NEW DELHI - India has signed a $964 million contract with RAC “MiG” for the upgrade of the air force’s fleet of 78 MiG-29s.

The overhaul and retrofitting of the aircraft will extend service life to 3,500 flight hours. The program includes fitting the MiG-29s with upgraded weapons and a new avionics suite, with the old N-019 radar being replaced by the Zhuk-ME radar. The MiG-29s also will be upgraded for mid-air refuelling to increase their endurance. A different version, Zhuk AE, will be used in the MiG- 35. Current Mig-29s are armed with R-27 and R-77 beyond-visual-range missiles.

The upgrade includes the Klimov RD-33 series jet engine, a more durable version of the original MiG-29 power plant. Upgrades of onboard data and sighting systems will include a new weapon control system, an optronic station and multifunctional cockpit displays.

In a possible first, the contract includes an offset clause of 30 percent of the contract value, which RAC (Russian Aircraft Corporation) “MiG” plans to honor by setting-up consignment depots and service centers for maintenance and repair of the Zhuk family radars, and simulator centers.

“The retrofitted MiG-29’s avionics suite will include systems developed and produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), Bharat Dynamics Ltd., and some foreign companies,” according to a statement.

The first six fighters are to be upgraded and flight-tested in Russia. The overhaul and modification of the rest are to be carried out in India at Indian air force aircraft repair facilities using equipment kits supplied by RAC “MiG.”

With the transfer of the licence for production of the RD-33 series 3 engines to HAL, “India will acquire the infrastructure for the MiG-29 family fighters’ indigenous maintenance, repair/overhaul and upgrade,” RAC “MiG” says.

Russia has affirmed that should the Indian air force select the MiG-35 fighter for the 126 medium multi role combat aircraft (MMRCA) program, all key technologies including the AESA radar manufacturing will be transferred to HAL. It also has confirmed assistance for serial production of the MiG-35 by HAL.

Photo: Indian Air Force. An earlier version of this story was illustrated with the wrong aircraft.