What ⁢Happened?

Internal Russian documents leaked by⁤ the hacker group Black Mirror detail persistent ⁣reliability‌ issues with the Zhuk-ME radar system used on the indian Navy’s MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB carrier-based fighter jets. The‍ documents, reportedly originating‍ from sources linked to Rostec, Russia’s state defense conglomerate, outline years of discussions between‌ Russian and Indian officials regarding the radar’s subpar⁤ performance.

The leaked‌ report, titled “Report on the Reliability and Performance of the Zhuk-ME Radar in ⁢MiG-29K/KUB Aircraft of the ⁣Indian Navy,” indicates that the radar’s reliability ​consistently fell short of the standards stipulated in the 2004 procurement ‌contract between India and Russia’s MiG Corporation. Specifically, ⁢the report details repeated component ‌failures and unresolved contractual obligations.

Key Issues Detailed in the Leak

• Low ‍reliability: ⁣The Zhuk-ME radar consistently failed⁤ to meet​ the reliability benchmarks outlined in the original contract.
• Component Failures: The report documents‍ frequent failures of ‌critical ⁣radar components, impacting operational readiness.
• Funding for ⁢Upgrades: The question of funding for necessary upgrades to address⁤ these issues ‍”remains open,” according to the‌ leaked material.
• Delisting of Radar: By May 2019, the Indian Navy had formally removed the zhuk-ME radar from its Original Manufacturer ‍Certificate, effectively delisting it as a certified component of its ‍MiG-29K/KUB aircraft. Janes reported on this delisting, ‌indicating a formal acknowledgement of the issues.

Background: The MiG-29K/KUB Procurement

India procured 45 MiG-29K/KUB aircraft⁢ from Russia, ‍beginning in 2004, as part of a deal⁤ worth approximately $2 billion. These ⁣aircraft are crucial ‌to the operational capabilities of India’s aircraft carriers, INS Vikramaditya and ‍ INS Vikrant. The Zhuk-ME ‌radar is a key component of these fighters, providing crucial air-to-air and air-to-surface capabilities.