Watch | Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh flew a solo sortie of the MiG-29 UPG multi-role aircraft on Thursday at a forward operational base in India.
Operational Review at Western Air Command
The Air Chief reviewed operational preparedness at a base under the Western Air Command (WAC). The exact location of the sortie and base remains undisclosed due to security reasons.
Interaction with IAF Veterans
After the sortie, the Air Chief interacted with Indian Air Force Veterans stationed at the base, meeting personnel who served the nation through the years.
Focus on Combat Readiness
The visit highlighted the Indian Air Force’s operational readiness, combat capability and mission preparedness at forward operational bases.
About the MiG-29 Fighter Aircraft
The Mikoyan MiG-29 is a twin-engine fighter aircraft developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s and inducted into the Indian Air Force in the 1980s.
Role and Upgradation
The aircraft was originally designed to counter American F-16 fighters. The Indian Air Force upgraded its MiG-29 fleet, which has been serving the force for nearly four decades.
MiG-29 UPG Capabilities
The MiG-29 (Upgrade) is a fourth-generation air superiority fighter equipped with advanced avionics, radar and air-to-air refueling capability.
It can fire air-to-air and air-to-surface armaments along with precision munitions, making the aircraft highly lethal in combat missions.
Speed and Performance
The aircraft can reach a top speed of 2,465 km/h (Mach 2.35) at 11,000 metres and climb to 17,000 metres with a climb rate of 330 metres per second.
About Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh
Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 21, 1984.
He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College and National Defence College.
The Air Chief is also a Qualified Flying Instructor and Experimental Test Pilot with over 5,000 flying hours on fixed and rotary wing aircraft.
Exam Fact for AFCAT/CDS/NDA & SSB Interview
Aircraft: MiG-29 UPG
Type: Fourth-generation air superiority fighter
Top Speed: Mach 2.35
Origin: Soviet Union
Induction in IAF: 1980s
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