New Delhi, July 23: Government has started a programme for upgrading 40 MiG-27 warplanes but no decision has been taken on replacement of its engine, Defence Minister George Fernandes said today. He told the Rajya Sabha the programme was part of mid-life upgradation of MiG-27 combat Jets. During the design and development phase of the upgradation programme, Defence Research and Development Organisation would carry out avionics integration activities and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited would undertake modification world on two aircraft, the minister said. "The series of modification of the remaining aircraft will be undertaken by HAL," Fernandes said in a written reply.

Asked if IAF was planning to change its R-29 engine with a variant of the modern al-31 engine that power the sophisticated sukhoi-30 aircraft, he said "no decision for replacement of engine of mig-27 with al-31 engine has been taken". Bureau Report