Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

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Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Khalsa »

The Indian Air Force Finally said good bye to its last squadron of MiG-27 on the 27th of December. The IAF (once) operated more than 7 operational squadrons and 165 aircraft.

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Tweet by the IAF @ https://twitter.com/IAF_MCC/status/1210522103838953472

Opening this thread to capture all the info, anecdotes, incidents, news, development, operational role & history related to this marvellous aircraft.

From our own very archives...

Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-27ML "Bahadur"
https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/airc ... -27ml.html

Preview

Number Procured: 165 Produced by HAL Ozhar (License for 188 MiG-27s with an option for 50 more)
........................1st Ac (TS-501) delivered Sept 1984
........................100th Ac (TS-600) delivered on 2 May 1992
........................165th Ac (TS-665) delivered March 1997

Units Equipped:
........................No.2 Squadron "Winged Arrows"
........................No.9 Squadron "Wolfpacks" (Converted to Mirage 2000TH)
........................No.10 Squadron "Winged Daggers"
........................No.18 Squadron "Flying Bullets"
........................No. 22 Squadron "Swifts"
........................No. 29 Squadron "Scorpions"
........................No. 222 Squadrons "Tigersharks"
........................TACDE Squadron

Upgrade:
The upgrade is being undertaken by HAL Ozhar Division, the Defence Avionics Research Establishment [DARE] and CEMILAC/DGAQA. The first aircraft to be upgraded is TS-640 which was recieved by Nasik in May 2002. The aircraft was upgraded and first flown by HAL on 25th March 2004 and has been given to the ASTE in April 2004.

The upgrade will oversee the integration of the following technologies and components into the aircraft:-

» VRS Mission Computer
» Laser Designator Pod and New Weapons
» Multi Function Display Unit in the cockpit [MFD665]
» Radar Warning Reciever with Display Unit in Cockpit
» Head Up Display [HUD] with Up Front Control Panel [UFCP]
» Air to Air Refuelling Probe
» Upgraded Radio / Electronic Warfare System
» Laser Ranging and Marked Target Seeker [LRMTS]
» VOR/ILS System
» Solid State Flight Data Recorder [SSFDR]
» Chaff/Flare counter measure Dispensing system [CMDS]
Last edited by Khalsa on 28 Dec 2019 10:49, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Khalsa »

Flying and fighting in the MiG-27: Interview with a MiG pilot
https://hushkit.net/2018/08/15/flying-a ... mig-pilot/

Preview:
Fast, brutal and unforgiving, the MiG-27 is a formidable Soviet attack aircraft that continues to serve with the Indian Air Force. Hush-Kit spoke to former MiG-27 pilot Anshuman Mainkar about flying and fighting in this ferocious machine known locally as the Bahadur.
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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Khalsa »

Ode to a Swinger: A fighter pilot bids goodbye to MiG-27
https://newsmeter.in/must-read-ode-to-a ... to-mig-27/
27 December 2019

- Wing Commander Amit Ranjan Giri (Retd), Indian Air Force

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Hyderabad: The era of the swing-wing comes to a close today, December 27, 2019, when the last of the MiG 27 takes to the sky for one last time. There would be tears rolling down the battle-hardened cheeks of many a Flogger rider who have had the privilege of flying this wondrous design, three aeroplanes moulded in one. The MiG 23/27 was a swing-wing design wherein, unlike any fixed-wing aircraft, its wings could be swung back to suit mission requirements—16 deg for take-off, cruise flight and landing as well as slow speed mano, where the requirement of lift was maximum—45 deg for combat employment and 72 deg (yes 72!!!! Almost like a missile) for a high-speed getaway. Naturally, the aerodynamics for these three settings were exclusive to them and hence voila!! You had three aircraft in one.

The airframe design was almost a box and to top it up, the cockpit had armoured plating around it, a flying tank? Well almost. The wing-turning mechanism itself weighed 1.5 tons out of the 20+ tons of the all-up weight. The front gun weighed another ton. The box could carry up to 4 tons of explosives and had nine hardpoints, two of which were exclusively for the fuel drop tanks, not to mention most hardpoints could be fitted with multi shackles to carry more than one bomb. She could carry 22, 100kg bombs or 8, 500kg bombs etc. She would often be seen flaunting 4, 240kg rockets called the S 24s and when they left the aeroplane, and your engine didn’t surge, the driver got a feeling of a caged bird freed while pulling out of the dive. If you didn’t want to bust up the heavies you could choose to show off the 128, 57 mm rockets of four huge pods. Off course, the air-to-ground missiles both tv guided and laser-guided were always available to the planners in her heydays. When the beast was not carrying any load it always had the gun, a 30mm, 6 barrel cannon with a rate of fire of 5,000 rounds per minute (the aircraft could carry only 240 rounds at a time!!!)—photo analysis of a gun attack was never possible much to the glee of the young riders—the aircraft shook as hell during fire to provide any clear picture.

With all the loads, she went from point to point navigating on the RSBN, then on the Dig Comp and even later in the upgraded version the ring laser gyros. Incidentally, my wristwatch which could store only phone numbers in 1998 had more memory than the dig comp—but it did the job absolutely fine. She could do a dive, a dive toss, laid down, high level, toss and lo behold, offset toss and level offset, weapon delivery. In the last two, the pilots aim and depress the trigger at a point which was not the target but was prominent, the aircraft did the rest. The Flogger pilots were fondly called the Mud sweepers—she was a pleasure at low levels if you ignore the sweat. They learnt wind corrections for navigation, only for academic purpose and the Aircrew examination board, wind only affected the bombs and rarely the aircraft, so most had the weapon wind effect mugged up and wind effect during navigation forgotten for the most part of the year. Some even claim that they adjusted the engine RPM seeing the speed gauge and not the RPM gauge.

The engine during its time was the most powerful single-engine fitted on a fighter. It operated so close to the surge margins that it became infamous for blowing up on your face and at times on the runways too!!! A pilot constantly had his eye on the RPM and the JPT gauge, he even opened throttle carefully with fingers crossed, but that was not a hindrance cause once revved up it was “Catch me if you can”. There are pilots who claim that an F16 with a positive lock on the tail failed to achieve a launch due to the Flogger pulling away too fast. All military pilots call three greens after landing gear extension, only the Flogger pilot had the distinction of calling out four greens—one was for the ventral fin which would retract with the gears down. Actually, the downwind call was a butt of many a joke in the pilot circle but the swingers couldn’t care less. They proudly called, “Swinger one, downwind four greens, wings extended, full flaps, full stop.”
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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by darshan »

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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Rakesh »

MiG-27 retirement ceremony photos....

https://twitter.com/zone5aviation/statu ... 5776890880 ---> Farewell to the MiG-27. 14 Dec 1984 - 27 Dec 2019. Final formation flown by No.29 Sqn ‘Scorpios’, AFS Jodhpur, the last unit operating the type. Last Flogger CO of the IAF, Group Captain KU Rao, justifiably proud of his men and machines.

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Group Captain KU Rao, CO of No 29 Scorpios Squadron, Indian Air Force

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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Rakesh »

https://twitter.com/tarunsingha/status/ ... 2038124545 ---> If airframe is in good condition, many will serve as 'Gate Guardians'.

https://twitter.com/Leopard212/status/5 ... 7529887745
MiG-27 at St Georges Gate Road and Commissariat Rd round about, Kolkata.

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https://twitter.com/fuzzy_y/status/834765551230713856
MiG-27 as gate guardian in Mumbai.

@ Kartik, if you are reading this....please confirm that IAF MiG-27s had serial numbers starting with SM. I thought only MiG-23s had serial numbers starting with SM. The MiG-27 all had serial numbers starting with TS, no? And the UPG variants were TU, correct?

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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Rakesh »

https://twitter.com/tarunsingha/status/ ... 1212533762 ---> Many others end up in the scrap graveyard awaiting auction by MSTC Ltd.

Metal Scrap Trade Corporation Limited ---> https://www.mstcindia.co.in/index.html

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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Rakesh »

Read this tweet. Are you thinking what I am thinking? Does he know something we do not? :lol:

https://twitter.com/hvtiaf/status/1210274937585328129 ---> Into the sunset. Adieu...the last swing winger. Make way for Delta.

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https://twitter.com/hvtiaf/status/1210479760968577025 ---> Could certainly carry tons of load.

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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Rakesh »

Gorgeous Photo from No 29 Scorpios Squadron. Comments in tweet below are not mine, but I would have to agree :)

https://twitter.com/anshumig/status/1211220028252512259 --->

Q: Describe what comes to mind when you hear........Supermodel!

ME:

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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Rakesh »

https://twitter.com/Suryakiran_IAF/stat ... 6381058048 --->

As the sun dawns on you for the very last time
And you engage your afterburners for one last time
As you tear down the runway for one last time
To jump into the third dimension one last time

As you scare the enemy for one last time
As you drop the lethal loads for the last time
As you are decked up in all your finery for all to see one more time
For one last time we salute you flaunting your weaponry

As you duck to low levels for one last time
As you hug the ground for one last time
As you sweep the mud over for the very last time
We shall all wonder at you for what you were

As he nudges your throttle to open for one last time
As he monitors your RPM and JPT for one last time
As he engages the Max Reheat for the very last time
He feels the surge of adrenaline in his veins like each and every time

As you come back towards base for the very last time
As your wings are swept forward for one last time,
As he call out four greens for one more time,
It’s time to come home and rest my friend.
​Sleep Well For You Have Done Your worth.


- Wing Commander Amit Ranjan Giri (Retd)

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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Rakesh »

https://twitter.com/IAF_MCC/status/1210522103838953472 --->

#AdieuMiG27

"Her targets met
Her promises kept
And all her duties done,
On she goes
All haloed and pretty
Into the setting sun."


Indian Air Force salutes the mighty MiG-27 for its yeoman service to the nation.

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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Rakesh »

https://twitter.com/HarishDahiya92/stat ... 7538369536 ---> I salute mighty MiG-27 for its yeoman service to the nation.

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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Rakesh »

https://twitter.com/delhidefence/status ... 5010197504 ---> The last of the Water Cannon salute for the MiG-27 ground attack fighter of the Indian Air Force at the decommissioning ceremony in Jodhpur.

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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Rakesh »

https://twitter.com/zone5aviation/statu ... 6261544961 ---> Gorgeous lithograph, signed by past and present Flogger fliers at the ceremony. The circled part is special — Wing Commander V.A. Joshi was the first Indian to fly the MiG-27 in India (other test pilots had flown it for eval in the USSR). He braved ill health to make the trip out to Jodhpur.

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https://twitter.com/zone5aviation/statu ... 7414211586 ---> And this was the epic MiG-27 farewell patch for the day — hard to top this design!

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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Manish_P »

What a photo... Monster emerging from the mist!
Rakesh wrote:MiG-27 retirement ceremony photos....

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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Jaeger »

Rakesh wrote: MiG-27 as gate guardian in Mumbai.

@ Kartik, if you are reading this....please confirm that IAF MiG-27s had serial numbers starting with SM. I thought only MiG-23s had serial numbers starting with SM. The MiG-27 all had serial numbers starting with TS, no? And the UPG variants were TU, correct?
Admiral, this IS a MiG-23 - a BN to be exact. The giveaways are the GSh-23 instead of the 30mm and the intakes - these interim models still have variable intake ramps instead of the fixed ones on the 27. Also, no rangefinder window in the nose.
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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Rakesh »

That's it! Thanks Jaeger. It is indeed a MiG-23BN. The BN variant slipped my mind :oops:, but the serial number is what stood out to me.

Thank you for that info.
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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Kartik »

Rakesh wrote:
@ Kartik, if you are reading this....please confirm that IAF MiG-27s had serial numbers starting with SM. I thought only MiG-23s had serial numbers starting with SM. The MiG-27 all had serial numbers starting with TS, no? And the UPG variants were TU, correct?
Rakesh, that is a MiG-23BN. There is a very easy way to spot the difference between a MiG-27 and MiG-23 and that is the large splitter plate that separates the fuselage from the intake, on the MiG-23MF and BN. That splitter plate is absent on the MiG-27 as the air intake was simplified as part of the design. As you can see on the one with the SM serial number, there is a large boundary layer splitter plate, so it's a MiG-23BN, not a MiG-27.
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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Kartik »

Rakesh wrote:https://twitter.com/tarunsingha/status/ ... 1212533762 ---> Many others end up in the scrap graveyard awaiting auction by MSTC Ltd.

Metal Scrap Trade Corporation Limited ---> https://www.mstcindia.co.in/index.html
Sad to see them in such condition. :(

Each and every one of them could be put up as gate guardians. It truly excites youngsters to see a massive fighter jet on static display and changes the entire look and feel of the location where it is put up.
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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Kartik »

MiG-27ML Bahadur firing a S-24 rocket..I guess the S-24 rocket is now as good as gone too, with MiG-27ML and MiG-21bis and MF also gone?

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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Khalsa »

Rakesh wrote:Found this news article on the MiG-27 retirement. These pictures (especially the first one) is a good reference. Drag & Drop each image into a new window for the full size.
Hi Rakesh,

Can I ask for your assistance to move some of the amazing post to the MiG-27 thread?

It would be a shame to loose this in the generic IAF thread.
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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Rakesh »

Khalsa wrote:Hi Rakesh,

Can I ask for your assistance to move some of the amazing post to the MiG-27 thread?

It would be a shame to loose this in the generic IAF thread.
100%. I completely forgot about that thread, when I posted those images. So sorry. I will move them soon.
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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Rakesh »

Khalsa-ji....done Sir.

Thank you for starting this thread. Will archive this thread in due time.
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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Rakesh »

https://twitter.com/VishalJolapara/stat ... 1453879297 ----> Flying into the sunset, literally.....

Farewell Bahadur!

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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Rakesh »

The only two names I can identify in this photograph are...

Second from left ---> Air Chief Marshal LM Katre (one of only two Air Chiefs to have died in service)

Second from right ---> Air Marshal MSD Wollen (when this picture was taken, he had retired from the IAF and was Chairman of HAL I believe)

https://twitter.com/zone5aviation/statu ... 9356847104 ---> 35 years, down to the month! The mighty MiG-27, longest-lived of all Flogger variants to serve with the IAF, bows out of service tomorrow.

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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Rakesh »

Tweet is in Polish. I google translated it, no new info in the tweet. But a rare picture.

This is a MiG-27ML, not the MiG-27UPG variant.

https://twitter.com/GBrzeczka/status/12 ... 3080305665 ---> On December 27th, India officially decommissioned aircraft MiG-27ML Bahadur. After the withdrawal, the last MiG-27 user remained the Kazakh Air Force (about 12 units).

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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Rakesh »

The "Malhotra" in this tweet is Air Commodore Ravish Malhotra (retd) who served as the back up of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma (Retd). The latter was the first Indian in space, for anyone who does not know. I am posting this tweet, as it has rare MiG-23 and MiG-27 pictures in IAF service. In both pictures, Air Commodore Malhotra is standing at right.

First picture is a MiG-23UB and the second one is a MiG-27ML.

https://twitter.com/zone5aviation/statu ... 1421469702 ---> Malhotra went on to serve as AOC Hindon when it was a MiG-27 base. Both he and Rakesh Sharma flew MiG-27s, the latter serving as Chief Test Pilot at HAL's Nasik Division when it was churning out licence-built MiG-27MLs.

https://twitter.com/zone5aviation/statu ... 9307100161 ---> Here he is as AOC Hindon sometime in the early 1990s, with a MiG-23UB from No.31 Sqn 'Lions' and a MiG-27ML from No.18 Sqn 'Flying Bullets'. Photos © Vijay Seth.

My Note: As of today, No 31 Squadron flies Su-30MKIs and No 18 Squadron will soon serve as the second Tejas squadron.

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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Rakesh »

One of the rarest MiG-27ML shots in IAF service....what a beautiful camo!

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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by ramana »

I think of K. Nachiketa when I hear Mig-27.

A Bahadur in a Bahadur.
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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Rakesh »

He is Group Captain now and still going strong I believe!
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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by ashishvikas »

Security Scan - MiG 27 'Bahadur'

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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Kersi »

Rakesh wrote:The "Malhotra" in this tweet is Air Commodore Ravish Malhotra (retd) who served as the back up of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma (Retd). The latter was the first Indian in space, for anyone who does not know. I am posting this tweet, as it has rare MiG-23 and MiG-27 pictures in IAF service. In both pictures, Air Commodore Malhotra is standing at right.

First picture is a MiG-23UB and the second one is a MiG-27ML.
The AAM is R 60 NATO Codename 'Aphid". Did we really use R 60 on MiG 27 / MiG 23 MF?
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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Khalsa »

Another Great Shot from Angad.

https://twitter.com/zone5aviation/statu ... 8725011458

Fired up for the last time — the CO 29 Sqn lights the can, becoming the final Flogger to take off from Jodhpur to mark the end of the IAF’s swing-wings.

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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Barath »

Flying the MiG-27 Striker - with Sqn. Ldr. Anshuman Mainkar

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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Rakesh »

No 222 Tigersharks Squadron converted to Su-30MKI on 01 January 2020.

https://twitter.com/anshumig/status/1212369442782318592 ---> Excellent news! It’s been a while coming, but a toast to the crew from the last of the Swing Wingers!

Flogger to Flanker! 222 Squadron - Tigersharks!

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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Rakesh »

https://twitter.com/ruskievityazi/statu ... 8981466122 ---> Sharing few pics of IAF's No.222 Squadron at Hasimara Air Base which operated the MiG-27 before being number plated. Today, this beast of an aircraft flew under it's own power for one last time. The legendary roar of R-29 Tumansky after burning turbojet engine would definitely be missed by one and all - the pilots that flew this beast, the ground crew & engineers that toiled days on end to keep these birds in the sky, young boys like me who bunked their classes and headed to the end of the runway to watch them take off and land.

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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by tsarkar »

Kersi wrote:
Rakesh wrote:The "Malhotra" in this tweet is Air Commodore Ravish Malhotra (retd) who served as the back up of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma (Retd). The latter was the first Indian in space, for anyone who does not know. I am posting this tweet, as it has rare MiG-23 and MiG-27 pictures in IAF service. In both pictures, Air Commodore Malhotra is standing at right.

First picture is a MiG-23UB and the second one is a MiG-27ML.
The AAM is R 60 NATO Codename 'Aphid". Did we really use R 60 on MiG 27 / MiG 23 MF?
Kh-29 missiles. Visually similar to R-60 but larger
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kh-29
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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by tsarkar »

Kartik wrote:MiG-27ML Bahadur firing a S-24 rocket..I guess the S-24 rocket is now as good as gone too, with MiG-27ML and MiG-21bis and MF also gone?
Can be fired by -
MiG-21Bis
MiG-21Bison
MiG-29 9.12
MiG-29UPG
MiG-29K
Su-30MKI
Not a useful weapon unless direct hit that was rare despite beautiful visual effect of a near miss. A Tejas with Litening LRF cueing unguided bombs in CCIP is more accurate
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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by tsarkar »

Khalsa wrote:165th Ac (TS-665) delivered March 1997
The last one barely served 23 years. Not good value for money compared to Jaguar or Mirage 2000 that were inducted 10 years earlier.
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Re: Adieu Bahadur! MiG-27 Flogger

Post by Kersi »

tsarkar wrote:
Kersi wrote: The AAM is R 60 NATO Codename 'Aphid". Did we really use R 60 on MiG 27 / MiG 23 MF?
Kh-29 missiles. Visually similar to R-60 but larger
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kh-29
I think the fins near the nose look more like those of R60 than than of Kh 29. These fins of R 60 look bigger than on KH 29.
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