When India said “No” to Mig-31

[IND151]

Nearly 15 years ago few years before Secretive Mikoyan MiG-25RB reconnaissance aircraft fleet of Indian air force were officially retired, Russia had urged India to exchange its small fleet of MiG-25s for new MiG-31 interceptors.

Russian MiG Aircraft Corporation had invited Indian Air Force (IAF) to send their Mig-25 Pilots to Russia to carry out intensive performance trails of modernised Mig-31s. MiG Corporation which got Export Clearance in 1998 from Russian government offered India Mig-31 in 2001 and also offered to trade in older Mig-25RB which could be used as Spares for other operators of the jet.

MiG-31 which is designed to intercept and destroy high and low- altitude manoeuvring air targets in front and rear hemispheres, in look-up and look-down, also provided facilities for vectoring up to three fighters types to ensure a covert attack.

Upgraded MiG-31 E version offered to India were to be equipped with an enhanced airborne radar and six long-range missiles under fuselage and medium- range missiles on underwing attachment points.

MiG-31 also had unique ability to intercept cruise missiles against the earth background. MiG Corporation had claimed that MiG-31 E version offered to India had nearly 2.5 times performance improvement over the original version.

IAF retired MiG-25RB fleet in 2005 and Sources close to idrw.org believe that IAF’s MiG-25RB aircrafts which were sent to MiG factory for overhauling In Russia, few years before there were retirement did give IAF pilots Chance to gauge the aircraft’s performance.

IAF which had started induction of Sukhoi-30MKI and had initiated a process to acquire Medium Size aircraft under MMRCA tender did not show much Interest in the aircraft Type.

When India said “No” to Mig-31 | idrw.org

 

[IND151]

@XiNiX @sancho @Capt.Popeye @Dillinger @MilSpec

 

[MilSpec]

@XiNiX @sancho @Capt.Popeye @Dillinger @MilSpec

Russia did offer the Mig31.. Time line if I am not mistaken was during transitional period under Sharad Pawar as the Defence Minister, Instead at that time ACM Kaul followed by ACM Chandra, both brilliant Pilots in their time (Mig 21/Hunter sqdn), had the foresight to evaluate the Su30 instead of settling for the Mig31. Under SK Sareen sir we finally decided to go with the MKI, which in retrospect has been the best decision that IAF could have ever made. ACM SK Sareen is often labelled as the mind behind the beast, but imo ACM Kaul and ACM Chandra played a vitol role in ensuring that we got MKI program... In hindsight, at that time if we could have gotten the Al21F3 for the Mig27 sqdn, we could have set up the Mig27 for a longer life.

 

[Max Pain]

Sukhoi is a much better jet and India did the right thing.

 

[Indian Patriot]

India does not officially acknowledge the existence of S-300 in India's arsenal and for a long time India denied the existence of a nuclear submarine as well. Mig-31 may or may not exist with IAF.

 

[Optimos Prime IA]

What the funk is wrong when we get a new fighter at no cost ? Terrible mistake by congress for not having free of cost interceptors ?

Sukhoi is a much better jet and India did the right thing.

Suisse are not interceptors to be precise

 

[T90TankGuy]

What the funk is wrong when we get a new fighter at no cost ? Terrible mistake by congress for not having free of cost interceptors ?



Suisse are not interceptors to be precise

Read the article , it says 15 yrs ago . the NDA was in power!!!
also its best not to second guess the IAF , after al they have to fly the aircraft

 

[Optimos Prime IA]

Read the article , it says 15 yrs ago . the NDA was in power!!!
also its best not to second guess the IAF , after al they have to fly the aircraft

Who ever it is ... Even congress would have approved it before Mig25 retired don't you think ? But my simple question is why would someone reject to replace a fleet of interceptors that too an exchange for old and dud aircraft which is to be retired ?

 

[T90TankGuy]

Who ever it is ... Even congress would have approved it before Mig25 retired don't you think ? But my simple question is why would someone reject to replace a fleet of interceptors that too an exchange for old and dud aircraft which is to be retired ?

Spend some time reading the old threads you will find your answer. if not , there are many websites out there which will tell you the difficulties of operating so many platforms.

 

[Max Pain]

What the funk is wrong when we get a new fighter at no cost ? Terrible mistake by congress for not having free of cost interceptors ?



Suisse are not interceptors to be precise

no,
there always are strings attached,
like I said,
Sukhoi is better and results speak.

 

[IND151]

Russia did offer the Mig31.. Time line if I am not mistaken was during transitional period under Sharad Pawar as the Defence Minister, Instead at that time ACM Kaul followed by ACM Chandra, both brilliant Pilots in their time (Mig 21/Hunter sqdn), had the foresight to evaluate the Su30 instead of settling for the Mig31. Under SK Sareen sir we finally decided to go with the MKI, which in retrospect has been the best decision that IAF could have ever made. ACM SK Sareen is often labelled as the mind behind the beast, but imo ACM Kaul and ACM Chandra played a vitol role in ensuring that we got MKI program... In hindsight, at that time if we could have gotten the Al21F3 for the Mig27 sqdn, we could have set up the Mig27 for a longer life.

Thanks for Info.