CCS Clears Stalled MiG-21 Bis Modernisation Project

New Delhi, July 28 (UNI) The flagging modernisation of the workhorse of the Indian Air Force -- the MiG-21 Bis -- has received a shot in the arm with the Cabinet Committee on Security late last night giving the green signal to the ambitious project -- so far completed two-thirds only.

With 90 already modernised -- of the proposed 130 total to be overhauled as desired by the IAF to meet its looming shortage of a multi-role fighter jet, the MiG-21 Bis modernisation project had run into a roadblock created by cost-overruns and failure to meet schedules.

With the CCS finally clearing the project at a meeting -- presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh -- here, the way has once again been cleared for the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to complete the task assigned it -- and in the process give a breather to the IAF and the Defence Ministry who were currently scouring the global warplanes market for as many as 126 multirole fighter jets in the near future.

Sources in the Defence Ministry and the IAF -- confirming the CCS decision in the absence of a formal briefing -- said the upgradation project has seen the now 30-year-old warplane -- lovingly christened 'Vikram' by the IAF -- turn into a modern-day Cinderella with the latest avionics and state-of-art electronics.

Further, the modernised MiG-21 Bis has ''increased safety features'' which ''enhance its training value'', the sources asserted.

The modernisation of the second-generation MiG-21 Bis 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 with repeatedly improved firepower, delivery means and avionics, and their service life extended till 2010-2015, the sources said.

UNI DG MIR PM2005