India’s MiG-27 aircraft

The MiG-27 is one of the most important strike aircraft in the IAF. It is a variable geometry aircraft that is intended for ground attack. The NATO reporting name for the MiG-27 is the Flogger D/J.

The MiG-27 is an aircraft designed and originally built in Russia, but later built under license in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The MiG-27M used by India is an export version of the MiG-27ML that was developed in 1982. The aircraft was first introduced into the service of the Indian Air Force during the late 1980s. The first MiG-27Ms were used by squadron number 222, with a number of other squadrons, 9, 18, 22 and 2 gradually being equipped with MiG-27s.

India’s MiG-27 aircraft are currently manufactured by the Indian company, HAL. However, a batch of ten MiG-27MLs were brought to India following manufacture in Russia, and more than 80 sets of prefabricated MiG-27 parts were also brought into India from Russia. The first MiG-27 was constructed in India from these parts in 1986 and domestic production began in 1988. India had established its own maintenance facilities, managed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, for MiG aircraft, including the MiG-27, by 2003.

The MiG-27M is a variant of the MiG-27K that is considered to be superior to the MiG-23 B and BN and the basic Mig-27. The MiG-27M does not have the same radio frequency heads or electro optical heads that are located above the glove pylons of the MiG-27. India received 160 MiG-27M aircraft between 1978 and 1983.

The MiG-27ML is the name given to the variant of the aircraft that was exported to India in 1986 in kit form for assembly within India, under license from the Russian designer. The MiG-27ML was essentially identical to the MiG-27M, but there were a few differences. The MiG-27ML had a slightly different undernose fairing with just one window for the infrared search and track sensor rather than the multiple windows found on the MiG-27M. India put together 150 of the MiG-27MLs. Within India, the MiG-27ML is referred to as the MiG-27M Bahadur.

UPGRADES

A two year program of upgrades to the 120 Soviet built MiG-27s in India was conducted between 2002 and 2004. These upgrades were performed in Nasik at the HAL facility and they were conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organization. Modifications to the 120 aircraft continued until 2009, with the assistance of the Defence Avionics Research Establishment. Upgrades to the MiG-27 aircraft included improvements to the navigation systems and the creation of a cockpit that would be more pilot friendly.

ACCIDENTS

MiG-27 aircraft were involved in 10 percent of the fatal air accidents in the IAF between 1996 and 2001. It has been suggested that this high crash rate may be due to the high risk roles taken on by MiG-27 aircraft during operations since they are used as ground attack aircraft. The IAF has lost 13 of its MiG-27 aircraft since 2001. The entire Indian fleet of MiG-27 aircraft was grounded in 2010 following the loss of one of the MiG-27s in a crash. It is believed that the problems with the aircraft stemmed from issues with the R-29 engines that had been generated as a result of the program of upgrades to the aircraft.

DESIGN

The MiG-27s share some basic similarities with the MiG-23 aircraft that have also been used by the IAF. The overall configurations of MiG-27Ms and MiG-23BNs are similar. However, the MiG-27M design has been optimized for high speed and low level performance.

MiG-27s are single seater aircraft that are designed to provide fast, precise strike capability. These aircraft can carry payloads of up to six tons and they are capable of doing so over long distances. The MiG-27 is a sophisticated aircraft with advanced weapons computers and avionics systems. It has the capability to deliver a range of different weapons in different attack modes.

The MiG-27 and the MiG-23 airframes are basically the same, but some modifications have been made to make the MiG-27 suitable for its role as a ground attack aircraft. The modifications to the airframe of the MiG-27 include the changes to the aircraft’s nose, which were first used in the design of the MiG-23B. The downward sloping profile of airframe provides the pilot with greater visibility. This led to the pilots who flew the aircraft during the trial stages nicknaming it the Balcony, because of the wide range of visibility from their seats in the cockpit. The MiG-27s also have a strengthened undercarriage. The air intakes have been simplified and the exhaust nozzle has been made shorter. The simplification of the MiG-27 through the removal of the exhaust nozzles and the variable intake ramps seen in the MiG-23 have made the MiG-27s more suitable for their role as low flying ground attack aircraft. These changes helped to reduce the weight of the MiG-27s and to make them easier to maintain. Multi target seekers and laser rangefinders were also built into the MiG-27. The cockpits of the MiG-27s are protected by additional armor and they are fitted with improved navigation and attack systems. The landing gear of the MiG-27 aircraft are heavier, larger and more robust than those of the MiG-23, which makes it possible for the aircraft to be operated from poor quality ground surfaces.

The MiG-27 provides the pilot with excellent forward and all round visibility. It is capable of carrying laser or TV guided precision munitions and it can also carry A4Ms for use in self-defense. The MiG-27 is a stable weapons platform.

FEATURES AFTER UPGRADES

Upgrades to the Indian MiG-27 aircraft, conducted by HAL between 2002 and 2009, included the installation of a newer and more accurate navigation system, the INGPS or Inertial Navigation and Global Positioning System. The avionics systems were also upgraded in order to interface with a MIL-STD-1551B Dual Redundant Bus. Laser weapons controls were enabled by fitting Laser Ranger and Marked Target Seekers and Laser Designator Pods. Digital video recording systems were added in order to provide debriefing support and mission analysis. Situational awareness was improved by the addition of digital map generators.

The MiG-27M was originally fitted with GSh-6-23M guns, but in later versions of the aircraft, these were replaced with GSh-6-30 30 millimeter 260 round six barrel cannons, fitted into fuselage gondolas. The new guns proved to be problematic due to the heavier recoil, however. Longer firing bursts from these new guns could permanently damage the aircraft’s airframe. The MiG-27Ms also have upgraded electronic countermeasures and they have been fitted with improved PrNK-23K navigation and attack systems. These systems provide weapons release, gun firing and automatic flight control.