HAL to produce engines for Indian Air Force MiG-29s

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is slated to receive newly produced RD-33 engines, which will allow the IAF to increase the service life of its Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 fleet. (Hindustan Times via Getty Images/Pardeep Pandit)

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has been contracted to deliver over 100 Klimov RD-33 engines for the Indian Air Force's (IAF's) Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 force.

The engines will be produced by HAL at its Koraput Division (in east India) as part of a INR52.497 billion (USD634.4 million) contract announced on 1 March by the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD).

A source with knowledge on the matter told Janes that the contract is for the production of an engine model already in use by the IAF's MiG-29UPGs in service. Janes understands that this is the 85.1 kN (19,135 lb st), full afterburner RD-33 Series 3 engine.

The Indian MoD said the new engines are intended to “sustain the operational capability of the MiG-29 fleet for … residual service life”. The MoD added that the engines will be produced within India under a transfer of technology (ToT) licence from the Russian original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

“The programme will focus on [the] indigenisation of several high-value critical components, which would help increase the indigenous content of future repair and overhaul (ROH) tasks of RD-33 aero-engines,” the MoD said.

According to the source, the engines are intended to be a replacement for the engines currently in use in the MiG-29UPG fleet. The source said the production contract is a tripartite agreement between the MoD, HAL, and the OEM.