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IAF Planning to Phase Out MiG-27 Planes by 2017

Oct 02, 2012

Concerned over recurring problems in MiG-27 combat aircraft engines, Indian Air Force is planning to phase out these Russian-origin planes by 2017.

IAF operates about 80 (four squadrons) of these aircraft in its fleet and due to the recurring problems in their engines, it had to ground all of them after a crash about two years ago.

"We are planning to phase out the MiG-27s, of which around 80 are still in service, by the year 2017," senior IAF officials told PTI here.

IAF has deployed two squadrons each of the aircraft in Jodhpur in Rajasthan and Kalaikunda in West Bengal at present.

About two years, a study was conducted to check the problems in the engines of the aircraft and it was found that the R-29s engines have developed some defect which was very difficult to be corrected, they said.

After the report, IAF took a considered decision about retiring these aircraft from operational service in a phased manner, the officials said.

"The first to be phased out would be the two squadrons based in Kalaikunda and then by 2017, the remaining two deployed in Jodhpur would also be on their way out of the force," they said.

The squadrons based in Jodhpur had undergone upgrades at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited recently and that is why they have more life left in them, the officials said.

IAF is also planning to phase out the crash-prone MiG-21 combat aircraft around the same timeframe. MiG-23 fighter and bomber aircraft which were inducted in the 1980s have already been phased out.
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11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

sabya99 · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 6:42 pm Post subject:

Most Soviet aircraft of MIG design bureau have an operational life of 4000 hours. These machines were developed as use and throw aircrafts and not like American aircrafts of longer life span and many more replaceable parts including engines. IAF should have considered that before purchasing these machines. Very Happy

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Sabya99

Aseem · Member Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 2841 Location: YYZ

shivendrashukla · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 7:14 pm Post subject:

747-237 · Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 10:44 pm Post subject:

http://www.firstpost.com/india/iaf-pulled-unfruitful-spending-mig-27-upgrade-1624553.html

IAF pulled up for 'unfruitful' spending on MiG-27 upgrade

Jul 18, 2014

The CAG today pulled up the Indian Air Force for an "unfruitful" expenditure of Rs 155 crore for developing an Electronic Warfare system aimed at enhancing capability of the Russian-origin MiG-27 fighter aircraft. The government auditor, in its report tabled in Parliament, said the India-Israel joint venture project for developing the system 'Takshak' was "injudicious" as it was sanctioned in 2009 by the force despite knowing that the MiG-27s would start getting phased out by 2016.

"Due to injudicious decision and delay in development of ‘Takshak’ system, the objective of enhancing operational capability of a fighter aircraft could not be achieved. Besides, an expenditure of Rs 155.79 crore incurred on the project was rendered unfruitful," the report said.

The Defence Ministry had accorded sanction for the Rs 311 crore project to be developed by 2011 "to enhance the operational capability of fighter aircraft and strengthen electronic warfare industry". The report said that despite delays in the programme, the IAF during trials found that it was not fully developed and could not meet a large number of technical specifications.

"The IAF also acknowledged that induction of the ‘Takshak’ system in MiG-27 fleet would take at least another three years (from 2011) and complete fleet modification would be over only by 2016 whereas the MiG-27 aircraft fleet was planned to be phased out of service from 2014 onward.

"Therefore, it decided to foreclose the project since it was not possible to operationally exploit this system on the aircraft. An expenditure of Rs 155.79 crore had already been incurred on the project till then (January 2013)," the report said.