New Delhi: Struggling Russian design bureau RAC MiG may indeed look forward to a happier ending for 2009 with unconfirmed reports suggesting that India may have cleared the purchase of another batch of 29 MiG-29Ks - a naval version of the MiG-29 - after the India-specific fighter underwent a successful flight-deck trials from Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov in the Barents Sea at the end of September.

According to reports, the fresh order would cost the public exchequer around Rs5,380 crore (approx. $1.12 billion) and would "soon'' be sent to the Cabinet Committee of Security for sanction.

The new order would be in addition to 16 MiG-29Ks already contracted through the initial $1.5-billion Admiral Gorshkov package deal. While 12 of the first 16 fighters will be the single-seat `K' variants, the other four will be twin-seater `KUB' trainer versions.

Similarly, four of the next batch of 29 will be `KUB' trainer versions.

The first four of the contracted 16 MiG-29Ks will arrive in India sometime between now and November.

Apparently, the fresh order for 29 more MiG-29Ks was cleared by Defence Acquisitions Council, chaired by defence minister AK Antony, quite some time ago, but the decision was kept pending as the fighter was yet to be tested for landings and take-offs from a carrier deck. This took place at the end of last month with a delegation from the Indian Navy in attendance to witness the event. The MiG-29K is now due to complete weapon trials before shipment to India begins.

The MiG-29Ks will operate from both the 44,570-tonne Gorshkov -- rechristened INS Vikramaditya - as well as the 40,000-tonne Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) being built at the Cochin Shipyard, due for induction in the period 2014-2015.

The refurbished Adm Gorshkov is not expected to be inducted before 2012.

The MiG-29Ks can carry eight types of air-to-air missiles, including extended range BVR (beyond visual range) missiles, as well as 25 air-to-surface weapons for land-attack missions.

Though not as advanced as the MiG-35, currently in contention for the IAF's 126-aircraft multi-role medium range combat aircraft (MMRCA) tender, the MiG-29K is reputed to be a very close cousin with capabilities more advanced than the IAFs current crop of MiG29s. It will boast of a more advanced radar, as well as special coatings of materials that will reduce its radar cross signature 4-5 times, as compared to the standard version of the MiG-29.

The jets will also be capable of mid-air refuelling from IL-78 tankers.

MiG RAC has battled through tough times over the last decade or so with no domestic military orders as well as well as a well publicised foreign cancellation when Algeria cancelled its order of MiG-29s claiming the aircraft supplied were sub-standard.

Subsequent domestic inquiries have absolved MiG RAC from blame and the cancelled order was adjusted through placements with the Russian Air Force. The design bureau is now coming back into its own with a revived order for MiG-31s from Russia as well as other countries and a hopeful scenario with respect to the IAF's MMRCA tender where it has a re-designated MiG-35 in contention.