Flight testing underway on the upgraded aircraft

Published: 5/26/2000

According to reports, the final tests on the two aircraft involved in the Indian Air Force's upgrade programme for the MiG-21bis to MiG-21-93 standard, will be finished by the end of July 2000 with the programme completed by September, according to MiG. The 46 flight test programme, which started in April 1999 with weapons testing at the Akhtubinsk test centre, is going well according to reports. After the completion of the test programme, the Indian government is reported to be keen to press on with the programme, which is two years behind schedule on a contract signed in March 1996.The programme will then be moved from Sokol in Nizhni Novgorod to the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)'s Nasik facility, where according to reports 15 aircraft await the upgrade, with six upgrade packages already delivered. HAL plans to rollout the first aircraft in March of next year and will bring 123 Indian Air Force MiG-21bis up to the upgrade standard, which involves the installation of new Russian radar, avionics and weapons systems. The programme, which will last four years, will reportedly extend the life of the aircraft until 2015. The success of the programme is important for the Russian suppliers including Sokol, Fazotron, MiG and Vympel, as there are currently reported to be 1,450 MiG-21bis that have been delivered since 1972, all of which are in need of upgrade or replacement. Replacement for many operators is an unlikely scenario given the cost of replacement and their financial resources. The market however, is proving to be competitive with the entry of the Romanians/Israeli Lancer into the sector.

Article ID: 1818