New Delhi: The Indian Air Force has inked a major deal to upgrade its 78 MiG-29 fighters.
Under the $800-million deal signed with a consortium of Russia's state-owned Rosboron export and United Aircraft Corporation, the IAF's fleet of three squadrons of MiG-29 air superiority jets will get their service life extended from 25 to 40 years.
The IAF has seen its squadron strength plunging to an all-time low of 29 squadrons, as against its sanctioned strength of 45 squadrons.
The IAF is also in the final stages of negotiating a 1.5-billion euro deal with French company Thales for upgrading 52 of its Mirage 2000H fighters to extend their service life by 25 years.
The MiG-29 upgrade will include installing beyond visual range air-to-air missiles, new Klimov-33 engines with digital fuel injection, Phazotron Zhuk-ME phased array radar, an all- glass cockpit and aerial refuelling prods.
Initially, two MiG-29s will be sent to Russia for prototype development and the rest will be upgraded in HAL's Nashik-based Ozar plant.
"The upgradation will be completed by 2010," PTI quoted a defence ministry as saying.
The agreement also stipulates the setting up of a service centre in India for the MiG-29s. This centre will also look after the navy's carrier-borne MiG-29K fighters, the first of which will be inducted by the end of 2008.
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