Indian Air Force In Advanced Talks With Russia To Urgently Acquire 21 MiG 29s To Arrest Depleting Squadron Strength

Faced with a shortage of combat aircraft, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is in advance talks with Russia for an urgent purchase of MiG 29 fighter jets which can be delivered at the earliest, Economic Times has reported.

According to the report, last month IAF had a detailed discussion on the plan to acquire 21 additional aircraft to make a new MiG 29 squadron. The first MiG 29 fighters were purchased in the 1980s.

The acquisition of these Russian fighter planes is expected to cost the Indian exchequer around Rs 6,000 crore, the report cited government sources as saying. Each MiG 29 will include weapon systems, training and other supporting equipment required. Negotiations to this effect are being carried out with Russia under the government-to-government pact.

As per the report, the fighters are not being used but have been kept in a good condition to use them readily again. The plan is to upgraded them to the latest standard to include air-to-ground capabilities, extended range and a new weapons as well as an avionics package.

“A very reasonable price has been shared and we are considering and evaluating the offer. A bilateral meeting was held last month,” sources were quoted in the report as saying.

The talks have come in the wake of depleting strength of the IAF’s squadron from the sanctioned 42 to just 31. Even the delivery of 36 Rafale jets is not expected to make a significant change in the number of squadrons as several legacy MiG 21 and 27 squadrons will be removed from service.