Ukrainian company Ukroboronprom’s Odessa Aircraft Plant is continuing the repair and overhaul of the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence’s MIG-21 fighter aircraft in accordance with the original schedule.
Ukroboronprom deputy director general Oleksandr Stecenko said the plant and its co-contractors have managed to resolve all technical problems and have agreed to a working schedule that enables it to fulfil contract conditions on time.
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Around seven Croatian MIG-21 fighters are being overhauled by Ukraine’s State Company, Ukrspecexport, in Odessa, Ukraine, under a €13.9m contract signed with the Croatian Ministry of Defence in June 2013, as reported earlier by Flightglobal.
The contract also includes the supply of five new single-seat examples, which are being refurbished and equipped to Croatian Air Force specifications.
Stecenko said three upgraded MiG-21BIS fighters have already been shipped to Croatia, and are currently undergoing final assembly at the custumer’s air base, while the remaining three have also completed post-repair testing and run orientation flights by the Croatian air crew.
Two of the three MiG-21Bis jets are being prepared for shipment to Croatia, while the last one unit is under the painting stage, Stecenko added.
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By GlobalDataThe Croatian Air Force took delivery of the first upgraded MIG-21 BIS fighter at the Pleso Air Base in Zagreb, Croatia, in April.
Manufactured by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau, the MiG-21 is a supersonic jet combining both fighter and interceptor characteristics in a single aircraft, and is designed to conduct very short ground-controlled interception missions.
Having entered service between 1992 and 1994, the Croatian MiG-21 fighters are extensively operated for fighter / interceptor and training operations.
The aircraft is also operated by the air forces of Angola, Bulgaria, Egypt, Hungary, Libya, North Korea, Romania, Serbia and Vietnam, among others.
Image: Ukroboronprom has already shipped three MiG-21BIS fighters to Croatia, which are currently undergoing final assembly at the costumer’s air base. Photo: courtesy of Ukroboronprom.
