PARIS. June 14 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian MIG Corporation is upgrading Mikoyan MiG-29 fighters in service with the Slovak Air Force, Sergei Tsivilev, MIG First Deputy Director General/Designer General, said at Paris Air Show 2005.
"The work is fulfilled under the contract, signed by the Slovak Defense Ministry and MIG in November 2004. The MiG-29 modernization is aimed at adapting the aircraft to NATO standards by integrating contemporary computers, navigation systems, and radars into the avionics, as well as fitting the aircraft with IFF transponders," Tsivilev said.
He noted that MIG jointly with Western companies had managed to establish a structure, allowing the entire fleet of Slovak MiG-29s to be upgraded by late 2006.
Tsivilev emphasized that MIG would be the overall integrator of new avionics.
According to Tsivilev, the modernization program includes flagship companies from Great Britain, the U.S., Germany, and Russia, for instance, BAE Systems and Rockwell Collins.
Tsivilev noted that the modernization would result in considerably improving the MiG-29 capabilities. Pilots will be able to identify aircraft with the help of IFF systems without having to contact the ground-based control tower. Modernization will also facilitate total compatibility with corresponding NATO navigation systems (the GPS global positioning system and landing systems).
The MiG-29 will have the same navigation support as other contemporary NATO fighters since data will be processed by the computer and displayed on multi-functional displays.
Tsivilev pointed out that MIG had gained priceless experience in the course of modernization.
Vladimir Vypryazhkin, MIG Deputy Director General for Marketing, Sales, and After-Sales Services, said that a squadron of MiG-29s would be upgraded in Slovakia. "We have gained valuable experience in the course of modernization of MiG-29s in service with the Slovak Air Force. Now we can use the experience in other East European states, for instance, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Poland," he said.
Tsivilev said that the cost of the contract with Slovakia amounted to several dozen million dollars. He did not specify the exact sum, but noted that MIG's contracts portfolio equaled $1 billion. The share of foreign customers in the project amounts to about 10%.