The IAF lost its third MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter aircraft this year in a crash just beyond the Jamnagar airstrip at 7.45 this evening. The pilot was able to eject safely.

With today’s crash — a Court of Inquiry has been ordered into it — the IAF has lost three MiG-29s, two MiG-21s a MiG-27 and a Suryakiran display aircraft so far this year. The two previous crashes involving MiG-29s, 66 of which are deployed in the air superiority role at the frontier base in Adampur, took place on September 28 outside Ambala and on June 8 in the sea off the Gujarat coast. IAF sources told The Indian Express that engine fault was to blame for both the crashes.

The IAF’s MiG-29 fleet is to be put through a comprehensive mid-life upgrade programme, already delayed by 18 months, starting 2008. HAL has received technology from Russian’s Chernyshev to license-build new RD-33 jet engines for the upgrade.

The engines will be built at HAL’s Koraput facility from next year. The upgrade will include replacing the aircraft’s N-019 radar with Russian Phazatron Zhuk-M combat radars, possibly Israeli avionics and mid-air refuelling probes.

The move to give New Delhi engine-building technology is not a one-off deal — the Indian Navy will receive the first of 16 MiG-29K carrier-based fighters next year, and the MiG-29 OVT (designated MiG-35) is in contention for the IAF’s upcoming 126-fighter purchase contract.