IAF to phase out MiG-21 variants, calls for design data
PTI [ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 08, 2002 07:41:53 PM ]
NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force on Friday announced phasing out of the MiG-21 F/L version in the wake of recent accidents involving the fighter jets while asserting that the newly upgraded Bison variant would remain in the service for the next ten years.
This was announced after a meeting of top Air Force and Ministry of Defence officials chaired by Defence Minister George Fernandes on the recent fighter crashes, some of which had caused civilian casualties.
The Air Force attributed the growing number of accidents to vintage technology of 1960s and 70s.
Maintaining that the fighter crashes were partly due to pilot errors and technical faults, IAF officials said though both the MiGs as well as Jaguars were manufactured under licence here, India did not have the design data of these aircraft, which was coming in the way of rectifying some of the faults detected.
The meeting which was also attended Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy requested the government to get design data on MiG and Jaguar fighters from their foreign suppliers.
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November 8, 2002 at 4:21 pm