New upgrade resolves handling difficulties (235 words)

Published: 5/22/2001

According to local press reports, next month, the first batch of Indian-produced MiG-21-93s will roll out of Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL). The first two aircraft are part of a contract for 125 aircraft to be assembled by 2004 at Naslik and will be followed by an additional four aircraft before the year-end. A HAL spokesman said that, by 2002, as many as twelve aircraft could be operational. The start of the assembling of the upgraded aircraft follows the production of the first two aircraft by Sokol, in conjunction with MiG and both Russian and Indian officials are claiming that the aircraft has full fourth generation capability. The aircraft is also reported to have considerably improved handling: a prime concern for India, which has lost 186 MiG-21s over the last ten years, largely owing to pilot error, which has been attributed in part to the difficulty of flying the aircraft, but also to excessive differences between flying the MiG-21 and the India's jet trainer, the Kiran, which have left pilots unprepared for the fighter. A recent review of the Indian Air Force has decided to phase out the ageing fleet of Russian-built MiG-23Ns in the ground strike role, in favour of the upgraded HAL assembled MiG-27M. HAL has produced 167 aircraft since 1984 and 40 are currently being upgraded at Bangalore.

Article ID: 2549