The current state of Peru’s fighter aviation faces various challenges due to the aging of its equipment and the well-known difficulties in maintaining these units in service. Similar to the Mirage 2000s, the MiG-29 Fulcrum fleet is experiencing the inevitable passage of time while awaiting its replacement.
With the Peruvian Air Force’s future fighter program now in its final stages of selection, the institution has decided to extend the operational life of the Fulcrum aircraft despite the logistical challenges associated with maintaining Russian-made weapon systems since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022. Sixteen (16) of these aircraft were purchased second-hand from Belarus in 1996 for approximately $250 million, alongside the Su-25 Frogfoot attack aircraft as part of a modernization process undertaken after the Cenepa conflict in 1995.
With over 25 years of operations with these systems, including a large fleet of Mil Mi-8/17/171 helicopters, the Peruvian Air Force has significant experience with Russian/Soviet equipment. While other countries like Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, or Ecuador have opted to retire or store their Russian material, Peru will continue to operate it for the next few years, thanks in part to its technical capabilities and dedicated facilities for the maintenance of these aircraft, such as the CEMAE, which was inaugurated in 2021.
Regarding the situation with the Fulcrum, the General Commander of the FAP, General Carlos Enrique Chávez Cateriano, addressed this in a recent exclusive interview with Zona Militar. He stated, “The situation with all Russian material, not just the MiG-29s, is complicated. In Peru and globally. The fact that the main suppliers are in conflict has made support and maintenance tasks more difficult. This applies to all Russian systems, both airborne and ground-based. However, we have a good stock of spare parts, so these systems can operate for a few more years. But that too will come to an end, which I can’t estimate for now. In the meantime, like the Mirage 2000, we will try to keep them operational for a few more years.”
Unlike the Su-25s, which are being slowly refurbished by SEMAN SAC, the MiG-29s face a critical level of availability. This is due to the slow progress of their modernization program, which has since been halted, with few prospects for reactivation.
Similar to the Mirage 2000s, which will not be modernized, the MiG-29s will continue in service for several more years until the future fighter for the Peruvian Air Force is decided, with options being the Dassault Rafale, F-16 Fighting Falcon, or Saab Gripen. It is important to note that the combat capabilities of the Peruvian Air Force have significantly diminished in recent decades, given the progressive deactivation of several systems, including the Su-22 Fitter, Aermacchi MB-339, Embraer EMB-312 Tucano T-27, and Cessna A-37B Dragonfly.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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