India to commission Russian MiG-29K deck-based fighters

19.02.2010 Source: RIA Novosti, photo: MiG-29K (vitalykuzmin.net)

Commission ceremony of Russian MiG-29K/KUB deck-based fighters will be held Friday at Indian naval base Hansa, Goa, reports RIA Novosti referring to RSK MiG office.

The ceremony will be opened by Indian defense minister Arakkaparambil Kurian Antony. Russian delegation headed by Viktor Khristenko, Minister of Industry and Commerce has arrived to participate in the event.

The culmination of festivities will be airshow of Indian Navy aircrafts including Mig-29K piloted by Indian pilots who had trained in Russia.

India received first parcel of six deck-based MiGs. Delivery contract of multirole deck-based fighters to Indian Navy was signed on Jan 20, 2004. It provides delivery of 12 single-seat MiG-29K and 4 two-seat MiG-29KUB aircrafts; training of Indian pilots and maintenance personnel; delivery of simulators and spare parts; arrangement of aftersale service.

According to Indian media, the country shows interest to purchase another parcel of 29 MiG-29K fighters in addition to 16 already bought aircrafts.

According to RSK MiG, deck-based fighters MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB are 4++ gen multirole aircrafts designed for air defense of ship formations, air domination, destruction of sea- and land-surface targets by guided high-precision weapons day and night in any weather conditions.