aircraft carrier, as well as two naval air stations on the East and West coast, is the mainstay of the Indian Navy’s air defence fleet.

Indian Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba on Monday announced that the issues related to maintenance and availability of spare parts for the MiG-29K fleet have been sorted out. Admiral Lanba also stated that the defence ministry is working on how to resolve payment issues due to the US sanctions.

The announcement holds significance as these issues were believed to have been posing major impediments to improving the serviceability of the aircraft.

According to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, in 2016, serviceability of the MiG-29K was unsatisfactory (37.63%) until 2015. However, recent efforts made by the two countries have improved serviceability to around 70%. Serviceability implies that the aircraft is technically available and is not undergoing a scheduled repair or overhaul at any level.

In the initial years of service, the MiG-29K was riddled with problems relating to the airframe, RD MK-33 engine, and fly-by-wire systems. Fly-by-wire (FBW) is a system that replaces the conventional manual flight controls of an aircraft with an electronic interface and allows automatic signals sent by the aircraft computers to perform functions without the pilot's input, as in systems that automatically stabilise the aircraft.

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The Indian government concluded a contract in January 2004 with the Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG for the acquisition of 16 MiG-29K/KUB aircraft and associated equipment at a cost of $740.35 million, which included 13 aircraft for Admiral Gorshkov (i.e., INS Vikramaditya). Thereafter in 2010, an option clause contract for the acquisition of an additional 29 MiG 29K/KUB aircraft was concluded at a cost of $1.46 billion. The Indian Navy had placed a total order for 113 engines along with 45 aircraft (90 installed on aircraft and 23 spare engines) under the main and option clause contract.
 
Great jet. And good bunch of naval aviators flying them (couple came in front of us straight out of VT-21).

I don't know what loose ends are for you, my apologies for the confusion.

Cheers !!!

Mig 29 had few major issues.
1) Low availability and high maintenance.
2) Lack of decent EW suite
3) Comparatively low range.

They are sorted out as follows.

1) Serviceability is improved by taking various precautionary measures. Once upon a time the serviceability was less than 40% is now improved to 65%+ and target is 80%.
2) A very effective EW suite is developed in collaboration with Israeli firm. Now Mig 29 series have top class EW.
3) In Mig UPG program, Fuel capacity is improved.
 
Great jet. And good bunch of naval aviators flying them (couple came in front of us straight out of VT-21).

I don't know what loose ends are for you, my apologies for the confusion.

Cheers !!!

This misconception that Russian aircraft are difficult to maintain and are always grounded.
 
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