People need to understand the Defination of ground attack
There are 9 types of mission in ground attack
1. Deep strike against enemy installations
2. Bunker Bursting / Runway Penetration or destruction
3. Suppression of enemy air defence
4. Standoff missile Delivery ( Air launched cruise Missile strike)
5. anti armour operations
6. Close Air support for ground troops
7. Nuclear Delivery
8. Taking out enemy Radar operations
9. Anti ship operations
Being able to carry LGB doesnot mean that an aircraft is good at ground attack
Our Upgraded Mig29 will be able to carry 250 , 500 and 1000 kg LGBs and the fighter will be able to carry out strikes against Enemy Bunkers , runways and other instalations , which it was not able to perform earlier
In the same Manner our current MKI can perform Deep strike missions , SEAD , anti Radar , Bunker Bursting , Runway Penetration , while some sqds can even carry out Anti ship operations , and all MKI are also capable of delivering Nukes
The Planned upgrade of MKI will increase its survivability in all these missions thanks o better radar , avionics , Engine and RCS reduction . While first 50 and Last 42 MKI will also be able to launch Standoff Missiles like Brahmos and Nirbhay
But still both aircrafts cannot perform all the Ground attack Missions
and will be unable to switch from say SEAD and Anti radar mission to say Bunker Bursting and Runway Penetration
Both aircrafts also cannot carry out Close Air support and Anti Armour missions currently performed by Jaguar IS
InShort, while Mig 29 and MKI can replace Mig27 in Ground attack role , but still cannot replace Jaguar
mmrca aircraft will perform all Ground attack Missions including nuclear delivery , except SEAD and Anti Radar operations , these missions will remain with MKI and in future will be performed by FGFA