In a move to strengthen defense against potential threats from either Pakistan or China, India has deployed its upgraded, Russian-made MiG-29 fighter jets to Srinagar air base in Jammu and Kashmir, replacing the existing MiG-21 squadron stationed there.
The Tridents squadron, also known as the Defender of the North, has taken over responsibilities from the MiG-21 squadron at the strategically important Srinagar Air Force Station.
The MiG-29 jets were relocated to the air base in January of this year and have actively guarded the Kashmir valley and the Ladakh sector.
These aircraft are primed to swiftly respond to any possible airspace violation attempts by China, maintaining a high readiness posture.
Following the Galwan clash in 2020, the MiG-29’s became the first aircraft to be stationed in the Ladakh sector specifically to counter Chinese threats. They have effectively thwarted many such attempts since then.
Squadron Leader Vipul Sharma of the Indian Air Force explained, Srinagar lies in the center of Kashmir valley and its elevation is higher than plains.
It is strategically better to place an aircraft with a higher weight-to-thrust ratio and less response time due to proximity to the border and is equipped with better avionics and long-range missiles.
The MiG-29 fulfills all these criteria, making it capable of taking on enemies on two fronts.
Squadron Leader Shivam Rana highlighted the upgraded aircraft’s capabilities, saying it can operate at night with night vision goggles, and boasts an extended range due to its air-to-air refueling capacity.
He also pointed to the addition of air-to-ground armaments, previously absent, and said the pilots flying these aircraft are meticulously selected by the Indian Air Force.
The MiG-29s offer several advantages over the MiG-21’s, which had effectively protected the Kashmir valley for decades.
The entire fleet of MiG-21 fighter aircraft was grounded in May to conduct checks and investigate several incidents of crashes over the previous two years, leading to the tragic deaths of five pilots.
Indian media reported last year that New Delhi is aiming to retire, by 2025, all four squadrons of MiG-21’s, introduced in the Indian Air Force in the early 1960’s, as a part of the long-term modernization drive.
It is also looking to start phasing out the three squadrons of MiG-29 fighter jets in the next five years. Currently the Indian Air Force has about 70 MiG-21 jets and around 50 MiG-29 modifications.
RT. com / ABC Flash Point News 2023.
Kashmir is what its all about…….?
Your right IF India with its nationalistic president is doing to Kashmirs who are followers of Islam what Zionists are doing to Palestinians .
Please remember India the WEST is not a friend!!!…watch out who you are protecting yourself from. Remember it only took “few” white British nationals to colonize a Billion Indians and steal all the wealth and move it to Britain and later cut up the country like it was theirs and distribute to the people. I hope Indians wake up and not TRUST the West.
Is this really a practical way to “…strengthen defense against potential threats…”? Europe was doing that prior to the Great War. Does no man learn? It’s the same-old same-old: “If WE don’t have power, THEY will overwhelm us.”
Thanks to the government of India, mankind now knows they will never change
Should it not be “thanks to the USA,s unending wars and using the same propaganda -we are under threat –that the world takes its cue from the USA ” .
The first concern of a nation is to protect its independence and freedom otherwise it cannot be called an independent country but is subject to the whims of a stronger nation.
Giving in for the sake of peace doesn’t work in a world controlled by a rabid USA.
Good point !
The latest news is that India is procuring 18 new Russian SU-30 MK1 jets as well as French Rafael jets for its navy.
More heavy weight Russian fighter jets, backed up by lighter French technologies.
Correct IF–good engineering thinking !