India-Russia fighter plane deal signed

NEW DELHI, March 7 (UPI) -- Russia and India Friday signed a billion-dollar deal for the improvement of the Indian Air Force's 92 Mig-29 fighter planes, a report said.

The deal, signed by the Defense Ministry and the Russian RAC-Mig company, requires the planes to be armed with well-equipped avionics suites equal to the newest shipborne Mig-29K/KUB fighters being constructed for the Indian Navy, the Press Trust of India reported Friday.

The pact reportedly is one of two deals the Indian Air Force expects will upgrade its quickly weakening fighter squadron.

In the second major upgrade plan the Air Force wants to upgrade its 52 Mirage 2000 fighters to match the quality of French Air Forces Mirages, the report said.

The first six MIG-29 fighters reportedly would be worked on in Russia and finished by 2011, while the 86 other fighters would be upgraded at Indian Air Force facilities.