As India awaits the delivery of the first batch of Rafale fighter jets, which are likely to be deployed near the Line of Actual Control with China, the Navy may be sending its MiG-29K multirole fighters to the Northern sector too including on deployment near Eastern Ladakh.
According to an ANI report citing government sources, there are plan to deploy the MiG-29K at an Indian Air Force base in the northern sector, where they may be used for carrying out operational flying in the Eastern Ladakh sector along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), ANI reported sources as saying.
India has deployed MiG-29s, Su-30MKIs and Apache attack helicopters near the border with China, after additional Chinese fighter jets, bombers and attack helicopters were noticed at four Chinese bases near the LAC. The MiG-29Ks won’t be the first time the Navy’s air wing is involved in the mountainous regions of Ladakh: The Navy’s P-8I surveillance aircraft have also been spotted in the region.
The Navy has 45 MiG-29K fighters, which are upgraded naval versions of the MiG-29M, and are meant to serve onboard INS Vikramaditya, India’s only active carrier in service.
Following the border-standoff with China, the Defence Ministry recently approved the purchase of 33 fighter jets from Russia, including 21 MiG-29s and 12 Su-30MKI, besides an upgrade plan for 59 MiG-29s already in service.
India lost two MiG-29s to crashes this year, with the IF losing one to a crash in May and the Navy losing one to a crash near Goa in February.
