The IAF has really understood the importance of upgrades which would not only help it to modernise its ageing fighter fleets but also enable it to keep the much needed numbers going to meet the future challenges of multiple threat scenarios

For almost six decades after its inception in 1932, the Indian Air Force (IAF) never carried out any meaningful exercise to upgrade its fighter fleets. The defence establishment was quite content in providing the IAF with fighter aircraft, largely imported from the foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) or licence-built in one of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) factories. But in the 1990s, stung by the obsolescence of its large fleets of MiG-21 variants and realising the fact that the indigenous light combat aircraft (LCA) which was to replace the ageing MiG-21s nowhere in sight, the IAF took the first tentative step towards upgrading its fighter fleets to extend the service life and operational capabilities.

MiG-21 Bis: The Starting Point

The starting point was of course the MiG-21Bis fleet itself, which was the last variant of the large MiG-21 family of aircraft produced under licence in India. The proposal for 125 MiG Bis aircraft with an option to upgrade 50 more aircraft at a total cost of approximately $630 million ( Rs. 3,465 crore) was cleared in January 1996. The upgrade was to include major modifications by MiG-MAPO which would incorporate Western Avionics as well as indigenously developed components. The aircraft which was given the nomenclature of MiG-21 Bis UPG came to be known as the ‘Bison’ in the IAF.

The ‘Bison’ was indeed an ambitious upgrade programme but there were some major issues with regard to time and cost overruns which marred the upgrade scenario. The last i.e. 125th Bison work was completed only in 2007, almost five years behind schedule. This has had serious repercussions on the residual life of the upgraded aircraft, some of which will not even see 10 years of useful operational life post the upgrade, as the entire fleet is scheduled to be retired between 2014 and 2017. The second shortcoming is that while the avionics and weapon systems were impressive in their upgraded avatar, the old airframes and aero engines continued to pose flight safety problems. A number of upgraded MiG-21 Bisons have already been lost in CAT-I accidents because of these issues. The overall serviceability state of the fleet has also been a matter of concern.

MiG-27 Upgrade Programme

While the IAF decided to prematurely phase out its robust fleet of imported MiG-23BN strike aircraft, it opted for partial upgrade of its MiG-27 fleet which was licence-produced by HAL. Under a comprehensive tripartite agreement between the IAF, HAL and the Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) in March 2002, it was decided to upgrade 40 MiG-27s out of the IAF’s total holding of 133.

The MiG-27 needed plenty of work. The equipment that went into the upgrade included a HUD and a full colour high definition display (HDD). A new laser ranger replaced the old KLEN system. The main navigation sensor, the INGPS along with VOR/ILS were located in the nose bay. The new electronic warfare suite included a new radar warning receiver, an ELTA podded jammer and CMDS. The upgraded aircraft was also made capable of carrying a laser designation pod and a photo reconnaissance pod (see the photo representation of the full upgrade).

The entire upgrade package would give substantial boost to the aircraft’s precision attack capability while greatly reducing the pilot’s workload, thanks to an effective navigation system and a fully-capable autopilot. But as is usual with all indigenous programmes, the MiG-27UPG has also run into rough weather. First the costs have escalated to almost double the initially planned. Second, the programme has run into time overruns with only 20 aircraft upgraded so far. This has invited the Controller and Auditor General’s (CAG) unmitigated wrath especially with respect to the residual life of the upgraded jets as the entire MiG-27 fleet is not likely to last beyond the end of the Thirteenth Five Year Plan ((2022).

MiG-29 Upgrade Programme

Continuing its drive to upgrade as many of its fighter fleets as possible, the IAF signed up another ambitious plan to upgrade its entire lot of more than 60 MiG-29 aircraft. In a landmark deal with RAC MiG of Russia, India signed a $964 million ( Rs. 5,300 crore) deal to upgrade 69 MiG-29s on the IAF’s inventory to MiG-29 SMT standards. Under the agreement, the design and development was to be done in Russia with first lot of six aircraft being upgraded there. The remaining aircraft are to be upgraded at Nashik. The programme had initially suffered a setback and was delayed by more than a year, but now the programme seems to be gathering steam now. However, it wouldn’t be before 2017-18 the last of the jet is upgraded.

The main features of the upgrade programme include a new ‘Zhuk M2E’Slot array radar which would replace the older Phazotron RLPK-29 radar. The jet would also get UOMZ’s KOLS-13SM FLIR, Sh-3UM-1 helmet-mounted integrated targeting system. The existing RD-33 engines will be replaced by the upgraded RD-33 Series 3 engines to be manufactured by HAL. These engines boast of an engine life of 2,000 hours along with BARK-88 FADEC and KSU-941UB removed control system. There is a whole range of new avionics obtained internationally and from indigenous sources to be fitted on the upgraded aircraft.

The aircraft will also be equipped to carry external fuel tanks and will have mid-air refuelling capability to give it much needed ‘extra legs’ to substantially augment its range.