IAF MiG-29s to integrate long-range stand-off weapon

The Indian Air Force's (IAF's) Mig-29s have become important platforms for the air force due to their high-speed and ability to carry long-range weapons following upgrades from 2012. (Manjunath Kiran/AFP via Getty Images)

The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced that it will arm its Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 fleet with a long-range stand-off weapon (SoW).

In a newly issued Request for Information (RFI) for certified bomb racks capable of carrying a long-range weapon, the MoD said that it intends to complete integration of this weapon system within 12 months of the contract being signed for the racks.

“There is an urgent need to integrate an Air-to-Ground Stand Off Weapon (SoW) to exploit the MiG-29 aircraft to its full operational potential,” the MoD said in the RFI document.

“Integration of the SoW would essentially require [the] design and development of suitable ejector (Bomb Rack), its electro-mechanical interface with aircraft along with requisite certification from [Centre for Military Airworthiness & Certification/Regional Centres of Military Airworthiness] CEMILAC/RCMA,” the MoD added.

An IAF source told Janes that the air force requirement is intended to match a long-range attack capability acquired by the Indian Navy's MiG-29K combat aircraft. Janes has previously determined that the navy's MiG-29Ks are armed with the Israeli Air Industries (IAI) Rampage supersonic air-to-surface stand-off missile. This missile, which is designed to engage high‐value well‐protected targets, was acquired by India in 2022.

Janes has assessed that the Rampage has a range of 150 km.