Newly inducted MiG-29K warplanes are riddled with problems, says CAG report
According to the findings submitted in Parliament, the Russian-origin warplanes have engine deficiencies, besides airframe and fly-by-wire system troubles.
The new naval warplanes inducted into the Indian Air Force are riddled with problems, according to a report submitted in Parliament by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Tuesday. The country's top auditor said the he Russian-origin MiG-29K warplanes have engine deficiencies, besides airframe and fly-by-wire system troubles. The first squadron of the fighter planes was inducted in May, reported NDTV.
According to the findings, the serviceability of the single-seat warplanes ranged from 15.93% to 37.63 %, as against the twin-seat trainer MiG-29KUB that has a range between 21.3% and 47.14%, reported Hindustan Times. The auditor said the service life of the fighter jets will be reduced significantly beacuse of the deficiencies.
The auditor also submitted another report on the same day stating that India has failed to utilise the 10 Boeing C-17 Globemaster III planes it got for Rs 18,646 crore. “The annual average load airlifted by C-17 ranged between 13 tonne and 18 tonne per sortie, against the aircraft’s payload capacity of 70 tonne… Thus a costly national asset, procured for carrying heavy loads was not being used as per its capacity,” the auditor said.