India is "moving away" from Russia: The country will outsource the modernisation of its MiG-29s to an American firm

One of the main buyers of Russian weapons has unexpectedly decided to abandon Moscow in the maintenance and modernisation of almost a hundred MiG-29 fighters, handing the project over to an American company. This decision by India could mean the actual end of Russian involvement in further support of its combat aircraft.

Here's What We Know

Industrial giant Reliance Infrastructure has entered into a strategic partnership with the US company Coastal Mechanics to create a joint venture to modernise MiG-29 fighters in the Indian Air Force and Navy. This includes up to 60 aircraft in the Air Force and up to 40 more MiG-29K deck-mounted aircraft in the Navy.

Other programmes include the upgrade of the British-French SEPECAT Jaguar attack aircraft, US AH-64 Apache helicopters, and Bofors 40mm L/70 anti-aircraft guns. The total cost of all joint projects is $2.34 billion.

Although the American Coastal Mechanics is a little-known company with limited experience of working with the Pentagon, it has already gained access to the modernisation of aircraft that Russia has kept under its control for years.

To clarify, Russia has previously upgraded Indian fighters to the MiG-29UPG version (50 aircraft for $880 million) and supplied deck-mounted MiG-29Ks (about $2 billion). But Delhi's new decision de facto excludes Russia from further participation in the project.

It is worth noting that back in 2023, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited announced the import substitution of 3,000 components for Soviet and Russian equipment, and in 2024 began to establish production of RD-33 engines for the MiG-29 at its facilities. India also has experience in modernising these fighters with the participation of Israel Aircraft Industries.

The situation is similar with the Jaguar, whose only operators are the Indian Air Force. The upgrade of these aircraft, which has long been localised, does not raise legal issues, as SEPECAT no longer exists, and Dassault and BAE Systems, which hold the rights, have not yet made any claims.

It is not yet known how Coastal Mechanics will implement the project. But in any case, this is a symbolic (and financial) blow to the Russian defence industry, which is losing control of one of its oldest markets.

Source: Defence Express