<p>The first three MiG-29UPG fighter jets have been delivered to India under a contract to modernize the fleet of MiG-29 aircraft in service with the Indian Air Force (IAF), the MiG aircraft maker said.<br /><br /></p>.<p>“The MiG corporation … has started deliveries of upgraded MiG-29UPG fighter jets to the Indian Air Force,” the company said in a statement Monday.<br /><br />“The first three aircraft have been transported to India on board an AN-124 heavy-lift transport plane,” the statement said.<br /><br />The IAF has awarded the MiG corporation a $900 million contract to upgrade all of its 69 operational MiG-29s.<br /><br />These upgrades include a new avionics kit, with the N-109 radar being replaced by a Phazatron Zhuk-M radar. The aircraft is also being equipped to enhance beyond-visual-range combat ability and for air-to-air refuelling to increase flying time.<br /><br />The service life of the modernized aircraft has been extended to 40 years.<br />The first six aircraft are upgraded in Russia while the remaining 63 will be refitted at the HAL facility in India.<br /><br />In 2007, Russia gave India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) a licence to manufacture 120 RD-33 series 3 turbojet engines for the upgrade.<br /><br />“We are getting ready to carry out the work on the second part of the contract which stipulates the modernization of the (MiG-29) aircraft in India in close cooperation with the Indian defence industry,” the MiG press service said.</p>
<p>The first three MiG-29UPG fighter jets have been delivered to India under a contract to modernize the fleet of MiG-29 aircraft in service with the Indian Air Force (IAF), the MiG aircraft maker said.<br /><br /></p>.<p>“The MiG corporation … has started deliveries of upgraded MiG-29UPG fighter jets to the Indian Air Force,” the company said in a statement Monday.<br /><br />“The first three aircraft have been transported to India on board an AN-124 heavy-lift transport plane,” the statement said.<br /><br />The IAF has awarded the MiG corporation a $900 million contract to upgrade all of its 69 operational MiG-29s.<br /><br />These upgrades include a new avionics kit, with the N-109 radar being replaced by a Phazatron Zhuk-M radar. The aircraft is also being equipped to enhance beyond-visual-range combat ability and for air-to-air refuelling to increase flying time.<br /><br />The service life of the modernized aircraft has been extended to 40 years.<br />The first six aircraft are upgraded in Russia while the remaining 63 will be refitted at the HAL facility in India.<br /><br />In 2007, Russia gave India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) a licence to manufacture 120 RD-33 series 3 turbojet engines for the upgrade.<br /><br />“We are getting ready to carry out the work on the second part of the contract which stipulates the modernization of the (MiG-29) aircraft in India in close cooperation with the Indian defence industry,” the MiG press service said.</p>