Interview with Cdr A.D. theophilus Flying, Trial and Testing Unit (MiG-29K)

[sudhir007]

FORCE - A Complete News Magazine on National Security - Defence Magazine

Commanding Officer, Intensive Flying, Trial and Testing Unit (MiG-29K), Cdr A.D. Theophilus
‘By the middle of next year, we expect all the 16 MiG-29K to be here’


What are the capabilities of MiG-29K that you will be exploiting here?
We needed an aircraft that could perform air to air, air to sea (anti-ship) and to some extent, air-to-ground roles. MiG-29K has been designed to perform all these three roles and has given us the capability to perform in all the three dimensions. Moreover, as it is a bigger aircraft with the state of the art equipment, it gives us greater accuracy.

What were the navy’s requirements given to the Russians for the development of this aircraft?
We wanted a completely multi-role fighter that could operate from the aircraft carrier. It had to be big enough to travel far and small enough to fit on the carrier. Though it is bigger than MiG-29B that the IAF operates, it has folding wings, which gives it a snug fit on the carrier. They were giving us analog fly-by-wire, but we asked for digital-fly-by wire with a lot of automation. In this respect, they have lived up to what we asked for.

Will you be able to put western origin weapon system on this aircraft?
The trend in fighters worldwide is to make a common bus which is the supply of the aircraft, since everything is electronically triggered. Hence, if the supply is not common you cannot integrate various weapon systems that are onboard. For this reason, all over NATO you have a common Mil Bus that runs on the aircraft. The Russians have also created a similar Mil Bus on the aircraft this time. As far as western weapons systems are concerned, it is only a matter of integrating them if we need to.

What is the weapon load that MiG-29K can carry?
It has four stations on each wing. So, it depends on us, as to how many weapons we want to carry. If we want to carry extra fuel, we carry less weapons, depending upon the role.

How many fighters have you got already and how many more are expected in what time frame?
India has contracted for MiG-29K in two phases. The first contract was for 16 aircraft followed by another for 29. The delivery of the first phase has started and we have got six aircraft here. By the middle of next year, we expect all the 16 aircraft to be here.

What is the role of your unit?
This is an Intensive Flying, Trial and Testing Unit (IFTTU) whose job is to prove the aircraft, both fly-worthiness and role-worthiness. Once that is done, this unit will get commissioned as INAS 303. We are hoping that this should happen in the first quarter of the next year.

What infrastructure will eventually come up for this aircraft?
Three hangars are coming up, one of which is ready now. Then a simulator complex is getting ready apart from the administrative building. We are also building various store houses for spares, armaments and so on.

Where did the pilot training happen?
The Navy had initially sent pilots to Russia for training. Subsequently, more pilots are being trained in India. Their ground training is already over and now the flight training is going to commence soon.

 

[sudhir007]

Flag Officer Naval Aviation, Rear Admiral Sudhir Pillai

How will MiG-29Ks change the station as well as the naval aviation operations?
MiG-29Ks are going to change the way we operate aircraft at sea. Their induction is going to definitively enhance our capabilities. Besides substantially stretching our air defence umbrella from what we currently have, we will get viable shore-strike capability with the MiG-29Ks. In addition to beyond visual range missiles, anti-ship missiles and precision guided munitions, the fighter also has buddy tanking capabilities. All this will extend the range of our operations and also give many tactical options, in addition to giving the fleet commander a very viable and potent weapon platform.

What is the induction schedule for the MiG-29Ks?
The first contract is for 16 aircraft. Six have already come, of which we have accepted four and we expect others to follow shortly. I understand that we have signed a subsequent contract for 29 additional MiG-29Ks. This should cater for, I believe, two squadrons and adequate reserves.

How effective can the LCA Navy be for carrier-based roles given that it is only an eight ton platform? What endurance can it have and what loads can it carry?
I wish we could straightaway develop a Rafale. But seriously, we have to look at the Indian Navy and its commitment towards indigenisation. I agree that we have made a modest start, but it has been a huge learning experience. LCA Navy will remain a modest platform with an uprated engine which will give us adequate capability at sea. It may not be what we want but it is our own aircraft. We are committed to being a builder’s navy. While it is easy to buy from abroad, sometimes it is extremely difficult to support those platforms. Our past experiences tell us that it is worth committing resources to develop our own assets.

Is there a possibility of the navy looking for another fighter, even after MiG-29K?
We are looking at what further capabilities we can acquire in a given time frame. And I believe that the decision on the next generation fighter will have to be taken well in time because it is synchronised with our ship-building plans. It is very difficult to build a ship when you don’t know which fighter will go on it. I think the next generation fighter will be for the follow-on to IAC II.

 

[KS]

How many fighters have you got already and how many more are expected in what time frame?
India has contracted for MiG-29K in two phases. The first contract was for 16 aircraft followed by another for 29. The delivery of the first phase has started and we have got six aircraft here. By the middle of next year, we expect all the 16 aircraft to be here.

WoW ! 45 of these latest Fulcrums....Excellent.

 

[Kinetic]

They were giving us analog fly-by-wire, but we asked for digital-fly-by wire with a lot of automation. In this respect, they have lived up to what we asked for.

Though Mig-29K is an excellent fighter and good enough with analogue but why we are hearing it now? Why IN accepted something that was not they wanted? Would IAF/IN had accepted if the same happened to indigenous products? Why they ordered 29 more Mig? Are the coming with new systems?

 

[jha]

WoW ! 45 of these latest Fulcrums....Excellent.

Only problem Babu Moshi is " Fulcrums" cant carry Brahmos...I wonder how ill we use Brahmos (Anti ship version ) in case of a full scale war..
Su-30s will be for IAF and i dont think they will let Navy use it for sinking ships..
I hope we buy some Scalps ( although we seem to prefer american now..)..

 

[GUNS-N- ROSES]

mig 29 K will defintly add to strategic strike capability of indian navy. cheers

 

[ganimi kawa]

Though Mig-29K is an excellent fighter and good enough with analogue but why we are hearing it now? Why IN accepted something that was not they wanted? Would IAF/IN had accepted if the same happened to indigenous products? Why they ordered 29 more Mig? Are the coming with new systems?

Kinetic bhai, I don't think that IN compromised on anything.

They were giving us analog fly-by-wire, but we asked for digital-fly-by wire with a lot of automation. In this respect, they have lived up to what we asked for.

We asked for a digital FBW and the russians delivered. No deficiencies in the current MiG 29k on that front!

 

[Kinetic]

Kinetic bhai, I don't think that IN compromised on anything.




We asked for a digital FBW and the russians delivered. No deficiencies in the current MiG 29k on that front!

Ooops thanks bro.

I was wondering why its not digital because all the time we heard that MIg-29K digital FBW control. Thanks again for correction.

It says about 4 channel FBW...

 

[jha]

I guess modernization of the IAF's Mig-29 will make them comparable to IN's Mig-29...

 

[MJaa]

Flag Officer Naval Aviation, Rear Admiral Sudhir Pillai

Nice article Thanks for sharing man

 

[JayAtl]

it says only 29 in total and that it has no aircraft carrier to fly out from.

 

[JayAtl]

 

[sancho]

Flag Officer Naval Aviation, Rear Admiral Sudhir Pillai...

...How effective can the LCA Navy be for carrier-based roles given that it is only an eight ton platform? What endurance can it have and what loads can it carry?

I wish we could straightaway develop a Rafale...

So even IN pilots seems to admire French fighters!

...But seriously, we have to look at the Indian Navy and its commitment towards indigenisation. I agree that we have made a modest start, but it has been a huge learning experience. LCA Navy will remain a modest platform with an uprated engine which will give us adequate capability at sea. It may not be what we want but it is our own aircraft. We are committed to being a builder’s navy. While it is easy to buy from abroad, sometimes it is extremely difficult to support those platforms. Our past experiences tell us that it is worth committing resources to develop our own assets.

Thanks sudhir007, this is the confirmation of what I always said!

N-LCA is nothing more than a project of pride about having an indigenous carrier fighter, although it is not capable enough to be useful in this role. IN is wasting so much money for nothing and is causing further delays in the LCA project, because of this useless re-designing.


P.S. Can add the link please?