Ready to localise MiG-35 production: Russian firm

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

Bengaluru, February 24

Russian aerospace major RAC MiG, which is offering the new MiG-35 fighter jet to India, has said that it is ready to localise production of the jet.

At Aero India, MiG Director General Tarasenko Ilya said, “At present, we are the number one plane in the world and offer to localise the MiG-35 production in India.”

Tarasenko said, “We have been here for more than 50 years (MiG-21 arrived in India in 1963). We have had excellent cooperation with India in the past and will continue it.”

MiG is one of the seven companies in the race for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) tender seeking 110 fighter jets. Tarasenko said, “We will meet all requirements of the MoD.” One of the requirements is the maximum ‘make in India’. The company has already made a presentation on new technologies, showcasing technological advantages of the MiG-35. 

The Indian Air Force (IAF) operates 110 MiG-21 and MiG-27 jets which are on the verge of being phased out. It also operates MiG-29 jets while the Navy operates the MiG-29K — the sea variant.

The company has claimed that the MiG-35 will be 20 per cent cheaper than the similar offers from direct competitors.

Tarasenko said, “There is no need to disassemble the aircraft or even a part of it for maintenance and upgrade —just replacing the module is sufficient. Besides, the replacement of the propulsion unit (the engine) takes only 58 minutes in field conditions.”

The MiG-35 is armed with new types of guided and unguided air-attack systems which provide maximum effectiveness in combat against air and ground targets. It also carries a new optronic sighting, navigation system with a weapon control, a new communications system complex and AESA radar.

The Russian company has also set up a new public joint stock company United Aircraft Corporation as a part of  an after-sales service concept. It is expected to reduce time and costs at all stages of the after-sales service — from the creation of technical centres to performing maintenance and repair works.

Advanced & Lethal

• The MiG-35 is armed with new types of guided and unguided air-attack systems which provide maximum effectiveness in combat against air and ground targets
• It also carries a new optronic sighting, navigation system with a weapon control, a new communications system complex and AESA radar