US to upgrade 100 Indian MiG-29 aircraft

US company Coastal Mechanics is partnering with India's Reliance Defense to modernize 100 MiG-29 aircraft in a $2.3 billion deal.

Recently, Reliance Defence Limited, a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure in India, announced a strategic partnership with Coastal Mechanics Inc, a contractor commissioned by the US Department of Defense , to address India’s growing defense maintenance, repair and overhaul needs. Photo: @DefenceXP.

Under the $2.3 billion deal, US company Coastal Mechanics will directly maintain and modernize key military platforms, including more than 100 Russian-designed MiG-29 fighter jets operated by the Indian Air Force, along with other systems such as Jaguar aircraft, Apache helicopters and L-70 anti-aircraft guns. Photo: @SP's Aviation.

This partnership marks a rare instance where an American company has directly partnered to upgrade, maintain and modernize Russian-made equipment in a third country. Photo: @India Today.

The move also signals a shift in India's defense strategy toward extending the life of its aging military assets, rather than replacing them entirely. Photo: @DefenceXP.

The move is also in line with India's push for self-reliance in defence, and could help reshape defence maintenance capabilities in the region. Photo: @SP's Aviation.

The MiG-29 fighter, known as the Fulcrum by NATO, has been a mainstay of the Indian Air Force since the 1980s, when India became one of the first export customers for the Russian-designed jet. Photo: @India Today.

Designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau, the MiG-29 was built to compete with Western fighters like the US F-16 and F-15, with its agility, powerful avionics and versatile weapons suite. Photo: @India Today.

The Indian Air Force operates more than 100 of these twin-engine jets, mostly the MiG-29UPG variant, and it was upgraded in 2010 to improve its radar, avionics and weapons. Photo: @SP's Aviation.

The MiG-29 is equipped with the Zhuk-ME pulse-Doppler radar, capable of tracking multiple targets at a range of up to 193 km, and carries an arsenal that includes R-77 radar-guided missiles for long-range engagements, and R-73 infrared-guided missiles for close-range combat. Photo: @India Today.

The MiG-29's 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon provides powerful air-to-air support, while its ability to carry precision-guided munitions makes it a versatile platform suitable for air superiority and ground attack missions. Photo: @India Today.

The role of the MiG-29 in India's defence has been crucial, especially in high-altitude operations along the Line of Actual Control with China and during the 1999 Kargil War. However, the squadron is facing many challenges. Photo: @SP's Aviation.

Finding spare parts for Russian systems has become more difficult due to geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions, especially after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Maintenance costs have increased, and the jet’s aging airframe will need a major overhaul to stay in service. Photo: @DefenceXP.

The partnership with Coastal Mechanics aims to address these issues by providing a full maintenance and upgrade package, potentially integrating Western technologies to enhance the MiG-29's capabilities. This could include new modernized avionics, improved radar systems, or even compatibility with Western munitions, a move that would help diversify India's dependence on the Russian defense supply chain. Photo: @SP's Aviation.

However, integrating US expertise with Russian systems could present technical challenges, especially if proprietary data from Russian manufacturers is required. Furthermore, Moscow’s reaction to a US company working on its military designs remains unclear. Russia has a long history of protecting its intellectual property rights, and any infringement could strain India-Russia defense ties. Photo: @DefenceXP.

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