Kathrine Frich
Leaked documents show that key information about the aircraft’s radar systems was concealed,
Leaked documents show that key information about the aircraft’s radar systems was concealed.
Russia misled about MiG-29K fighter reliability
India’s trust in Russia has been shaken after it was revealed that Moscow misrepresented the performance of its MiG-29K fighters.
Leaked documents show that key information about the aircraft’s radar systems was concealed, resulting in significant operational issues for the Indian Air Force and Navy.
The revelations have prompted India to explore alternative aircraft options.
Radar failure rates much higher than claimed
The Zhuk-ME radar system, installed on the MiG-29K, turned out to be far less reliable than the Russian manufacturer had promised.
The failure rate was reported to be two and a half to six times higher than stated.
This has drastically reduced the aircraft’s effectiveness and raised questions about its continued use in Indian service.
Hacked documents reveal overstated numbers
The problems came to light through documents leaked by the hacker group Black Mirror.
The original contract claimed a mean time between failures (MTBF) of 150 hours, but in reality, it dropped to 97 hours in 2016 and just 60 hours in 2017.
These figures fell far short of expectations for a frontline combat aircraft.
Even minor failure rates were hidden
The leaks also revealed that the mean time between minor defects (MTBD) was grossly misrepresented.
Instead of the promised 120 hours, the real number was just 20 hours in 2016.
This means India was flying aircraft that required frequent and unpredictable maintenance, seriously weakening combat readiness.
Russia counted test mockups
According to Defense Express, Russia included radar mockup flights, aircraft not actually equipped with functioning radars, in the total airframe service life.
This allowed them to artificially boost the reliability numbers to meet India’s tender requirements.
The tactic now appears to have been a deliberate move to mislead.
Repairs delayed, upgrades unclear
Negotiations between Russia and India to fix the problems have dragged on for years, with little progress.
Temporary upgrades were made, but they failed to solve the deeper issues.
Who will cover the cost of future repairs remains unresolved, and no comprehensive modernization program is currently in place.
India moves toward France
After repeated failures, India’s Navy officially decertified the Zhuk-ME radar in 2019.
Since then, attention has shifted toward the French-made Rafale M.
With the MiG-29K’s operational efficiency ranging from only 15% to 47%, mostly due to recurring airframe and engine faults, India’s frustration has grown.
Still a top customer
Despite these setbacks, India continues to maintain strong defense ties with Moscow.
The country remains one of Russia’s key military clients and is still moving forward with deals like the purchase of S-400 air defense systems.
Publicly, Indian officials have avoided direct criticism of the MiG-29K deal, keeping diplomatic ties intact.
This article is made and published by Kathrine Frich, which may have used AI in the preparation
