India to License-build MiG-29 Engines
Related Stories: Asia - India, Contracts - Awards, Engines - Aircraft, Fighters & Attack, Other Corporation, Russia, Support & Maintenance
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Until the arrival of the SU-30MKs and SU-30MKIs, India’s MiG-29 fleet was its primary counter to Pakistan’s F-16s. That fleet had a number of problems, the most prominent of which was a low readiness rate given the long turnaround time for spares et. al. from Russian suppliers. Engines were reportedly a particularly troublesome issue. Yet India is acquiring MiG-29K fighters for use from its new full-size INS Vikramaditya carrier, and the thrust-vectoring MiG-29OVT/MiG-35 variant is a contender for its MRCA medium fighter aircraft competition.
The MiG-29’s MRCA position just got a bit stronger, and India’s maintenance issues just got a bit easier, thanks to a new $275 million arrangement to license produce the MiG-29’s R-33 engine in India…
By January 2007, Kommersant reports that Moscow-based Chernyshev Machine-building plant will supply 20 of the new 18,000 lb/ 8300 kg thrust RD-33 jet engines for trials at a cost of about $25 million. Under a deal with Rosoboronexport, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) will then manufacture 120 RD-33 series 3 extended life cycle jet engines under the $250 million license deal from St. Petersburg-based Klimov at its Koraput plant
Both Chernyshev and Klimow are part of RAC-MiG corporation, for those interested in Russia’s complex defense industry corporate structure.
The Times of India points out that this deal will also help India master the assembly of the related RD-33MK Sea Wasp engines for its MiG-29K naval fighters, as well as expertise that would strengthen maintenance capabilities for any MiG-35 fighters purchased (they use full-aspect thrust vectoring RD-133 engines).
Meanwhile, negotiations continue re: an program that would upgrade and extend the lives of India’s existing MiG-29s. DID covered this development back in February 2006, and there are reports that a $900+ million deal is expected to be signed in October 2006.
UPDATES:
March 8/07: A release from India’s DoD explains the current state of the program:
“There is no proposal for advancement of engine of MiG-29 aircraft which are powered with RD-33 Series – I and Series – II engines. These engines are no longer in production. To meet the future requirement of replacement engines for the MiG-29 fleet, an Inter Governmental Agreement (IGA) has been signed between the Government of India and the Government of Russian Federation for license manufacture of RD-33 Series – III engines at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). RD-33 Series – III engine is the latest version of RD-33 engine and has higher Total Technical Life (TTL) and Time Between Overhauls (TBO). HAL has signed a general contract with the Russian side for Transfer of Technology (TOT) for license manufacture of these engines at HAL.”
Dec 14/06: MosNews reports that a MiG-29 upgrade deal is signed for around $850 million, with work to be carried out exclusively by RSK-MiG. The deal reportedly covers 66 aircraft (down 1 due to a November 2006 crash), and will feature more powerful radars, advanced avionics and a new engine variant as well as air-to-air re-fueling capabilities.
