Who is going to undertake the Hungarian MiG-29 upgrade programme,MAPS or MAPO?

Published: 10/4/1999

Gennady Arkhipov, Deputy Director General of VPK MAPO, has claimed that MAPO is poised to pick up the tender to upgrade MiG-29s for the Hungarian Air Force. According to a report in RIA Novosti, he confirmed that, during a visit to Hungary, the Kechkemet air regiment had expressed interest in MAPO's upgrade proposal, in which the MiG-29's combat efficiency in “air-air” mode would be increased by 3.5 times, and “air-ground” mode by 8 times. In addition, annual operating costs would be reduced by 15-20% and its life limit extended by 45%. Archipov claims that a bilateral document has been produced on the upgrade, in which it is agreed that MAPO will deliver detailed proposals within two months. He also refers to the possible creation of a joint venture with Hungarian company, Dunai Repulogyar(DR). The suggestion that an MiG-29 upgrade programme might be undertaken exclusively by MAPO runs counter to previous reports referring to the extension of the MiG Aircraft Product Support Group, by DASA, MAPO and Rosvooruzhenie, specifically to address this issue. It also casts doubt on DASA's claims that its agreement with Dunai Repulogyar, on aircraft upgrades and their intention to pitch jointly for the servicing and possible modernization of the MiG-29s of the Hungarian Air Force, also includes the MAPS partners (www.concise.org 26th August 1999). In April 1999, MAPO and the Hungarian government had disagreed over the provision of support for MiG-29s in service.

Article ID: 931