India will formally commission the first lot of the contracted 16 MiG-29K maritime fighter jets from Russia on February 19, even though their aircraft carrier, Admiral Gorshkov, will be inducted only by 2013 now.
Six of the 16 original MiG-29Ks have already arrived at the Goa naval airbase to constitute the 303 `Black Panthers' squadron, with the next three slated to follow shortly.
This comes even as India and Russia are set to sign the around $1.2 billion contract for 29 more MiG-29K fighter jets for the Indian Navy.
The MiG-29Ks will operate from both the 44,570-tonne Gorshkov as well as the 40,000-tonne indigenous aircraft carrier being built at Cochin Shipyard, which should roll out by 2014-2015.
The original 16 MiG-29Ks were part of the initial $1.5 billion Gorshkov package deal in January 2004. Incidentally, while only $974 million had been earmarked for Gorshkov's refit at that time, the cost has jumped up to around $2.3 billion now.
The MiG-29Ks, armed with eight types of air-to-air missiles, including extended range BVR (beyond visual range) missiles, as well as 25 air-to-surface weapons for land-attack missions, will provide the Navy with a lethal punch on the high seas.
While 12 of the first 16 fighters will be the single-seat `K' variants, the other four will be twin-seater `KUB' trainer versions. Similarly, four of the next 29 jets will be `KUB' trainer versions.
Navy to induct MiG-29Ks on Feb 19 - The Times of India
Six of the 16 original MiG-29Ks have already arrived at the Goa naval airbase to constitute the 303 `Black Panthers' squadron, with the next three slated to follow shortly.
This comes even as India and Russia are set to sign the around $1.2 billion contract for 29 more MiG-29K fighter jets for the Indian Navy.
The MiG-29Ks will operate from both the 44,570-tonne Gorshkov as well as the 40,000-tonne indigenous aircraft carrier being built at Cochin Shipyard, which should roll out by 2014-2015.
The original 16 MiG-29Ks were part of the initial $1.5 billion Gorshkov package deal in January 2004. Incidentally, while only $974 million had been earmarked for Gorshkov's refit at that time, the cost has jumped up to around $2.3 billion now.
The MiG-29Ks, armed with eight types of air-to-air missiles, including extended range BVR (beyond visual range) missiles, as well as 25 air-to-surface weapons for land-attack missions, will provide the Navy with a lethal punch on the high seas.
While 12 of the first 16 fighters will be the single-seat `K' variants, the other four will be twin-seater `KUB' trainer versions. Similarly, four of the next 29 jets will be `KUB' trainer versions.
Navy to induct MiG-29Ks on Feb 19 - The Times of India
