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Services offered by MAPS:

Adaptation of MiG-29 to NATO/ICAO standards

Berlin, 01 May 2002

23 MiG-29 aircraft of the German Luftwaffe have been adapted to the requirements of the ICAO and NATO by the German-Russian joint venture MAPS (MiG Aircraft Product Support GmbH).

This so-called ICAO/NATO basic package, ensuring safe operations of the Russian design in Western environment, can now be offered to potential customers as an extremely low-cost version to meet their medium-term requirements.

Modular System Upgrades

Together with its shareholder companies EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, RSK MiG, and Rosoboronexport, MAPS has developed extensive modernisation concepts on a modular basis (with provisions already made for the fulfilment of future customer wishes). At the core of these upgrade versions are a new central processor and a Mil Std 1553 data bus. Here, practical solutions have been developed in order to implement an interface between the "Western world" and the "Eastern world" into the MiG-29.

Modifications to Customers' Requirements

MAPS can offer a whole range of solutions to enable adaptation to rapidly changing military I security environments. To achieve this, not only tried and proven Russian solutions (e.g. for extended range) can be applied, but also new solutions are offered. Each individual modification request is closely coordinated with the future operator so as to guarantee its serviceability.

Optimisation of Repair and Overhaul Concepts (Life Cycle Extensions)

Minimisation of operating costs is the main line of approach when optimising repair and overhaul concepts. In this way, depot-level inspection has been reduced from 120,000 to less than 20,000 man hours. At the same time, through an appropriate maintenance and documentation concept, the intervals between depot inspections have been increased from 800 FH/9 years to 1,300 FH/15 years.

These optimisations together with an equally optimised pre- and post-flight inspection manual as well as the necessary cyclical inspections and measures to extend the service life of replacement parts and storage times have made a fundamental contribution to increasing the availability of the German MiG-29 aircraft.

The entire know-how needed in order to offer this service can also be offered to international customers.

Support During the In-service Phase, Spare Parts Procurement and Controlling of Repair Activities

MAPS provides support to the Luftwaffe during the whole in-service phase of the MiG-29.

Using the operational experience gathered, the MiG-29 logistics system is constantly improved. This is done in joint working groups formed by the user, MAPS, and it's parental companies.

The user and maintenance documentation is updated correspondingly. Equipment defects are registered within the logistic system of the customer, and the measures required are set out in technical specifications (compulsory reports).

Requirements for spares are predicted on the basis of the known aircraft attrition rates, are procured and supplied on time. MAPS has more than 3,000 items on stock and ready for delivery. Any critical parts that may be required can be supplied at short notice by means of the "emergency procurement" procedure.

For the support of the weapon system, potential customers can benefit from the experience gathered in a total of the more than 26,000 flight hours completed by the German MiG-29 aircraft under NATO command.

Information on equipment and components with different service lifes is stored in a database, so that the respective items can be sent to a licensed maintenance shop for timely inspection or overhaul. MAPS ensures that such components are punctually returned for use.

To secure the availability of the aircraft, the extent of the maintenance flow of equipment required to guarantee flight operations is established. In this way, it is ensured that replacement items are always available in case of need.

Your contact:
Military Aircraft
Wolfram Wolff
Phone: +49-89-607 25711
Fax: +49-89-607 22455
e-mail: wolfram.wolff@m.eads.net