MiG-29K Indian Navy Fighter Attack Aircraft Carrier Mikoyan

Indian Navy - Bhāratīya Nau Senā
Mikoyan MiG-29K / MiG-29KUB

mig-29k indian navy fighter aircraft carrier mikoyan inas 303 squadron 34x

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Units:

Identified Serials:

MiG-29K:
IN801 / IN802 / IN803 / IN804 / IN805 / IN806 / IN807 / IN808 / IN809 / IN810
IN811 / IN812 / IN813 / IN814 / IN815 / IN816 / IN817 / IN818 / IN819 / IN820
IN821 / IN822 / IN823 / IN824 / IN825 / IN826 / IN827 / IN828 / IN829 / IN830
IN831 / IN832 / IN833 / IN834

MiG-29KUB:
IN671 / IN672 / IN673 / IN674 / IN675 / IN676 / IN677 / IN678 / IN679

Squadron:
INAS 303 "Black Panthers"
INAS 300 "White Tigers" (OCU - operational conversion unit)

Homebase:
INS Hansa (Goa, India)

Aircraft Carriers:
INS Vikrant (R11)
INS Vikramaditya (R33)

The Mikoyan MiG-29K is a Russian all-weather carrier-based multirole fighter aircraft developed by the Mikoyan Design Bureau. The MiG-29K was developed in the late 1980s from the MiG-29M. Mikoyan describes it as a 4+ generation aircraft.

The production standard MiG-29Ks differ from prototypes in features such as a multi-function radar and several new cockpit displays, the integration of RVV-AE (also known as R-77) air-to-air missiles, along with missiles for anti-ship and anti-radar operations, and several ground/strike precision-guided weapons.

In the early 1990s only two MiG-29K prototypes were built because the Russian Navy preferred the Su-27K (later re-designated Su-33). Mikoyan continued its MiG-29K development despite the lack of financing since 1992. The programme received a boost in the late 1990s with India's requirement for a ship-borne fighter following the purchase of a former Soviet aircraft carrier. India received its first MiG-29K by the Indian Naval Air Arm in 2009. The Russian Navy, with their Su-33s nearing the end of their service lives by 2010, has also ordered the MiG-29K as a replacement. The aircraft ceased production in 2020.

The MiG-29K programme was revived in response to the decision of the Indian Navy to acquire the former Soviet Navy aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov in 2004. When Admiral Gorshkov was part of the Soviet fleet, it was a hybrid aircraft carrier/cruiser using vertical take-off (V/STOL) aircraft; thus the deck was refurbished with a take-off ramp and arrestor wires for operating MiG-29Ks. The aircraft has an enlarged and folding wing, an arrestor hook and a corrosion-protected reinforced fuselage.

One factor favouring the MiG-29K over the Su-33 in the Indian decision was the larger size of the Su-33, which further limited the number of aircraft on deck. Modifications were made to the MiG-29K for Indian requirements, including the Zhuk-ME radar, RD-33MK engine, a combat payload up to 5,500 kilograms (12,100 lb), 13 weapon stations, and updated 4-channel digital fly-by-wire flight control system. It is compatible with the full range of weapons carried by the MiG-29M and MiG-29SMT.

The problem of lack of aircraft-carrier based AWACS platform may be tackled by further development of dual-seat MiG-29KUB. It is theoretically possible to outfit the MiG-29KUB with powerful radar, and encrypted data links, to permit networking of multiple MiG-29KUB aircraft for AEW coverage. The MiG-29KUB may also be enhanced in areas such as electronic warfare and long-range interdiction.

The MiG-29KUB two-seat variant took its first flight on 20 January 2007, followed by the MiG-29K on 25 June 2007.

In January 2004, Indian Navy ordered 12 MiG-29K single-seat and 4 MiG-29KUB two-seat fighters. The MiG-29K is to provide both airborne fleet air defence and surface attack capabilities. Deliveries began in December 2009. Prior to their delivery to India, the MiG-29Ks underwent testing on board Admiral Kuznetsov. In January 2010, India and Russia signed a deal worth US$1.2 billion for the Indian Navy to receive an additional 29 MiG-29Ks. The MiG-29K entered operational service with India in February 2010. Six aircraft were delivered by the end of 2010 Further deliveries of five MiG-29Ks and a flight simulator took place in May 2011. Further deliveries are to continue through 2012. The fighters were based at INS Hansa in Goa on India's west coast until Admiral Gorshkov joined the navy under the name of INS Vikramaditya in last quarter of 2013. Vikramaditya was expected to carry up to 24 MiG-29K/KUB fighters. INS Vikrant, India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, also carries this aircraft, but will be complemented by the Dassault Rafale M from 2030.

Further MiG-29K orders by India were frozen after a MiG-29KUB crashed during testing in Russia prior to delivery to India; the Indian Defence Ministry commented that the crash cast a shadow on the credibility of the aircraft. Russia later announced that pilot error had caused the crash, and there was no need to ground the aircraft. In August 2011, MiG's General Director Sergei Korotkov announced that the final five out of the 16 aircraft contracted in 2004 would be delivered by the end of the year; and that deliveries of a second batch of 29 MiG-29Ks would begin in 2012. In November 2012, the MiG-29K/KUB completed sea trials for the Indian Navy. One problem is that Western and Ukrainian sanctions on Russia have prevented Mikoyan importing components for assembly at the factory, instead they have had to be installed "on the flightline" in India.

In a 2016 report, India's national auditor CAG criticized the aircraft due to defects in engines, airframes and fly-by-wire systems. The serviceability of MiG-29K was reported to be 37.63% and that of MiG-29KUB ranging from 21.30% to 47.14%; with 40 engines (62%) being rejected/withdrawn from service due to design defects. These defects are likely to reduce the service life of the aircraft from the stated 6000 hours. However, it was reported that recent efforts made by the two countries have improved serviceability to around 70%. In 2017, the Indian government announced the planned replacement of the MiG-29 with 57 new aircraft, with a competition primarily between the French Dassault Rafale and the American Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. After conducting trials in 2022, the Rafale M was finalized in 2025 with 26 units purchased.

In December 2018 when addressing the press on the eve of Navy Day CNS Admiral Lanba noted regarding the MiG-29K, "there is no issue on supplies of spare parts from Russia at the moment... The MiG-29K fleet has been performing well now." The Indian Navy plans to deploy the MiG-29K onboard its first domestically built carrier, INS Vikrant, and will acquire further combat jets with updated capabilities for this purpose. Indian Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba announced that issues related to maintenance and availability of spare parts for the MiG-29K fleet, which had previously undermined their readiness, had been resolved. On 26 May 2023, a MiG-29K successfully landed on INS Vikrant during night sea trials of the ship. The Indian Navy has reportedly had multiple Radar failures with the Zhuk-ME radar used on both the MiG-29K/KUB with its serviceability dropping to around 60-hours before becoming defective. This was also confirmed by leaked documents released by Black Mirror Hackers, a Ukrainian hacking group. The Indian Navy cancelled OEM warranties on the Russian inability to deliver spares and proceeded with indigenous replacement of components, resulting in increased availability rates. The Indian Air Force's Base repair Depot in Nasik also upgraded the MiG-29K fleet and conducted overhauls for the ejection seats in 2026.

Specifications (MiG-29K):
Crew: 1
Length: 17.3 m (56 ft 9 in)
Wingspan: 11.99 m (39 ft 4 in)
Height: 4.4 m (14 ft 5 in)
Wing area: 45 m2 (480 sq ft)
Empty weight: 12,000 kg (26,455 lb)
Gross weight: 18,550 kg (40,896 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 24,500 kg (54,013 lb)
Powerplant: 2 x Klimov RD-33MK turbofan engines / 52.96 kN (11,905 lbf) thrust each dry / 88.3 kN (19,840 lbf) with afterburner
Maximum speed: 2,200 km/h (1,400 mph, 1,200 kn) / Mach 2+ at high altitude / 1,400 km/h (870 mph; 760 kn) / Mach 1.13 at low altitude
Cruise speed: 1,500 km/h (930 mph, 810 kn) / M1.21
Range: 2,000 km (1,200 mi, 1,100 nmi) at high altitude / 700 km (430 mi; 380 nmi) at low altitude
Combat range: 850 km (530 mi, 460 nmi)
Ferry range: 2,000 km (1,200 mi, 1,100 nmi) internals / 3,000 km (1,900 mi; 1,600 nmi) with 3 drop tanks
Service ceiling: 17,500 m (57,400 ft)
g limits: +8
Rate of climb: 330 m/s (65,000 ft/min) initial / 109 m/s (358 ft/s) average from 0-6,000 m (0-19,685 ft)
Gun: 1 x 30 mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 autocannon with 150 rounds

Armament (selection):
Astra air-to-air missile
Rampage air-to-surface missile
NASM-MR anti-ship missile
Khagantak-243 bombs

sources: wikipedia; Indian MoD

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