Sustained delays in the development and production of the LCA Tejas — both in the delivery of the required units and the introduction of new variants — have forced the Indian Air Force to keep its Russian-origin MiG-29UPG fighters in service for a longer period. This situation has prompted various plans and efforts aimed, first, at ensuring adequate logistical support and maintenance, and second, at advancing a modernization program that would secure their operational status until approximately 2035.
The latter point is particularly significant, as both local and international companies are pursuing alliances in hopes of gaining the attention of authorities regarding this potential program. One such case is Reliance Defence, which, in late June, signed an agreement with the U.S.-based company Coastal Mechanics Inc. (CMI).
According to the announcement, this partnership with the American firm — which holds authorization from the U.S. State Department to provide a wide range of services for “legacy” military aircraft — aims to offer various solutions, MRO services, and upgrades for aircraft currently in service with the Indian Air Force, such as the MiG-29.
Inducted by the IAF in the 1980s and designated as “Baaz,” the MiG-29 has an extensive operational history, beginning in 1987 when the first units were received by Squadrons No. 28 and 47. Over the years, these Russian-made fighters have undergone several upgrades, resulting in the MiG-29UPG version, whose most visible external feature is the integration of new conformal fuel tanks.
However, as delays in the LCA Tejas program continued, the Indian Ministry of Defence and the Air Force launched a modernization initiative to ensure these aircraft remained operational — a program to be carried out by domestic firms, potentially including Reliance Defence with the support of Coastal Mechanics Inc.
With 40 years of experience, the U.S. company highlights its ability to “…upgrade and modify legacy components to their latest version, enabling full compatibility with modern systems.” It further adds: “Our efficient access inventory strategies provide end-users with some of the fastest lead times in the industry, which is particularly useful in emergencies such as Aircraft-On-Ground (AOG) situations. We offer customized 24/7 access for each of our long-term customers, ready to respond to any challenge in the middle of the night, on weekends, and holidays.”
As noted, this remains a private-sector partnership aimed at responding to potential IAF requirements for its MiG-29 fleet. However, the collaboration would not be limited exclusively to the Russian-origin fighters, and could potentially extend to other long-serving platforms such as the SEPECAT Jaguar, of which India is the last military operator.
Finally, regarding the potential upgrade of the Indian MiG-29s, the new version would be designated “UPG2” and would focus on integrating new capabilities present in the LCA Tejas MK2, such as the Uttam AESA radar, a new mission computer, and compatibility with new air-to-air missiles.
Images used for illustrative purposes only.
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