265 MiG aircrafts crashed in two decades

PTI

New Delhi: The government on Wednesday said that the Indian Air Force has lost 265 MiG series fighter aircraft in the past two decades in crashes which claimed lives of 96 personnel and 44 civilians.

"In the last two decades since April 1989 and up to November 26 2009, 265 MiG fighter aircraft of the IAF have crashed and a total of 96 services personnel and 44 civilians were killed," Defence Minister A.K. Antony said in a written reply to a Rajya Sabha query.

The IAF has lost three each MiG 21s and 27s in different accidents along with two Russian-origin Su-30MKIs air superiority aircraft in the last eight months of 2009.

Antony said that each of these accidents was investigated through a Court of inquiry and remedial measures were taken.

Replying to another query, the Defence Minister said that DRDO has initiated a project to develop an indigenous engine for the indigenously-built MBT Arjun tank in partnership with Indian industry.

The Arjun tank is currently powered by a German-made engine.