Russia, India to set up spare parts depot for MiG planes

Moscow, Aug 23 (UNI) Russia's MiG Aircraft Corporation and the Indo-Russian Aerospace Ltd (IRAL) have signed a contract to build a spare parts depot for MiG planes in India.

The depot is intended for supplying spare parts and materials to customers on short notice. The project will also allow for maintaining a high level of airworthiness of the Indian Air Force fleet.

The basic list of parts was drawn on the strength of the indicators of reliability of MiG-29 planes in Russia, and an analysis of India's Air Force requests for spares and its recommendations, Itar-Tass reported.

A buildup of the infrastructure for maintenance works is envisioned by the contract to supply to India ship-borne MiG-29K/KUB fighters, concluded on July 20, 2004.

However, the depot will provide for all the MiG planes which are in service with the Indian Air Force.

The service life of MiG-29K/KUB and MiG-35 warplanes exceeds 6,000 hours.

The MiG corporation also showcased yesterday its aircraft carrier-borne MiG-29 fighter jets built for India.

The fighter jet piloted by a MiG test pilot performed all the manoeuvres during a 20-minute flight at MAKS-2007, at Zhukovsy, near Moscow.

UNI