Troubled skies: The uncertain future of Russia's MiG‑29K
Reuben Johnson, a former Pentagon consultant specializing in defence technology and weapon systems design, believes that the Russian MiG-29K is in significant trouble. The future of this fighter jet, used by the armed forces of Russia and India, is now uncertain.
The development of the MiG-29K began back in the 1980s. It was designed as a carrier version of the MiG-29 fighter jet, intended for operations from future Soviet aircraft carriers. After the collapse of the USSR and financial difficulties faced by the manufacturer, work on the MiG-29K was put on hold. The aircraft had to make way for the Su-33 fighters. After 2000, the MiG-29K project was revived, mainly due to investment from India.
MiG-29K in increasingly worse condition
Currently, Russia and India are the active users of the MiG-29K fighter jets. However, Reuben Johnson notes that both countries are experiencing significant issues with them.
For Russia, the primary problem concerns the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov. Formally, the Admiral Kuznetsov is still part of the fleet, but in practice, due to ongoing repairs, it essentially maintains the illusion of Russia possessing a ship of this class.
"While India continues to operate the MiG-29K, the jet’s long-term role in Russia’s naval aviation remains in doubt. With the status of the carrier’s repair still uncertain and still no completion date, it is unclear what will be done with these aircraft should the ship be permanently withdrawn from service," writes Reuben Johnson in his analysis.
Black series of Indian MiG-29K accidents
India continues to operate the MiG-29K, but that doesn't mean they aren't facing challenges. The world has witnessed a series of accidents involving these fighters acquired from Russia.
Moreover, the Indian army command has repeatedly highlighted that the MiG-29K has insufficient combat capabilities. Weak engines, which are particularly evident during takeoffs when carrying heavy armament and large fuel reserves, and landing gear that requires frequent repairs are primary concerns.
As a result, the MiG-29K has developed such a poor reputation in India that, despite years of cooperation with the Russian manufacturer, only solutions from other countries were considered during a tender for a new carrier-based aircraft for the Indian Navy. The options included the Rafale from France and the F/A-18 Super Hornet from the United States. Ultimately, the Rafale was chosen and will gradually replace the MiG-29K.
