Colors of the MiG-29. Mikoyan & Gurevich MiG-29 camouflage and painting schemes. European countries, Russia. MiG-29, MiG-29OVT, MiG-29SMT, MiG-35

INDIA

Bhārat Ganrādzya (Republic of India)
Revised: September 2011

MiG-29, MiG-29UB, MiG-29UPG

In service
Since 1986
Bharatiya Vayu Sena (IAF Indian Air Force)

Deliveries
1986-1987: 42 x MiG-29 (9-12B) + 9 x MiG-29UB (9-51B)
1989: 20 x MiGs-29
1994-1995: 8 x MiG-29 + 2 x MiG-29UB to replace loses
Total bought: 81 MiGs-29

Losses:
1994, MiG-29 (28th Sqn),
1997, MiG-29 KB738 (28th Sqn),
1999, MiG-29 (223rd Sqn),
2001, MiG-29 (223rd Sqn),
2002, MiG-29 KB3126 (223rd Sqn),
2003, MiG-29,
2006, MiG-29UB (28th Sqn),
2006, MiG-29 KB3299,
2006, MiG-29 (28th Sqn),
2007, MiG-29,
2008, MiG-29 (28th Sqn),

Operational 2010: about 64 MiG-29/MiG-29UB
Units (2009)

47th Sqadron Black Archers
Adampur, Pune between 1986 and 1997

Adampur it's a base for 8th Wing
(47th and 223rd Sqns)

28th Sqn First Supersonics
Jamnagar, Pune between 1987 and 1997

Jamnagar it's a base for 33rd Wing
(28th Sqn and 224th Sqn with MiG-23MF)

223rd Sqn Tridents
Adampur since 1989

Adampur it's a base for 8th Wing
(47th and 223rd Sqns)

Bort numbers
Letters "KB" or "KS" for MiG-29UB + three digits on fins + squadron's emblem on air intakes:
First Supersonics: KB713 KB719 KB720 KB721 KB724 KB738 KS903(UB)
Black Archers: KB703 KB708 KB735
Tridents:
unidentified: KB742 KB715
Letters "KB" or "KS" for MiG-29UB + four digits on fins + squadron's emblem on air intakes
First Supersonics: KB3287 KB3298
Black Archers:
Tridents: KB3126
unidentified: KB3299
Remarks
Local name in Hindi for MiG-29 is "Baaz" (Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis).

Indian MiGs in 1986/1987 did not have a standard uniform MiG's-29 camouflage scheme! Indian was identical with Soviet in colours and very similar in shapes, but vary on some aircrafts.

Four aircrafts with special markings for exercises in nineties:
KB744 white-red stripes on fins
KB713 red fins with yellow triangle (First Supersonics)
KB720 yellow fins with red triangle (First Supersonics)
KB707 blue fins with dots and stars (Black Archers)

MiG-29 #KB707, 47th Squadron, India.

Main Indian repair facilities for MiGs is 11th Base Repair Depot (BRD) in Ojhar (or Ozhar) near Nasik, where all repair and maintenance are realised, also on MiG-23MF.
After overhauls, MiGs are overall grey.

12.2008: three MiG-29 were deployed to reactivated old Hindon air base in Ghaziabad on the outskirts of New Delhi, to protect a capital from air attack.
12.2008: Indian ministry of defence and Russian company Rossoboronoexport signed contract for overhaul and modernization of 64 Indian MiGs, worth 964 mln USD. Aircraft will be overhauled in 2009 in Russia (first six) and then in HAL facilities, and equipped with Russian, Indian and French avionics, "Zhuk-ME" radar, engines RD-33 serie 3, new armament control systems compatible with modern weapons. Contract will be fulfiled until 2013. In 2010 it's rumoured that few Indian MiGs is in Russia already and undergoing modernization.
February 2011: in airfield of the Flight Research Institute after MM Gromov in Zhukovsky first flights of upgraded MiG-29 to standard MiG-29UPG. 65 Indian aircrafts will be rebuilded to version UPG, first six in Russia (incl. KB 727, KB 740), rest in Ozhar factory (contract from 2008). First modernized were two MiGs-29: KB 3301 (to KBU 3301) and KB 3123 (to KBU 3123), and one MiG-29UB (KB 3306).

MiG-29 KB719, 28th Squadron, India.

MiG-29 KB3126, 223rd Squadron, India.
Above drawings accuracy: rather OK, but it's a compilations of camouflages and numbers from various aircrafts.

MiG-29 KB715, India 2007, after overhaul. Note that Indian roundels are green-white-saffron (subdued orange) but often, especially in recent years (like on Sukhois Su-30MKI) saffron is replaced by near red colour or even red. Near KOLS before windshield is antenna of the Indian IFF system.

Modernized Indian MiG-29UPG KBU 3123, Summer 2011. Drawing accuracy: 100%.

MiG-29K, MiG-29KUB

In service
Since March 2010
Bharatiya Nau Sena (IN Indian Navy)

Deliveries
First batch (six aircrafts) in the end of 2009.
Units
303rd INAS "Black Panthers", Dabolim. It's a brand new squadron, formed in 2009, youngest and only the second fighter squadron in the Indian Naval Aviation.
Bort numbers

MiG-29K #804 (displayed at MAKS 08.2009 in Moscow), #801, #802
MiG-29KUB: #671 and 672

Remarks

IN = Indian Navy (Bharatiya Nau Sena) = Naval Air Arm
INS = Indian Navy Station
INAS = Indian Navy Air Squadron
Ordered in year 2004 carrier-based fighters 12 x MiG-29K + 4 x MiG-29KUB will operate on aircraft carrier INS "Vikramaditya" - ex. "Admiral Gorshkov" which is prepared for India and should enter the IN service in the 2012 (really no-one knows when).
March 2008 - first flight of serial MiG-29KUB in Lukhovitsy, on controls: Pavel Vlasov, RAC «MiG» Chief test pilot, Hero of Russia, and Alexander Pelikh, honored test-pilot, Hero of Russia.
First four MiGs will operate from the INS Hansa base at Goa - Dabolim.
September 2010: landings on "Admiral Kuzniecov", aircrafts #672 and #914.
December 2009: two serial MiG-29KUB were delivered: #671 and #672 and four MiG-29K.
March 2010: introduction ceremony of MiGs in Goa: #801, #802, #803 (?), #804, #671, #672.
June 2010: to the deck of "Vikramaditiya" in Syevyerodvinsk shipyard (produced by Севмаш, Sevmash Plant) was delivered a "mockup" of MiG-29K to perform a test of ship's equipment. It's the old first prototype of MiG-29K 9-31, bort number #311.
2010: Indian Navy order next batch of 18 MiG-29K

MiG-29K (9.41), Russia 2007 (MAKS 2007 painting scheme). Drawing accuracy: 100%.

MiG-29K (9.41), Russia, April 2008 (Indian Navy final painting scheme). Deliveries of MiG-29K/KUB to Indian Navy in December 2009. Drawing accuracy: 100%.

MiG-29KUB (9.47), Russia 2007 (MAKS 2007 painting scheme, first flight in february 2007). Drawing accuracy: 100%.

Serial MiG-29K (9.41, #804) were displayed in August 2009 during Moscow MAKS-2009. A black panther on tail it's a 303rd INAS emblem. Drawing accuracy: 100%.

Six MiG-29K/KUBs were delivered to Indian Navy in December 2009. Drawing accuracy: 100%.

MMRCA Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft tender

Remarks
2010: in long-term Indian tender for 126 MMRCA still is RSK MiG with MiG-35/MiG-35D. Rivals are: F-16, F/A-18, Rafale, Gripen, Typhoon.

Experimental MiG-35 #961, beginning of the year 2010. Drawing accuracy: 100%.

Experimental MiG-35D #967, beginning of the year 2010. Drawing accuracy: 100%.

MiG-29K, MiG-29KUB
In service	Since March 2010 Bharatiya Nau Sena (IN Indian Navy)
Deliveries	First batch (six aircrafts) in the end of 2009.
Units	303rd INAS "Black Panthers", Dabolim. It's a brand new squadron, formed in 2009, youngest and only the second fighter squadron in the Indian Naval Aviation.
Bort numbers	MiG-29K #804 (displayed at MAKS 08.2009 in Moscow), #801, #802 MiG-29KUB: #671 and 672
Remarks	IN = Indian Navy (Bharatiya Nau Sena) = Naval Air Arm INS = Indian Navy Station INAS = Indian Navy Air Squadron Ordered in year 2004 carrier-based fighters 12 x MiG-29K + 4 x MiG-29KUB will operate on aircraft carrier INS "Vikramaditya" - ex. "Admiral Gorshkov" which is prepared for India and should enter the IN service in the 2012 (really no-one knows when). March 2008 - first flight of serial MiG-29KUB in Lukhovitsy, on controls: Pavel Vlasov, RAC «MiG» Chief test pilot, Hero of Russia, and Alexander Pelikh, honored test-pilot, Hero of Russia. First four MiGs will operate from the INS Hansa base at Goa - Dabolim. September 2010: landings on "Admiral Kuzniecov", aircrafts #672 and #914. December 2009: two serial MiG-29KUB were delivered: #671 and #672 and four MiG-29K. March 2010: introduction ceremony of MiGs in Goa: #801, #802, #803 (?), #804, #671, #672. June 2010: to the deck of "Vikramaditiya" in Syevyerodvinsk shipyard (produced by Севмаш, Sevmash Plant) was delivered a "mockup" of MiG-29K to perform a test of ship's equipment. It's the old first prototype of MiG-29K 9-31, bort number #311. 2010: Indian Navy order next batch of 18 MiG-29K
MiG-29K (9.41), Russia 2007 (MAKS 2007 painting scheme). Drawing accuracy: 100%. MiG-29K (9.41), Russia, April 2008 (Indian Navy final painting scheme). Deliveries of MiG-29K/KUB to Indian Navy in December 2009. Drawing accuracy: 100%. MiG-29KUB (9.47), Russia 2007 (MAKS 2007 painting scheme, first flight in february 2007). Drawing accuracy: 100%. Serial MiG-29K (9.41, #804) were displayed in August 2009 during Moscow MAKS-2009. A black panther on tail it's a 303rd INAS emblem. Drawing accuracy: 100%. Six MiG-29K/KUBs were delivered to Indian Navy in December 2009. Drawing accuracy: 100%.