In a groundbreaking move in global defense cooperation, India’s Reliance Defence has joined forces with U.S.-based Coastal Mechanics Inc. (CMI) to modernize over 100 Russian-origin MiG-29 fighter jets currently operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF). This unprecedented collaboration marks one of the few instances where a U.S. defense contractor is directly involved in upgrading Russian-built aircraft used by a third country.
Valued at approximately $2.34 billion (₹20,000 crore), the agreement not only covers the MiG-29 fleet but also extends to the Indian Air Force’s Jaguar strike aircraft, Apache AH-64 helicopters, and L-70 air defense systems. The initiative will be anchored at a joint MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) hub within the MIHAN Special Economic Zone in Nagpur, Maharashtra. This facility is poised to serve both domestic and international defense platforms, reinforcing India’s transition from outright equipment replacement to lifecycle upgrades under a performance-based logistics model.
Rather than relying on Russian OEMs, the joint venture plans to use reverse-engineered components and domestic manufacturing to overcome chronic issues such as parts shortages and logistic delays from Russia. This strategy will ensure the operational continuity of the IAF’s MiG-29 fleet while extending its service life through system upgrades, structural refurbishments, and avionics enhancements.
Reliance Defence aims to leverage this collaboration to strengthen its footprint in India’s defense and aerospace industry, in alignment with the country’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ policies. Having previously upgraded 55 Dornier 228 aircraft in partnership with HAL and U.S.-based Genesys, and recently entering artillery shell production agreements with Germany’s Diehl Defence and Rheinmetall, Reliance continues to position itself as a key private player in India’s defense manufacturing ecosystem.
Coastal Mechanics Inc., a certified U.S. Department of Defense contractor, brings decades of experience in sustaining and upgrading legacy platforms, including aircraft like the F-15, F-16, and A-10, and missile and radar systems across NATO and allied forces. Their expertise in reverse engineering, lean manufacturing, and OEM-independent sustainment makes them a strategic partner in bridging technological gaps associated with legacy Soviet-era hardware.
The MiG-29, introduced into IAF service in the 1980s, has been a key air superiority asset, now upgraded to the MiG-29UPG standard with modern engines, avionics, radars, and multirole capabilities. The IAF currently fields around 52 upgraded MiG-29s and the Indian Navy operates roughly 40 MiG-29K variants from its aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant.
This modernization push comes amid a wider transformation of India’s air combat capabilities. In addition to the MiG-29 upgrades, India is advancing its Super Sukhoi upgrade program for 84 Su-30MKIs and expanding its Tejas Mk1A and Mk2 fighter production. The upcoming AMCA fifth-generation fighter and drone programs like CATS Warrior signal India’s long-term goal of maintaining 35–36 active fighter squadrons by 2035.
Together, these efforts reflect a strategic pivot in India’s defense planning—combining indigenous development with selective international collaboration to maintain combat readiness, reduce import dependency, and future-proof its aerial capabilities.
