India is now on its way to acquire 21 MiG29s and 12 Sukhois-30MKl fighter jets from Russia, days after the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the procurement of 83 indigenous Tejas fighter jets from HAL last week.
The request for proposal (RFP) for the 21 MiG29s fighters will soon be issued to Russian state-run defence export arm Rosoboronexport, TOI reported quoting its sources. The fighter jets’ bare airframes have been lying in a dormant condition in Russia since the 1980s.
The additional MiG29s and Sukhois are intended to stem the freefall in the number of IAF fighter squadrons. The 83 Tejas jets will be inducted in 2024-2028 timeframe under a contract of Rs 46,898 as approved by the CCS.
The procurement of these MiG-29s will take the total number of such jets to 80. Meanwhile, the addition of 12 Sukhoi-30MKls will take the total number of such jets to 284. This will take the total amount spent on Sukhoi jets to $15 billion, with the bulk of them produced under license by Hindustan Aeronautics.
The progressive phasing out of obsolete fighter jets like the MiG-21s, MiG-23s and the MiG-27s has reduced the squadron strength to just about 30 whereas, at least 42 squadrons are required to tackle the “collusive” threat from China and Pakistan. The remaining four MiG-21 “Bisons” squadrons are also slated to retire by 2024.
The cost of 12 new twin-seat Sukhois, along with advanced electronic warfare capabilities as well as additional supplies and spares, in turn, was estimated to be Rs 10,730 crore.
