UPGRADED IAF MIG-29S SPAR WITH OMANI F-16S

AESA radar, ground attack capability, longer-range missiles, new engines, mid-air refuelling give the ‘most advanced MiG-29 variant’ an edge in India’s neighbourhood

- Vishal Thapar

THE 4.5 GENERATION CAPABILITY OF THE UPGRADED MIG-29 fighters was successfully validated by the Indian Air Force (IAF) against Royal Air Force Oman (RAFO) F-16s during the air combat Exercise Eastern Bridge-V from October 17 to 26 at the Masirah airbase in Oman.

The Block 50 variant RAFO F-16 are similar to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) F-16s which attempted a retaliatory attack after the IAF bombing of the Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist camp at Balakot on February 26.

This is the first time that the IAF fielded the MiG-29 in any international exercise overseas. Besides the F-16s, the IAF MiG-29UPG also sparred with the RAFO Eurofighter Typhoon and the multi-role Hawk.

The IAF operates 3 squadrons of MiG-29s. Over 60 MiG29s have already been upgraded to make them more relevant and contemporary, and capable of taking on F-16-type of challenges. The last two of the legacy MiG-29s were handed over for upgrade retrofit to the IAF’s 11 Base Repair Depot at Ojhar, Maharashtra, on September 29. The IAF MiG-29 UPG has been termed the “most advanced variant of the MiG-29” by the Russian OEM, Mikoyan.