Sniper launch leaves upgrade market still open

Published: 5/18/2000

The MiG-29 Sniper upgrade has made its first flight from the Aerostar facility at Bacau in Eastern Romania. Aerostar, Daimler Chrysler Aerospace and Israel's Elbit Systems have jointly developed the upgrade programme The first flight, piloted by DASA test pilot, Wolfgang Schirdewann, lasted 42 minutes and the aircraft is now scheduled to undergo evaluation trials with the Romanian Air Force to test the upgrade package, including a new mission digital computer, communications and multifunction displays. The test programme was followed by a further flight on 12th May towards proving the aircraft for NATO compatibility The Romanian Air Force has already upgraded its fleet of MiG-21s to Lancer standard, using Elbit avionics and is actively selling its upgrade capability to other MiG-21 operators. Whether it intends to do the same with the Sniper is unclear, but the Romanian Air Force is reported to have 19 MiG-29 made up of earlier As and two UBs, which are in need of upgrading, although five of the aircraft were delivered in 1997. DASA currently views the programme as an interesting national programme, but is reluctant to discuss any further marketing. The involvement of DASA in the Sniper upgrade with Aerostar, about which MiG has been less than complimentary regarding the MiG-21 upgrade, reveals the confused nature of the upgrade business in Central Europe, due primarily to MiG's indecision about its approach to the potential market. DASA is and has been working with RSK MIG on developing upgrade contracts, through its MAPS joint venture with the Russian producer, which was first founded in 1993 to provide assistance in the upgrade of the MiG-29s, inherited by the German Air Force from East Germany. This has developed into a venture looking at opportunities to upgrade a number of Russian platforms, with a focus on the MiG-29 and contracts in Poland and in Hungary, where it recently secured a tender reported to be valued at $100m for upgrading 27 aircraft over the next four years. Other markets with potential tenders include Slovakia and Bulgaria, whose aircraft, according to MAPS based at DASA's facility in Mansing, can be upgraded to meet NATO standards until 2015. From public statements, RSK MIG and most of the Russian aerospace industry believe that upgrades of Russian platforms should be undertaken with the involvement of the original producers and designers, and that programmes such as the MiG-21 Lancer are potentially risky due to that lack of involvement. Despite this, they are reported to have had little interest to become involved in the Sniper programme when it was first initiated. In the case of the Sniper, it appears that DASA has become involved due to the general uncertainty surrounding the direction of the Russian industry over the upgrade market, whether as a primary provider, as in the case of the Indian MiG-21 upgrade programme currently being undertaken at Sokol with French avionics, or as part of a larger grouping. Sources close to DASA consider that any marketing of the Sniper upgrade outside of Romania would ideally have the involvement of the Russians as part of a consortium. It would also seem that the improved focus of the Russian establishment post election might prove an effective means of focusing Russian attention in what they themselves accept is a market potentially valued in billions of dollars.

Article ID: 1791