Quote: 19 Feb 2010, 1424 hrs IST, IANS

PANAJI: India will order 29 more MiG-29K combat jets for the navy to add to the 16 planes that have already been contracted for, Defence Minister

A.K. Antony said Friday.



"As per the navy's requirements we will be buying 29 additional fighter aircraft from Russia," Antony told reporters after formally inducting the navy's first four MiG-29Ks.



He, however, did not lay down a timeframe for signing the fresh contract and the delivery of the additional jets.



The four jets inducted Friday will soon be joined by another two that are currently being tested, while 10 more will be recieved in the next few months.



These planes will operate from the Dabolim Naval Air Station till the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, rechristened INS Vikramaditya, which is currently being refurbished in Russia is commissioned into the Indian Navy around 2012.



The additional jets are likely to be deployed both on the Vikramaditya and the indegenous aircraft carrier that is being built at the Cochin Shipyard.

Quote:19 Feb 2010, 1044 hrs IST, AGENCIES



VASCO DA GAMA (GOA): The Indian Navy is all set to receive a shot in the arm with the induction of four MiG-29 K combat aircraft into its fleet here on Friday.



The formal ceremony to induct the MiG-29K ' Air Dominance Fighter' aircraft would take place at INS Hansa, the Indian Navy's premier naval station. With the induction of the advanced aircraft, the Indian Navy would join an elite club of navies across the world who have the MiG-29K aircraft in operation.



Talking to mediapersons on the eve of the induction ceremony, Commander Theo Phillis, the commanding officer (CO) of the newly formed squadron 303, which is also known as the 'Black Panthers', described it as a proud moment for the Indian Navy.



When asked about the difference between the Sea Harrier, which are currently in operation in the Navy, Phillis said the MiG-29K would offer a whole lot of other advantages to the navy.



"In MiG-29K, the range of target detention {<img src='http://www.india-forum.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/angry.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':angry:' />}is more. Though the Sea Harrier is still a capable aircraft, the MiG-29K is newer and better," he said. "The MiG-29K is more easier and pleasant aircraft to fly," added Captain Surendra Ahuja, commanding officer of INS Hansa.



Captain Ahuja also explained that there are lot of differences between the MiG-29 B (Bravo) that the India Air Force (IAF) has been using and the MiG-29K , which is to be inducted into the Indian Navy.



The MiG 29K is among the latest and most potent fighters designed by the Mikoyan Gurevich bureau. The MiG-29K is equipped with the air-to-air refueling facility, while this is absent in the MiG-29B, Captain Ahuja said.



The IAF's old MiG-29 fighter, which was inducted in the mid eighties, is a third generation pure Air Defence figher, whereas the MiG-29K belongs to the fourth generation, and is capable of fulfilling multiple roles.



The new combat aircraft is more than 30 percent heavier than the old MiG-29.The MiG-29 is equipped with anti-aircraft 'Beyond Visaul Range Missiles, guided Anti-Ship Missiles, 'smart' guided-bombs and rockets that are more lethal and better than the old MiG-29 K's armaments.



It has a folding wing for close parking and reducing ground space, which is an important feature considering the fact that it would deployed on the air craft carrier INS Vikramaditya (formerly Admiral Gorshkov) once it arrives in the later half of 2012.



The aircraft also boasts of state-of-the-art sensor suite that includes a very responsive and capable radar. The pilot's helmet is equipped with the 'Topsight-E' Helmet-mounted Display and Sight. This unique feature would enable the pilot to shoot a target, without turning the whole aircraft, by merely looking at it.



The India Navy is planning to induct a total of 45 MiG-29K's into its fleet, out of which four (16 of those bought from Russia) were delivered at the INS Hansa in December last year.

Quote:TNN, Feb 20, 2010, 06.29am IST PANAJI: Union defence minister A K Antony on Friday apologized to Goa for keeping the state in the dark when its citizens panicked on hearing explosion-like sounds caused by trials of the MiG 29K aircraft.



Antony's mea culpa came [color="#800080"]after media persons repeatedly questioned the navy and the defence ministry for causing fear among the people in Goa over the last few days[/color]. "I'm sorry about this," Antony told mediapersons during a brief interaction after inducting the MiG 29K into the naval air arm. "We did not inform Goans in advance that this could happen during the trials. In future, I assure you that we will keep you informed in advance," he said.



Incidentally, the defence minister's apology came after the Indian Navy went into denial mode and claimed it had no idea that the sounds were sonic booms from its aircraft until Tuesday. During an interaction with the media on Thursday, commanding officer, INS Hansa, Captain Surendra Ahuja said, "We were conducting flight tests in the south sector. After the sounds were heard at Canacona, we ourselves were unsure about what was the cause. However, there was several conflicting information going around, that there were a series of blasts heard etc. However, when people said that they heard the sounds at Arambol too, it figured with our records as we were conducting tests in the north sector."



India's chief of naval staff admiral Nirmal Verma, present at the induction ceremony on Friday, said, "It is possible that the people have experienced it for the first time. The flag officer Goa area has explained to the Goa administration that the sonic booms were caused while the aircraft was transiting to supersonic speeds."



The navy has now assured that further operations of the aircraft will be held at least 15 nautical miles off the Goa coast.