Way too much for something equipped with Zhuk-ME.
Am I the only one who starts to think that what Rosoboronexport has been doin with the MIG aircraft was a real sabotage? 😉 First the Algerian fiasco, now this… :confused:

Flex, the price escalation issue first cropped up with the Su-30MKIs, so how could Rosboronexport be sabotating only MiGs deals?

$75 million? I’d dump those and buy Rafales or Super Hornets. Better product support and less money.

its not so easy..IN has pilots already training on the MiG-29K in Russia, it already has a simulator ready by Rhinemetall and the first MiG-29KUBs are due to arrive in India shortly. Also, India signed a deal with Rosboronexport to set up a facility to build RD-33Ks in India itself, so the infrastructure is almost set up..the additional cost due to price escalation will not be as much as IN would have to spend to get a totally new jet (Rafale M or SH) that can’t anyway fly off the INS Vikramaditya.

the issue that is most galling is that as per the original contract, any follow-on purchases of the 29 MiG-29Ks on option, was to have been at the same price as the original MiG-29Ks, as long as the order was placed before 2012 or some date ( can’t remember exactly)..that date has surely not passed, whereas the price escalation violates the terms of the original contract.

one more thing, we might just want to keep our heads cool till we hear something from a more respected defence correspondent..Vivek Raghuvanshi’s sources are suspect and he was the one blowing the trumpet about IAF Mirages to be upgraded with Israeli radar and weapons..that turned out to be pretty much false, as the Mirage upgrade will be with the Thales RDY-3 and French missiles.

Excellent News. I read on another report that the IN is having problems with upgrading its Harrier fleet, do you know exactly what the problem is ?

which report? As far as I know (based on a Force mag interview with an IN official), the IN already has 3 upgraded SHars in service and HAL is working on upgrading the rest..

all IAF MiG-27s upgraded to MiG-27UPG level..this will make a big difference to the capabilities of the MiG-27 considering how comprehensive the upgrade is, and all of it done at a fraction of what India would have had to pay to Russia.

MiG-27 upgraded

basically the following have been added-
*new Mission Computer based on the Su-30MKI and Jaguar DARIN-II Mission computer
*MFD and HUD
*INGPS navigation
*auto-pilot
*Litening LDP and improved Laser Ranging and Marked Target Seeker
*Digital Map Generator
*Digital Video Recording system
*Aircraft health monitoring system
*Internal EW equipment

India upgrades MiG-27 aircraft avionics

Written on January 6, 2009 – 7:38 pm | by Frontier India Strategic and Defence

Defence Avionics Research Establishment under the aegis of Defence Research and Development Organisation has added one more feather to its cap with the successful completion of avionics upgrade of MiG-27 aircraft. This pioneering effort was realised using entirely indigenous expertise at a fraction of cost. The project was initiated in the year 2002 through a tripartite MoU between DARE, HAL(Nasik) and Air Force. The Initial Operational Clearance was accorded in June 2006 which led to the subsequent formation of operational squadrons.

The avionics system is built around a modular mission computer termed Core Avionics Computer (CAC), developed by DARE. The CAC built on open system principles, houses functional modules using contemporary processors and devices. These functional modules are powering the mission computers on Jaguar and Su-30 MKI aircraft as well.

The upgraded MiG-27 aircraft is equipped with Inertial Navigation & Global Positioning System (INGPS) providing accurate Navigation. Advanced avionics on the aircraft has been interfaced on MIL-STD-1553B Dual Redundant Bus. To enable weapon aiming, accurate ranging sensors such as Laser Designator Pod (LDP) and Laser Ranger & Marked Target Seeker (LRMTS) are integrated. A Digital Map Generator has been integrated to improve situational awareness. The digital Video Recording system provides mission analysis and debrief support.

DARE took up the challenge of developing the mission critical software. Over half a million lines of code were developed adhering to stringent real time constraints and requisite software engineering requirements. The resultant quality software was independently verified and validated with external agencies.

Old Cockpit vs DARE Upgrade (check the url above for the picture)

DARE developed algorithms for navigation, ranging including a weapon delivery algorithm which was developed along with Software Development Institute of Air Force enabling precision Weapon Delivery.

The upgraded aircraft has a pilot friendly cockpit with state-of-Art Multi Function Display (MFD) and Head Up Display (HUD). The pilot flies “Head Up” with all the necessary NAV and attack guidance symbology presented on the HUD and superimposed on the outside world view. The Integrated Flight and Weapon Control System of the upgraded aircraft enables Hands Free (Auto Pilot) Route Flying and Auto-Weapon delivery. A functional maintenance mode has been incorporated providing “On AIRCRAFT” LRU health checks.

Advanced integrated EW Suite is integrated along with state-of-art communication systems. The upgraded aircraft also has an emergency situation indication system and automated emergency handling cueing system on Multi Function Display (MFD). The introduction of LDP has enhanced the Night Attack Capability.

HAL, Nasik was instrumental in the design and modification of prototype aircraft for installation of new cockpit and avionics equipment as well as related looming changes.

The avionics upgrade has transformed the legacy aircraft into a potent weapon delivery platform with a user friendly cockpit. All the aircrafts have been upgraded and the users are enamored with the performance of the upgraded aircraft which is comparable with contemporary aircraft in use around the world.

DARE has forged synergetic partnerships with leaders from private industries like M/s TCS and M/s ComAvia to leverage the best in knowledge and the latest in technology. With this upgrade project DRDO, HAL, ADE, IAF, CEMILAC and DGAQA has showcased the expertise that exists within the country for completing complex and challenging task of aircraft upgrade.

cross post from BR forum.

Nag final user trials for the Army going on

link

India’s Nag land version begins final user trials
By Doug Richardson
05 January 2009

A series of final user trials of the land version of India’s Nag (Cobra) anti-tank guided missile started on 25 December 2008 at the Indian Air Force ranges near Pokhran, Rajasthan, with a successful firing against a derelict tank.

The missile carried a live warhead and successfully penetrated the tank’s armour. Nag was developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation.

Image: A NAG round leaves the launcher of the Namica tracked vehicle. (Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation)

While, the Super Hornet is a Supreme “Strike Fighter”. Many don’t realize its extremely agile and a very competent dogfighter. That combined with its excellent Radar (APG-79) and Weapons (AIM-9X, AIM-120D) make it a dangerous threat to any would be opponent!

There are a lot of Super Hornet haters out there……..no, it’s not the fastest thing in the sky……..no, it doesn’t have the range you would like…….but, damn, I like that airplane. The airplane is very agile for it’s size and weight but for many it’s just not sexy enough. The U.S. Navy is not one of those people, though.

The video was nice but not the best SH demo show I’ve ever seen……I saw it several years ago but haven’t been able to find it recently. Snap!

I agree..I saw a SH demo a few months ago and its slow speed agility was really out there for everyone to see- very impressive..compared to it, the F-16 demo was mostly high speed passes, tight turns and loops.

You can have as many strings as you want. You have the right to decide what you’ll sell, to who, & under what conditions. As far as I can recall, nobody has said otherwise here. What has been in dispute – until now, when you have suddenly accepted what you have previously denied – is whether the USA uses sanctions as a means of control, & whether it might do so to India.

However, it is not true that “Europe” (what is this “Europe”? As far as I can recall, there is no pan-European government imposing sanctions) has used sanctions as much as the USA. Conditions are imposed, but they are generally less onerous than those imposed by the USA, & applied in a far less capricious fashion. I have never heard, for example, of any European country doing to a supposed ally what the USA has done to New Zealand, banning it from selling old US aircraft (to a customer in the USA!), & Italian aircraft with some US parts in, with no explanation, & refusing to say how New Zealand can get the ban lifted. Nor do European states tend to keep bans in force capriciously, e.g. US restrictions on sales to apartheid South Africa which were kept in force for some years post-1994. Nor do they tend to insist that anything, however low-tech, remains subject to their permanent control.

Where some (not all) European states are very restrictive is in who they’ll sell to in the first place.

which is fine as far as India is concerned, because its stand is that what it does with its weapons are its choice, once the weapons have been sold to it. You either sell arms and then the user uses it as he sees fit or you dont sell it in the first place. You cannot for indefinite periods try to use it as a method for arm-twisting and coercion, which is what the US does.

Python-5 should be a good option because its already being purchased as a SAM. and what about Su-30MKI, is it still going to have original version of R-73.

there was an article on the IAF looking for a new AAM for its Jaguar fleet of all, I guess since its Magic-II arsenal was approaching its calendar end life.. the contenders were said to be the Python5, ASRAAM and AIM-9Sidewinder. I’m not sure what exactly prevents the R-73 from being used, as the IAF’s stocks of R-73s are quite large.