IAF to acquire 125 new fighters

India Seeks New MiG-21 Fighter Replacement

By John Fricker/ShowNews

24-Jul-2002 4:11 PM U.S. EDT

In a surprise move in the past week or so, the Indian government is understood to have issued urgent Requests for Proposals for new single-seat multi-role combat aircraft, according to well-informed industry observers.

Some 125 or more aircraft are reportedly being sought for the new requirement, to replace that number of aging MiG-21s from around 350 still remaining in IAF service. These include 125 of the last-production MiG-21bis series, scheduled for major avionics upgrades by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, in conjunction with RSK MiG.

After two or three years, however, upgrades of only four MiG-21bis have so far been completed, and the IAF has continued to lose one or more per month of its older “Fishbeds” over the past decade in accidents totaling over 200 in all.

Although a second prototype of India’s new Light Combat Aircraft was also flown earlier this year, this is apparently now regarded more as a long-term research project rather than a prospective weapons system.

Deliveries of the first few Sukhoi Su-30MKI two-seat long-range multi-role fighters, for which the IAF has placed orders for 32, plus licensed production of 140—costing in all some $7.8 billion—also started in the past few weeks. These still require integration of their multi-national missions systems avionics to be completed.

The IAF has therefore felt compelled to seek additional combat aircraft, for early delivery. The new IAF RFPs are understood to have been sent to Dassault, for the Mirage 2000-5; Gripen International for the JAS 39C; Sukhoi, for the Su-35; and RSK MiG, for the new MiG-29M2, with requirements for early down-selection and delivery. Meanwhile, the IAF is still fighting a rearguard battle for funding allocations to finalize its long-overdue BAE Hawk trainer procurement contract.

Source: http://www.aviationnow.com/avnow/news/channel_military.jsp?view=story&i…