IAF plans change in MiG-27 engine

But the two recent crashes of MiG-21 Bison have forced the IAF to take a closer look at the upgrade programme, and it has proposed that the plan be modified to replace the nearly 30-year-old R-29 engine of MiG-27 that has a suspect track record.

According to sources, since replacement of R-29 engines with a variant of the AL-31 would include major design modifications, the IAF and HAL have decided to rope in MiG-MAPO group, the original manufacturers of the MiG series of aircraft.

Both the MiG-21 crashes are believed to have been caused by engine failures. However, since the MiG-21 design had become outdated, HAL as well as the original manufacturer had no option but to continue with the R-25 engine.

HAL was unable to make any design changes and stuck to upgrading the avionics and the weapons systems on board at a cost of approximately Rs 1,200 crore. Like the MiG-21, the MiG-27, which is a ground attack aircraft, also has a relatively high accident record.

Between 1988 and 2002, the IAF lost 23 MiG-27 aircraft, mostly attributed to technical defects. In fact, the IAF has also been forced to fly the ageing MiG-23 and is perhaps the only airforce in the world to do so.

With the IAF still awaiting a political decision to procure more modern aircraft to replenish its ageing fleet of front-line fighters and the Light Combat Aircraft programme years away from operational induction, the IAF has been forced to undertake mid-life upgrade programmes for its MiG series, which continues to be the backbone of the air force.