Ingeniously Modernized MiG 29 Flies

Ingeniously Modernized MiG 29 Flies

MiG 29 UPG, See the IFR, TV guided Bombs and Tank behind the Cockpit

     The Indian Air force First Modern fourth Generation Air superiority fighter is the MiG 29. It was produced in mind of Fighting against new American rivals F 15 and the F 16.  and The Indian Airforce is the first foreign customer of MiG 29. IAF ordered a Batch of MiG 29 even before it certified the FOC. the Mig formally inducted into the IAF during the 1985 two years later in the Soviet Air force.

             MiG 29 is the combat proven fighter in the Indian standards, they flew missions during Kargil, they did close escort for other IAF Bombers they did CAP near to Indian Borders, even more a Indian MiG 29 Locks a Bakistani F 16 through it's deadly BVR missile. due to the orders the F 16 survived, actually the Mig 29 is the best fighter in comparison with Bakistani F 16, since ages the MiG need an excessive upgrade to keep fighting in the Modern Battlefield.

           The Indian Airforce Planned to upgrade it's MiG 29 Fleet into modern standard that is the UPG version which will makes the UPG better in all variant of other MiG 29. as of Now the Indian Navy alone operates world's best MiG 29 version the Mig 29 K and KUB version, even after only the Russian Navy placed an order to acquire a squad of Mig 29K to it's Navy, Mostly The Mig 29 operates from the Carrier the Vikramaditya. but can also used from Shore based Naval Runways. IAF planned it's MiG 29 fleet should be more equal to the Navy's MiG 29.The Indian Air force Operates more than 70 MiG 29 B fighters.

         Actually the Initial Mig 29 B which is perform only Air superiority Mission, which can intercept Dog fight and Flew CAP, but the new UPG standard allows the Fighter to Attack moving ground Targets, Air to sea warfare and decent Day night and all weather capabilities. 

       India signed an agreement to the Russia to upgrade the total IAF MiG 29 B fighters into latest UPG Standards the deal signed at $900 million. the deal also covers the first six of the Mig 29 will be Upgraded in Russia while remaining  migs will be Upgraded in India, and the Contract Signed in 2009. the Upgrade plans to make the Mig 29 more service life and improved performance.the Major Modernization aspects are the Radar, Sensor Suite, modern Airframe, Modern Cock pit, improved Avionics,

Radar Zuhk ME

The Phazatron Zhuk ME Radar

      The N010M Zhuk-M radaer is the Passive Radar which is most suitable for advanced Air to surface mode to fly and Attack at very low due to the Radar's Terrain Mapping and Following who guide the Pilot to fly at very low altitudes. the radar can pick upto sixty Airborne Targets and able to detect targets beyond 200 kilometers. the Radar also allows the Pilot to attack multiple Targets in same time.also a good option of Monitoring a single unit or Building for long time. which is a Very useful option in non conventional and hybrid warfares

The Radar also incorporates the IRST. A infrared search and Track optics which can launch heat seeking missiles without using the Radars also used for launching TV guided Missiles. 

Avionics and Sensors 

          Here again the Indian Master piece mind think  that adding Indo Israeli French Avionics and EW suites into the System, A variety of sensors being installed produced by the French firms and Indian Mission computers and Communication links produced by BEL and HAL, also the Avionics suites Software and Data links are came from Israeli's . same like what the Su 30 MKI version having.

HUD 

Top Sight 1 HMD, Tejas, Mirage 2000 and MiG 29 K Uses the same

     the Pilots Helmet Mounted Display Manufactured by the Thales Samtel named Top Sight. which is a modern multi mission capable HUD. which can improve the Missile Launching and Flying performance, the Same HUD also used by Indian Mirage 2000 and Naval Mig 29 K fleet. 

Engine 

       The upgrade also include changing the  Main Engine into more Powerful series 3 Kilmov RD 33 engines each can produce 50 kN in normal and 81 kN in full afterburner mode. those series 3 engines will be fitted in the MiG 29 K, UPG and Russian Air force MiG 29 SMT versions

Cockpit

MiG 29 K cockpit similar cockpit is in UPG versions too

          The Upgrade also include change the entire analog Cockpit into Multifunctional Digital Display. which can help the pilot took decisions faster, able to collect Target information, Surveliiance mission and can able to perform more in Combat Air Patrol Missions.

  

Airframe

       Deal also include structural change of Airframe earlier Models doesn't have wet points to carry more External fuel Tanks and Internal fuel tank is also smaller, but newer version include added upto five We points also large modification behind the Cockpit to carry more internal fuel to Saty in the Air more time, also earlier Mig 29 doesn't have  IFR (Inflight Refueling Probe ) but the Upgraded versions include the Refueling Probe.

          The deal also include array of Air to Air, Air to Surface and Air to Sea Missiles, the Upgrade standard is same equal as the Russian Upgrade standard of SMT, also The Russians already completed and returned all six MiG 29 UPG to India, and India also successfully upgrade a MiG 29 in home to the Standard of UPG, and It's successfully flown and meets all Mission requirements 

IAF in Kargil Op Safed Sagar

IAF in Kargil Op Safed Sagar

Legendary MiG 21 armed with R 77 Radar Guide Missile

      Operation Safed Sager is a Code Name of IAF's Attack missions on Bakistani Positions during the Kargil war 1999. The IAF insisted to Provide as much as Support to the Ground Forces to recapture Bakistani postilions along Indian Side. It's the first time since 1971 war Indian Air force  taken a large scale attack on Bakistani positions.

        The Bakistani troops intruded in most stretched area's of Kargil sector which is not easy to go by foots. also the Bakistani have good artillery support to keep their Troops there in the Positions. hence the Army need and Air operation to toast them out.

         IAF asked the Cabinet committee to support the Army on May 11 using with only rotary wing aircraft such as attack helicopters. Indian Air force operated Russian supplied Mi 24 hind dedicated attack helicopter  and Mi 17 modified to carry rocket pods since it's a troop transporter. IAF start using the Helicopters to fight against the intruders. ten days later IAF's canberra is on Photo Recon mission over the Line of Control. the Bakistani's fired a US supplied Stinger Missile. they fired a Single missile that hit the one engine. Canberra back to the Base with using the another engine. that fueled the Air force to use the Fighters in the Game. the Cabinet committee also given green signal to the IAF carryout attack with all available Jets.  The Airforce used the Sri nagar airport to launch the fighters. since it's a civil airport GoI give authorization to IAF to use it.

     within the minuets IAF  assigned a Strike role consists of MiG 27 Ground Attack Fighter covered by MiG 21 interceptor. the Mig 27 carried Bombs and Rocket Pods rained missiles all over the Bakistani Positions without crossing the LoC. while the MiG 21 keep an eye over the air looking for Enemy intruders. and again the Attack helicopters carryout multiple Attacks over Bakistani positions near Tiger Hill.

    next day May 27 Air force carried out same package again. this time Bakistani's are up and shoot downed a Mig 21 and MiG 27 using with Stinger MANPADS. later another Troop transporter also hit by an MANPAD killing all crew. IAF learned a Lesson of due to the MANPAD threats in low altitudes IAF withdrawn all helicopters from the Operation.

      later The Israeli's joined the IAF team by providing Lethal LGB's (Laser Guided bomb's). which is suddenly integrated with Mirage 2000 fleet. the IAF also bring it's top notch that is Bombing role by Mirage 2000 and Escort Role by MiG 29. the Mirage dropped 100kg Laser Guided Bombs and 250 Kg Dumb bomb over the bakistani positions for next consecutive days. The Mirage provided excelled fire support to the Indian Army troops to advance Bakistani Positions also the Mig 29 pinned entire PAF jets keep in the Grounds.

    End of May the IAF send an Mig 27 for photo recon mission which is heavily hit by enemy ground fire. since engines are out pilot ejected from the Aircraft but landed on enemy Controlled area. the IAF suddenly launched a MiG 21 to track the ejected pilot. but his fighter also struck by an enemy MANPAD. a stinger missile brought down the Mig 21. the enemy captured the Pilot later executed by Bakistani Army. violating Geneva convention of war.   

     The next day again the air force lost an Mi-17 Helicopter to a manpad  near Tololing, killing four.it's completely a chaos for the Airforce suddenly withdraw all flying wings who can't able to do missions in the Height of 33,000 feet which is vulnerable to the enemy MANPADS.  the IAF stricted to use only with the High altitude Best Performers the mirage and Mig 29. they carryout missions through only these aircraft till the end of Kargil war. after those loss IAF didn't loss any other Planes in the Combat.

        During the Air force Missions the Bakistan used it's F 16's to provide CAP over the Bakistani Territory. but they are too close to the Indian Line of Control. once a MiG 29 for IAF's Black Archers Sqn  on a escort mission they found two F 16 patrolling over the Bakistani area'. the Mig's equipped with deadly R 77 BVR for escort missions. when the found the F 16 they tried to lock it on their Fire Control radar. they achieved too. now those two F 16's under BVR Lock by the MiG 29. IAF insisted do not engage any aircraft flying outer Indian Border. thus saves the Bakistani Fighters to give second life.

 Sooner the Bakistani's identified the IAF's doctrine of Combat which forced them to do not carry out or launch mission with their Fighter Fleet. the entire PAF in silent during the Kargil war. 

IAF Mirage 2000 and Mig 29 heading towards Target Positions