MiG 21bis Bison / MiG-21-93 Upgrade - Program
The MiG-21 aircraft was inducted in the Indian Air Force from the year 1963 to 1976. The indigenised production of MiG-21 Bis aircraft continued till 1989. Taking average life of 35 years, the majority of these aircraft had considerable residual life left. The average life of MiG-21 in the world is about 3,000 flying hours whereas aircraft in the Indian fleet had flown only 1,600 to 1,700 hours.
In 1989, Russia indicated that it could upgrade the MiG Bis aircraft with some of the avionics and weapons of MiG-29 aircraft. The preliminary proposal of Russia was received in November 1990 and detailed proposal in August 1991. A joint techno-economic study was carried out in November 1992 and the proposal was found to be comprehensive and cost effective. An intention to nominate Russia as prime contractor was issued in March 1994.
In early 1980s, the Indian Air Force carried out an evaluation of perceived threats and the likely battle scenario of the 1990s which highlighted the inadequacies of MiG Bis, the main stream aircraft of the Air Force. Consequently, the Ministry sanctioned in August 1983 the development of LCA class of aircraft to fill the gap in force level of the Air Force from 1995.
Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari unveiled that a contract for 83 LCA Mark 1A aircraft had already been signed, with an additional 97 units to follow, totaling 180 LCA Mark 1As. This move signified a crucial milestone in phasing out the aging MiG-21 squadrons from active service, with an expected cessation of MiG-21 operations by 2025, making way for the LCA Mark 1A as the chosen replacement.
With over six decades of stalwart service in the Indian Air Force, the MiG-21 played an integral role in safeguarding India’s airspace and participating in various missions and operations. However, safety concerns, including recent accidents, have led to the decision to retire the MiG-21s and embrace the LCA Mark 1A. This transition not only represents a modernization effort but also a crucial step toward enhancing the safety of the IAF’s aircraft fleet.
The LCA was initialy expected to enter into service in 1995 to replace MiG Bis that were scheduled to be phased out on the expiry of their life of 20 years/2400 hours. The LCA program, however, suffered considerable slippages and the aircraft was not expected to be available for induction before the year 2005. In view of this, extension of total technical life of MiG Bis and its upgradation to enhance its operational capability to desired levels was considered necessary. The Ministry decided to upgrade the existing MiG Bis aircraft rather than outright purchase of a new aircraft keeping in view the high cost of modern fighters and the constraints on the defence budget.
In March 1995, Russia agreed to upgrade India's MiG-21 aircraft. The older generation aircraft like Hunter and Canberra were, as of that date, used in ancillary roles. Although MiG-21 is an aging aircraft, it remains fully airworthy consequence to regular maintenance checks and servicing procedure. Hence, MiG-21 remained in the Air Force for some more time till it is gradually phased out, after its Total Technical Life is fully exploited.
In December 1995, a proposal was submitted to CCPA (Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs) for approval of the upgradation of 125 MiG Bis aircraft with an option to upgrade 50 more aircraft at a total cost of US$ 626 million, equivalent to Rs. 2003 ( 1 US $ = Rs.31.99) crore including weapons, spares, maintenance support and training. Apart from components from Russia, the upgrade package consisted of certain Western and indigenous avionic systems.
CCPA approved the proposal in January 1996. The CCPA paper envisaged completion of design and development of two MiG Bis aircraft in Russia by 31 January 1998 and series modification of the remaining 123 aircraft indigenously by HAL by September 2001. Upgradation of the 50 aircraft under option was to be undertaken from 30 September 2001 onwards. MiG Bis upgradation program as approved by CCPA envisaged extension of TTL (Total Technical Life) of the MiG Bis fleet from 20 to 40 years for justifying the cost of upgradation.
The Ministry concluded six contracts in March 1996. Of these, three contracts, viz design and development of aircraft, series upgradation and armament were concluded with a Russian manufacturer and three contracts for avionic systems like INS (Inertial navigation System), CMDS ( Counter measures Dispensing System) and VRS ( Video Recording System) were concluded with Western vendors. Subsequently, the Ministry also concluded contracts with HAL, NAL (National Aerospace Laboratories) and BEL (Bharat Electronics Limited) in 1997 for development of indigenous avionic systems and life extension study.
In March 1996, the upgrade program offered by "MiG" Corporation and SOKOL aviation plant of Nizhniy Novgorod was launched to retrofit 125 MiG-21bis fighters produced under license by the HAL Corporation. This upgrade program allowed improving the fighter performance and equip it with the "Kopyo" multimode radar developed by the "Phasotron" Russian company. This airborne radar makes possible to feasibly enhance the detection range and capability to kill air and ground targets. The upgraded fighter is equipped with advanced avionics of Russian, Indian, French and Israeli design and armed with contemporary "air-to-air" and "air-to-surface" guided weapons.
The $340 million upgrade program for the MiG-21 was started in 1996. Of the 300-plus Mig 21s, which formed the mainstay fighting force of the IAF, about 125 were retained and upgraded to the Mig 21bis category. The platform and engines were same but overhauled, and the onboard avionics and missiles were the latest. To make the aircraft capable of effectively operating in the air defense role for the foreseeable future, Government approved (January 1996), the upgradation of 125 aircraft at a total cost `2,003 crore.
The main systems identified (1995) by IAF for upgradation were envisaged to make the aircraft a viable combat aircraft. These systems were Multi-mode Pulse Doppler (KOPYO) radar, Inertial Navigation System (INS) / Global Positioning System (GPS), Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), Counter Measure Dispensing System(CMDS), Self Protection Jammer (SPJ), Advance air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons , Display system including a Head-up-Display (HUD) and Multi Function Display (MFD), Helmet Mounted Sighting Device (HMSD), Video Recording System (VRS), Single Piece Front Wind-shield and an HMSD compatible canopy and Incorporation of hand-on throttle and stick (HOTAS) concept.
The upgradation was to be achieved by integrating advanced avionics and weapon which were either to be imported or developed indigenously. There were no plans of upgrading engine and airframe the aircraft. While the Design and Development (D&D) Phase of two aircraft was to be completed by original equipment manufacturer (OEM) at USSR by August 1998, the series modification of remaining aircraft was to be completed indigenously by HAL, Nasik Division by September 2001.
Russia delivered the first two upgraded MiG-21-93 jets to India in December 2000, and the first two upgraded MiGs done in India were shipped to the IAF in May 2001. The upgrade of 125 MiG-21s was slated to be completed by 2005, with the implementation of the program expected to enable the IAF to extend the life of the jets uptil 2015. MIG 21 Bis variant aircraft had been planned for upgrade also.
The MiG-21bis upgraded fighter (designated Mig-21UPG) had performance and combat effectiveness on a par with contemporary fighters. In October 2000, for the first time MiG-21UPG launched RVV-AE missiles simultaneously at two air targets which proved the estimated performance and the flight tests carried in Russia were completed after a lapse of one month. At the end of December 2000, the first two upgraded MiG-21UPG fighters complete with documents and airborne equipment were delivered to the Indian side. Thus, the R&D stage was successfully completed and the Indian side will start the upgrading of the MiG-21bis fighters in from the year 2001.
The development of the RWR (Radar Warning Receiver) system was entrusted to ASIEO (Advanced Systems Integration and Evaluation Organisation) at a cost of Rs.10 crore with an objective to develop a compact Advanced Radar Warning Receiver system for fighter aircraft. Two systems were required to be supplied directly to the foreign manufacturer by June 1997 and the remaining 123 systems were to be supplied by BEL to HAL for upgrading the MiG Bis indigenously. A supply order on BEL for the supply of 123 systems including spares was placed in February 1997 at a cost of Rs.133.64 crore including FE of Rs.84.39 crore. As per supply order, the first six systems were to be supplied by March 1998 and the remaining by March 2001 in batches.
A total of 125 MIG-21 BIS variant aircraft had been planned for up-gradation. Out of these, two had been upgraded in Russia during the design and development phase. It had been planned that the remaining aircraft will be upgraded at HAL' Nasik facility.
The first four MIG-21-93 fighters of the Indian Air Force, modernised with the assistance of Russian specialists, began test flights at the beginning of June 2001. India's Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. is working to modernise Russian-made aircraft of this type is underway. The modernisation of the second-generation MIGs will make it possible to turn them into multifunctional, multipurpose up-to-date fighters of the fourth generation with wide operational possibilities and high safety of flights. They are being fitted out with repeatedly improved firepower, delivery means and avionics, and their service life is extended till 2010-2015.
According to the existing plans, 125 MIGs which form the basis of India's Air Force will be modernised step by step by the year of 2004. Besides the improved engines of Russian make, French and Israeli avionics is being installed on the fighters. The installation of the Russian multifunctional radar system Kopyo which simultaneously fixes eight targets and picks two most dangerous ones for an attack is the main element of the modernisation. The contract to the tune of 340 million dollars was signed by the two governments back in 1996. Under it, the specialists of the Russian enterprise MAPO-MIG have fully modernised two fighters at the Sokol plant in Nizhni Novgorod.
Experimental examples of the MiG-21UPG tactical fighter, intended for the Indian air force, successfully completed flight test and evaluation trials in 2001. Earlier referred to as the MiG-21-93 and later called the Bison, the UPG is a major upgrade of the long-serving MiG-21bis. This new variant, ordered by the Indian air force, differs from the "bis" in having a modern Phazotron-NfIR Kopyo multimode radar enabling use of state-of-the-art, air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles. Over 120 MiG-21bis could be eventually upgraded to the UPG standard in India under help from RSK MiG, Phazotron-NUR and Sokol aircraft plant of Nizhny Novgorod.
Ministry had stated (May 2004) that upgradation of the aircraft was estimated to be completed by 2005-06. Air HQ also intimated (February 2011) to Audit that calendar life of aircraft had been extended up to 40 years. Upgraded aircraft were being operated from six IAF squadrons and one Tactical and Combat Development and Training Establishment (TACDE).
By the end of 2007 the IAF had already completed the upgrade process for 100 Mig 21Bis, fitting them with Beyond the Visual Range (BVR) missiles, a new navigation-attack radar and other weapons dramatically improving their capability. The pilot workload was lower and its flight safety record had been very good.
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