The IN’s ‘Super Fighter’
The Indian Navy’s MiG-29K/KUB was commissioned with INAS 303 some and its primary role in establishing local
The Indian Navy’s latest combat aviation asset, the MiG- 29K/ KUB multi- role strike fighter were formally commissioned into service with INAS 303 ‘Black Panthers’ on 11 May 2013 (see Vayu III/2013). The initial contract for their purchase was signed on 20 January 2004, along with the ex-Russian Navy ‘ heavy aviation cruiser’ Admiral Gorshkov which has since been modified into a STOBAR aircraft carrier in service as INS Vikramaditya. The initial contract covered delivery of twelve single- seat MiG-29K and four dual-seat MiG-29KUB fighters, as well as facilities and procedures for training of pilots and technical staff, delivery of simulators, spare parts, and establishment of maintenance facilities at Indian Navy installations. The aforesaid ‘super fighters’ will be operated from the 45,000-tonne INS Vikramaditya as well as the under- construction INS Vikrant (IAC-1).
The MiG-29K was initially intended to fulfil the role of a multi-role strike-fighter operable from aircraft carriers like the United States Navy’s F/A-18 Hornet but financial troubles at the end of the Cold War temporarily terminated the MiG-29K programme after nearly 450 flights. Test flights of MiG-29Ks were resumed from 2002 in anticipation of export sales to the Indian Navy.
On board INS Vikramaditya, the MiG-29K/KUBs will make a 14.3-degree ski-jump assisted short take off following attainment of full power thanks to hydraulic restraining blocks that hold the aircraft in place. Three arrestor cables are fitted on the aft part of the angled flight deck along with navigation and carrier-landing aids including the LAK optical-landing system to facilitate STOBAR (short take-off but arrested recovery) operations.
The MiG-29K’s exterior airframe is only slightly different from the standard MiG- 29, prominent differences being incorporation of Leading Edge Root Extensions (LERX), an arrestor hook and special Radar Absorbent Material (RAM) coatings. Under the skin, however, it is a different aircraft altogether. The MiG29K boasts a triplex digital Fly-By-Wire (FBW) Flight Control System (FCS) with multiple-redundancy in all three channels and a mechanical back- up in roll- andyaw channels. The cockpit is all-glass and features a ShKAl wide-angle monochrome Head-Up Display (HUD) and MFI-10-7 liquid- crystal Multi Function Displays ( MFDs). Additionally, the MiG- 29K/ KUB flight and navigation system is based on an ‘open architecture’ principle built around the MIL-STD-1553B standard data bus enabling integration of weapons and sensors from a variety of sources, mirroring the architecture of the Sukhoi Su-30MKI.
Enhanced range is a vital attribute of any aircraft carrier based platform and in this respect additional fuel tanks have been accommodated in the dorsal spine and LERX, increasing total fuel capacity by some fifty per cent compared to early variants of the land- based MiG- 29. A further combination of ‘ combat rated’ drop tanks, Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) capability and the option of a centreline ‘buddy refuelling’ tank is set to enhance the
range to considerable extent. While Indian Navy MiG- 29Ks may be in a position to refuel from the IAF’s Il-78MKI AAR platforms, ‘buddy refuelling’ from fellow MiG-29K/KUBs will likely be the option whilst deployed away from Indian shores.
The main sensor, the on-board radar, is the Phazotron Zhuk-ME, an X-band mono-pulse pulse-Doppler radar, with an aerial target detection range of 150 km. It can initiate track beginning at 130 km range, against a target with RCS of 5 square metres and can Track-While-Scan (TWS) 20 targets and simultaneously engage four targets. The passive detection kit consists of an Infra-Red Search and Track (IRST) sensor and laser range-finder, an area the Russians are traditionally considered strong at, and perhaps their answer to the emerging stealth designs, particularly those of the United States.
The only weak link in the system lies in the lack of AEW&C support. The E801M Oko (Eye) pulse-Doppler 6x1 metre planar array radar used by Kamov Ka-31 AEW helicopters are capable of providing the much needed support in detecting fightersized targets at ranges at least up to 110 km, but are unable to guide Indian Navy fighters towards their targets. Lack of endurance of an AEW helicopter platform is also a critical shortcoming. This problem will appear less acute however if the Indian naval planners visualise grand scale naval operations in future as part of Coalition Forces where mutual AEW&C and AEW cover will be available. The aircraft will also feature Sagem’s Sigma- 95 Inertial Navigation System/ Global Positioning System ( INS/ GPS). In future the aircraft are likely to sport an Active Electronically Scanned Array ( AESA) set plus encrypted Intra- Flight Data Link (IFDL) to permit networking of multiple MiG-29K/KUB
platforms effectively providing AEW coverage of respective sectors alongside vectoring appropriate fighters in pursuit.
The MiG-29K/KUB is equipped with two smokeless Klimov RD-33MK turbofan engines producing 9,000 kg thrust in afterburner, a significant increase over the land-based MiG-29’s baseline RD-33 engines. The direct benefit is in the area of greater payloads stated to be in the region of 5,500 kg, including Russian RVV-AE BVRAAMs, R-73 CCMs cued by the Thales ‘Topsight E’ helmet-mounted targeting system, and variants of the Kh35 anti- ship missile alongside standard air-to-ground munitions such as unguided rockets. However as the MiG-29K/KUB flight and navigation system is built around the MIL-STD-1553B standard data bus, incorporation of the European MBDA Meteor inertial navigation/ active- radar homing BVRAAM with 150 km range is a possible option to fulfil the BVR role for ‘outer-air battles’ alongside the dual-mode solid-fuelled RVV-BD BVRAAM unveiled at MAKS 2011 for the first time. The RVVBD weighs 510 kg, has a range up to 200 km and is capable of destroying targets with overload up to 8-g at an altitude from 15 m to 25 km. For dogfights the MiG-29K has a handy a 30-mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh301 single-barrel gun, with a capacity of 150 rounds. A robust combination of Russian, Indian and Israeli Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) suites (including Elta’s EL/M-8222 ECM pod) provides a shield around the MiG- 29K/ KUB platforms against hostile threats.
The primary role of INS Vikramaditya will be to establish local air superiority in open oceans even within the range of enemy fighter and strike aircraft. Thus it will provide the vital integrated air support in terms of fleet area air defence, and also include the strategic oriented defensive postures to protect the Indian Navy nuclear-powered ballistic missile armed submarine (SSBN), in holding areas or ‘bastions’ in and around the Indian Ocean. If necessary, offensive missions can to be undertaken to sweep aside enemy barrier Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) forces in key areas to facilitate transit of Indian Navy SSBN units from one operational theatre to another adequately, to be supported in these roles by Akula II-class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN).
Enemy operated Long Range Maritime Patrol/Anti-Submarine Warfare (LRMP/ ASW) platforms are presently anticipated as the greatest threat to Indian Navy surface units and SSBN platforms especially if guided to their targets by an enemy AWACS aircraft. The MiG-29K/KUBs in conjunction with Kamov Ka-31 Airborne Early Warning (AEW) helicopters will be instrumental in intercepting and destroying enemy strike and LRMP platforms at great distances effectively debarring them from conducting LRMP/ ASW operations or before they can close in and fire anti-ship missiles such as the AGM-84 Harpoon or Exocet AM39.
Also a Combat Air Patrol ( CAP) or Quick Reaction Alert ( QRA) from a ‘forward floating base’ in the Arabian Sea can be established to destroy enemy airborne strike platforms in defence of our vital nuclear and oil installations on the West coast. An added advantage of INS Vikramaditya is its superstructure profile that has the potential to accommodate powerful planar or phased array radar systems with ‘billboard style’ antennae first noted in United States Navy cruiser USS Long Beach along with extensive command and control facilities to conduct an aerial campaign.