In 2021, the Ukrainian Government will sign a contract for the modernization of the Russian-made MiG-29 with an Israeli company with broad involvement of several domestic companies,” according to Oleksandr Mironiuk, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Defense for Armaments.
The goal is to extend these machines’ operation until 2035 and extend their capabilities to destroy ground targets, learned BulgarianMilitary.com citing Defence24.
In an interview with journalists from the Defense-Express news portal, Ukraine’s deputy defense minister is responsible for modernization programs.
The arms industry announced plans to modernize selected combat aircraft types for the next 15 years. According to Oleksandr Mironiuk, after some modernization works, it will be possible to operate Su-25 attack aircraft and MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters until 2035.
Works of this type are carried out by Ukrainian aviation plants and aim to increase operational capabilities. In the case of the Su-27, the changes mainly include the radar station and fire control system and newer generations of R-27 air-to-air missiles.
The Su-25 attack aircraft are adapted to carry radio- and laser-guided missiles and bombs.
The works include, among others, the installation of a laser target pointer in a stabilized optoelectronic head and tests of Ukrainian-made guided bombs.
Works on MiG-29 aircraft are the most advanced.
There is already a squadron of modernized MiG-29MU1 fighter machines in service.
From January 2020, the MiG-29MU2 version of the MiG-29MU2, which is adapting to destroying ground targets with guided weapons, has been undergoing flight tests.
Today it is armed with post-Soviet air-to-ground missiles Ch-29T and KAB-500KR TV-guided bombs, but it will also include Ukrainian missiles and bombs, including laser-guided ones.
According to the statements of Mironiuk, an agreement with an Israeli company is to be signed next year; the agreement will involve carrying out further modernization and probably “westernization” of MiG-29 aircraft.
Israel Aerospace Industries or Elbit Systems will most likely be a partner of the Lwowskie Zakłady Lotniczo-Remontowe, which implemented the MIG-29MU1 and MU2 programs, and other Ukrainian entities.
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