Critical tests are being carried out to select a multi-role
carrier-borne fighter jet for India's indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant
The Indian Navy has begun evaluating the French-origin Rafale-M fighter
at its Shore Based Test Facility (SBTF) in Goa.
Officials stated that over the next few days, the Indian Navy will a Rafale-M’s ability to undertake
short take-off but arrested recovery (STOBAR) flights and other related operational parameters
at the SBTF’s 283-metre mock-up ski jump at Indian naval air station INS Hansa.
Boeing’s F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet is the next in line for similar tests.
Interestingly, Russian MiG-29K, which is presently in service with the Indian Navy has been left out.
In this video Defense Updates analyzes why the Indian Navy is no longer considering Russian
MiG-29K for its new aircraft carrier? Let's get started.
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INS Vikrant, also known as Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 1 (IAC-1)
the first aircraft carrier to be built in India.
It is scheduled for commissioning on India’s 75th Independence Day which is 15th Aug.
The warship which displaces 45,000 tons is capable of carrying 36-40 fixed-wing aircraft and
since India has not been able to develop a suitable naval fighter, an import is planned.
The French and US maritime combat aircraft were two of four such fighter types that had responded
to the Indian Navy's request for information (RFI) for 57 platforms dispatched five years ago.
The other two included Saab's single-engine, under-development Gripen Maritime fighter,
and Russian Aircraft Corporation’s MiG-29K.
While Gripen Maritime is yet to be operationalized,
the MiG-29K has been sidelined due to a questionable operational service record.
The Mikoyan MiG-29 ( NATO reporting name: Fulcrum) is a twin-engine jet fighter aircraft
designed in the Soviet Union. It was developed by the Mikoyan design bureau
as an air superiority fighter during the 1970s
While originally oriented towards combat against any enemy aircraft, many MiG-29s
have been furnished as multirole fighters capable of performing a number of different operations,
and are commonly outfitted to use a range of air-to-surface armaments and precision munitions.
The MiG-29 has been manufactured in several major variants,
including the multirole Mikoyan MiG-29M and the navalized Mikoyan MiG-29K.
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the militaries of a number of former Soviet
republics have continued to operate the MiG-29, the largest of which is the Russian Air Force.
The MiG-29 has been a popular export aircraft;
more than 30 nations either operate or have operated the aircraft to date.
India has imported MiG-29K fighters jets from Russia.
INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier
flagship of the Indian Navy, which entered into service in 2013 operates MiG-29K.
In recent times, there have been several crashes of the fighter.
The CAG or Comptroller and Auditor General of India had, in its 2016 report, observed that “the
MiG-29K, which is a carrier-borne multi-role aircraft and the mainstay of integral fleet
air defense, is riddled with problems relating to airframe, RD MK-33 engine and fly-by-wire system”.
The engine was a major source of concern.
The CAG audit observed that as of September 2014, a total of 65 engines
(42 with 21 aircraft and 23 spares) had been acquired. However,
since its induction in February 2010, 40 engines (representing 62% of 65 engines)
had been withdrawn from service/rejected due to design-related defects/deficiencies.
The CAG report had noted in 2016. “The issue has serious flight safety implications,
since in-flight engine defects had led to ten cases of single engine landings.”
Operational availability of the MiG-29Ks between 2014 and 2016 fluctuated from 15.93%
to 37.63%, while that of the MiG-29KUB trainers was between 21.20% and 47.14%.
Additionally, the MiG-29K fleet continued to face severe maintenance problems.
There were also complaints from the IN regarding Russia’s inability to
incorporate all agreed-upon features onto the MiG-29Ks.
Having a dependable engine is challenging and even
Russia's most advanced fighter Sukhoi Su-57 is plagued with this.
Sukhoi originally planned to use an advanced derivative of the Saturn AL-31F
engine, found on its Flankers, for the Su-57.
Su 57 was supposed to have the new AL-41F-1 engine.
But the AL-41F-1 engine ran into technical difficulty and didn’t match
the required performance criteria. Saturn, the manufacturer, is working on
a new and more powerful design, known as the Izdeliye 30 or Product 30. But even this has
been facing developmental challenges and may be available for integration at some time in 2025.
If a fighter is not reliable and has persistent issues,
it will be a headache for operating nations.
While India has very good terms with Russia,
there is a lot at stake and it can't afford to continue with MiG-29K.
This is a major embarrassment for Russia and indicates that the country still has
a long way to go when it comes to catching up with the US or the West.