New Delhi, 12 March (H.S.): Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Indian Air Force, piloted a solo sortie in a MiG-29 UPG multi-role fighter from a frontline base under Western Air Command today to assess operational readiness.With over 5,000 flying hours and expertise as an experimental test pilot in the MiG-29 upgrade project, Singh evaluated combat capabilities during the mission.
The IAF has deployed upgraded MiG-29 UPGs in Srinagar since the 2019 surgical strikes to counter Pakistani aerial threats, planning a 10-year total technical life extension from 40 to 50 years amid squadron shortages and slow inductions. Operating around 66 Russian-origin jets across three squadrons—with enhanced avionics, radar, missiles, and electronic warfare suites—these aircraft escorted Mirage-2000s in Kargil and countered Chinese jets along the LAC in 2020.
This follows Singh's 'Badal' formation flight in a MiG-21 during its retirement last September after 62 years of service.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
