ID :
50488
Sat, 03/14/2009 - 15:00
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/50488
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Russia grounds bulk of its MiG-29 fleet due to defects
Vinay Shukla
Moscow, Mar 13 (PTI) Russian Air Force has grounded
almost 30 percent of its mainstay MiG-29 fighter fleet due to
structural defects and the move could have ramifications for
the Indian Air Force which also has a sizable number of these
fighters.
"About 90 aircraft out of 200 tested after the crash of
MiG-29 fighter last December have been grounded," Interfax
reported quoting a Russian Air Force spokesman Col Vladimir
Dirk.
"More aircraft could be grounded on completion of the
aircrash probe which followed two crashes last year," the
spokesman said.
The Russian Air Force has a fleet of about 300 MiG-29
fighters, which are its prime air superiority platform.
The probe was ordered after a MIG-29 crashed in December
in Khabarovsk region due to disintegration of its fin during a
training sortie killing its pilot.
Initial reports have identified corrosion as the cause
for the disintegration of the fin of the fighter. It could
take another two months to pin-point the reason for corrosion,
Interfax said.
Indian Air Force has 54 MiG-29 comprising three squadrons
and all of these aircrafts are being upgraded with the help of
the original manufacturers and some other countries to extend
their life by another 15-20 years.
"At this juncture out of the whole fleet 200 aircraft
have been checked and about hundred plus fighters have been
cleared for flights. Rest of the aircraft are being checked,"
Dirk said.
He said initially the entire fleet had been grounded, but
100 aircrafts have been cleared for flying after checks.
Experts, he said, have evolved methods to repair the
defects and the grounded fighters will return to service once
funds are available for undertaking the repairs.
Under the Gorshkov contract, India is also acquiring 16
MiG-29K, the carrier-borne version of the airforce fighters
for the Navy.
Russia has also fielded the MiG-35 in the Indian tender
for the acquisition of 126 MMRCA, which is a futuristic
derivative of MiG-29 fighter.
The twin-engined MiG-29, codenamed Fulkrum by NATO has
been in service with Soviet and then Russian Air Force since
the 1980s. The Russians also have SU-27 and MiG-31 which also
date from the '80s.
Last year, Algeria one of the Russia's closest cold-war
era allies had returned 15 MiG-29, saying the quality was
poor. PTI
Moscow, Mar 13 (PTI) Russian Air Force has grounded
almost 30 percent of its mainstay MiG-29 fighter fleet due to
structural defects and the move could have ramifications for
the Indian Air Force which also has a sizable number of these
fighters.
"About 90 aircraft out of 200 tested after the crash of
MiG-29 fighter last December have been grounded," Interfax
reported quoting a Russian Air Force spokesman Col Vladimir
Dirk.
"More aircraft could be grounded on completion of the
aircrash probe which followed two crashes last year," the
spokesman said.
The Russian Air Force has a fleet of about 300 MiG-29
fighters, which are its prime air superiority platform.
The probe was ordered after a MIG-29 crashed in December
in Khabarovsk region due to disintegration of its fin during a
training sortie killing its pilot.
Initial reports have identified corrosion as the cause
for the disintegration of the fin of the fighter. It could
take another two months to pin-point the reason for corrosion,
Interfax said.
Indian Air Force has 54 MiG-29 comprising three squadrons
and all of these aircrafts are being upgraded with the help of
the original manufacturers and some other countries to extend
their life by another 15-20 years.
"At this juncture out of the whole fleet 200 aircraft
have been checked and about hundred plus fighters have been
cleared for flights. Rest of the aircraft are being checked,"
Dirk said.
He said initially the entire fleet had been grounded, but
100 aircrafts have been cleared for flying after checks.
Experts, he said, have evolved methods to repair the
defects and the grounded fighters will return to service once
funds are available for undertaking the repairs.
Under the Gorshkov contract, India is also acquiring 16
MiG-29K, the carrier-borne version of the airforce fighters
for the Navy.
Russia has also fielded the MiG-35 in the Indian tender
for the acquisition of 126 MMRCA, which is a futuristic
derivative of MiG-29 fighter.
The twin-engined MiG-29, codenamed Fulkrum by NATO has
been in service with Soviet and then Russian Air Force since
the 1980s. The Russians also have SU-27 and MiG-31 which also
date from the '80s.
Last year, Algeria one of the Russia's closest cold-war
era allies had returned 15 MiG-29, saying the quality was
poor. PTI
