IAF Expects AN-32, MiG-29 Upgrade Bids This Month

The Indian Air Force is expecting to receive tenders from private companies to upgrade the aging fleet of Russia AN-32 transport aircraft and MiG-29 fighter aircraft this month.

The IAF last year had invited bids from private parties for upgradation of AN-32 transport and MiG-29 fighter aircraft but only a single tender was received for the AN-32s.

"We needed to change certain aspects related to the conditions and invited fresh bids again, which are expected to be received by end of this month," said Air Marshal P Kanakraj, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of IAF's maintenance command based at Nagpur. He was addressing a press conference on the occasion of Air Force day. The process for MiG 29s is on track with the commercial bids expected be opened soon, he was quoted as saying.

The idea was to use the resources of the base repair depots (BRDs) under the maintenance command and get the work done from private players, according to The Times of India.

According to the report, Kanakraj added that indigenization was going on in full swing for other spares also. However, as far as the maintenance command is concerned, the focus was on indigenization of spares and consumables for the aircraft and other systems, rather than making a new weapons system, he said.

A plan of upgrading the BRDs was also being considered by the ministry of defence, he added.