Indian Air Force to Equip MiG-29 fighter jets with ASRAAM missile for Enhanced Combat Power

Indian Air Force to Equip MiG-29 fighter jets with ASRAAM missile for Enhanced Combat Power

The Indian Air Force is planning to substantially upgrade the fighting capability of its MiG-29 fighter aircraft with the introduction of the Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM), which is expected to be a major upgrade of the IAF’s air defence capabilities.

The Ministry of Defence floated a tender on March 25, inviting bidders to provide the missiles and conduct the necessary tests on the MiG-29 UPG version of the aircraft. The tender will not only include the supply of missiles but also their launchers, ancillary equipment, and training of air and ground crew.

ASRAAM is developed by European defence giant MBDA and is already in service with the indigenous HAL Tejas and Jaguar aircraft. The range of the ASRAAM is in excess of 25 kilometers, compared to the ageing Soviet-made R-73 currently in service on the MiG-29, which has a range of only 10 to 15 kilometers.

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The IAF currently operates more than 55 MiG-29 aircraft, including the trainer variant. The aircraft entered service in 1987 after being assembled in Pune.

The MiG-29 remains a vital part of India’s air defense structure. Once integrated, the ASRAAM missile will be employed across the entire fleet of MiG-29 aircraft, replacing the R-73 missile. The missile is classified as a fourth-generation missile, intended for high-speed close-range combat.

The missile utilizes heat-seeking technology and incorporates a fire-and-forget concept, allowing the pilot to disengage from the missile once it is launched. The missile can achieve speeds of over Mach 3, making it a precision-guided missile for close-range combat.

In 2021, MBDA and Bharat Dynamics Limited signed a deal for the local assembly and testing of the ASRAAM missile. A facility for the same is currently under development in Hyderabad.

This upgrade also comes in the context of changing regional equations. China has already employed the PL-10 missile on their high-end fighters like the J-20, and Pakistan has also employed the export version of this missile, called PL-10E, on their JF-17 Block III aircraft. According to defence sources, ASRAAM’s larger rocket motor provides it with an advantage in this regard.

The MiG-29 still remains at the core of operations, especially on India’s western front. Recently, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh flew this aircraft to assess the operational preparedness of the IAF near the Pakistan border.

This aircraft also saw action in Operation Sindoor in 2025, reiterating the relevance of this aircraft in today’s theatre. With the ASRAAM upgrade, the MiG-29 UPG will now have a sharper edge in short-range combat, thereby strengthening India’s aerial deterrent against possible threats from China and Pakistan.