Russia Ready to Send More MiG-29K Fighters to India

[a.kumar]

Operating Naval FGFA on AC will be very difficult due to logistical reasons but Naval AMCA can be developed we already have experience of Naval LCA which will come in handy

 

[AUSTERLITZ]

Why not mig-29 upgs - a 120 odd instead of rafale?Far less cost.More saving for fgfa?Plus more tejas?

 

[Mike_Brando]

Why not mig-29 upgs - a 120 odd instead of rafale?Far less cost.More saving for fgfa?Plus more tejas?

The same question is also haunting me right now.If the Rafale deal is cancelled then we should go ahead and order newer Mig-29 UPGs based on the naval Mig-29K along with the ZHUK-AE AESA radar.It will be like hitting two birds with the same stone.First we'll get 126 brand new fighters capable enough to deal with any challenge thrown at us in the Sub-continent region and secondly it will save us a lot of forex which we can then utilize to buy more FGFA or perhaps a few squadrons of F-35A for the IAF.

 

[Srinivas]

Does India need more of it? I doubt.

The third squadron is for training, India needs more naval pilots. India is on the way to become blue water navy and a maritime power.

Tejas is a capable fighter, the advantage with tejas is it can be converted into a trainer, similarly MIG 29 k can become 2 engine fighter trainer, before a pilot can fly 5th gen fighters like AMCA or PAK-FA.

 

[desimorty]

The Mig-29 and Rafale are close in price. Its not 50 Million for a Mig-29 its more than that now. Inflation and all. Overall including life cycle costs the Rafale is cheaper, and the production is cheaper in the long run, where the Mig-29K will only be around for a short while for the Navies of Russia and India. The Rafale also has more shorties than the Mig-29. So for every 2 Migs, 1 Rafale will do. Not to mention the pruchase of Rafale will come with a Made in India tag which a private company in India will benefit from. The potential of the Rafale in India is far greater in the long run.

 

[MilSpec]

Does India need more of it? I doubt.

Might be a very good stop gap option for dwindling sqdn strength, as a mrca (original mrca req) two sqdns at aroun 35 mil won't be a bad deal. It might be a good option to replace the Bisons or the Mig 27M's

 

[GURU DUTT]

If INS Vishaal gets EMALs (a big if but high probability as US has indicated some willingness) then i guess ordering more squadrons of Mig29 KUB/UPG for carriers may be ruled out. The US would like it bundled may be with US jets. So expect F35 B/C there (off the shelf with nil TOT). or may be old platforms but naval version.

Shore based assets and this talk of offering is just to show that Russia is willing to support India in case Rafale deal is cancelled and MKI/29UPG are available for a deal approx 10 Bn $ for stopgap arrangement till FGFA comes in IAF.

Expect more russian opinions and experts talk abt such offers. More discussed here
Dassault Rafale, tender | News & Discussions [Thread 2] | Page 32

exactly EMALs will come with US fighters(F-35) "only" as for additional Mig 29 Ks i guess Navy is talking about 3 new shore based squads (most probabally A & N )

The Mig-29 and Rafale are close in price. Its not 50 Million for a Mig-29 its more than that now. Inflation and all. Overall including life cycle costs the Rafale is cheaper, and the production is cheaper in the long run, where the Mig-29K will only be around for a short while for the Navies of Russia and India. The Rafale also has more shorties than the Mig-29. So for every 2 Migs, 1 Rafale will do. Not to mention the pruchase of Rafale will come with a Made in India tag which a private company in India will benefit from. The potential of the Rafale in India is far greater in the long run.

i dont think so a latest MIG29/35 UPG with AESA based radar & E W / self protection suite costs at least 40% less than rafale (withopust AESA radar) and we save a lot on training & maintainence infra + no matter what some think french willnever give so called TOT to india as mentioned in MMRCA contract

 

[anant_s]

Is any prototype of Naval FPGA flying?

No sir and it would look unlikely that unless Russian Navy has a requirement of N T-50, such a plane would emerge easily. I think Best bet is Rafale M and assuming Rafale deal is signed this year, by the time IAC 2 goes for trials (2021-22 or so) Rafale production would have been completed for half the MMRCA requirement. Commonality with IAF fleet will reduce maintenance costs significantly.

 

[Koovie]

Why not mig-29 upgs - a 120 odd instead of rafale?Far less cost.More saving for fgfa?Plus more tejas?

Mig 29s UPGs lack multi role capabilities comparable to the Rafale or EFT
+ They are technologically inferior in other fields as well.... as shown with the Mig 35 during MMRCA trials
Going for Mig 29s would also not give us any meaningful technological or industrial boosts, which is an important aspect of the deal.

 

[GURU DUTT]

No sir and it would look unlikely that unless Russian Navy has a requirement of N T-50, such a plane would emerge easily. I think Best bet is Rafale M and assuming Rafale deal is signed this year, by the time IAC 2 goes for trials (2021-22 or so) Rafale production would have been completed for half the MMRCA requirement. Commonality with IAF fleet will reduce maintenance costs significantly.
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why not F/A-18 E/F advanced super hornet then no dought rafale is super sexy but hornet is super fit and very very potent

 

[anant_s]

why not F/A-18 E/F advanced super hornet then no dought rafale is super sexy but hornet is super fit and very very potent

Sir, had SH selected for MMRCA, i would've rooted for F-18. My whole point is commonality of fleet without increasing additional types. Think it this way, India won't buy more than 2-3 squadrons of AC based fighters and while MiG 29 variants are operated by IAF, if a new fighter is to be selected, it is a good idea to go with something that exists (or would exist) in numbers in IAF too (thus Rafale). Having a fleet of unique 35-40 fighters will not be a particularly wise decision from cost, training and operability point of view. I also for the same reason think F-35 (if offered to India) won't be a particularly good thing.

 

[GURU DUTT]

Sir, had SH selected for MMRCA, i would've rooted for F-18. My whole point is commonality of fleet without increasing additional types. Think it this way, India won't buy more than 2-3 squadrons of AC based fighters and while MiG 29 variants are operated by IAF, if a new fighter is to be selected, it is a good idea to go with something that exists (or would exist) in numbers in IAF too (thus Rafale). Having a fleet of unique 35-40 fighters will not be a particularly wise decision from cost, training and operability point of view. I also for the same reason think F-35 (if offered to India) won't be a particularly good thing.

 

[AUSTERLITZ]

Mig 29s UPGs lack multi role capabilities comparable to the Rafale or EFT
+ They are technologically inferior in other fields as well.... as shown with the Mig 35 during MMRCA trials
Going for Mig 29s would also not give us any meaningful technological or industrial boosts, which is an important aspect of the deal.

This is ofcourse true that rafale is a superior MRCA,but rafale deal is totally stalled and looks to cost as much as 5th gen deal,can we afford 120 million dollar per plane tag on 4.5 plus gen plane?Plus dassault refusing RFP terms..under these circumstances this could be an emergency option till FGFA.Main problem is it makes our fleet wholly russian.

 

[nik22]

Is this even a news? Of course Russia is ready. They would always be. A baniya love to sell his maal.

 

[MokshaVimukthi]

Operating Naval FGFA on AC will be very difficult due to logistical reasons but Naval AMCA can be developed we already have experience of Naval LCA which will come in handy

Exactly. Knowing the Indian Navy, the ONLY realistic option is the AMCA on the Vishal.