The World : India to Buy MIG-29 Jets

India has agreed to buy sophisticated MIG-29 fighter aircraft from the Soviet Union and to produce the plane in India, the United News of India reported. India would be the first country outside the Soviet Union to acquire this latest Soviet fighter, which is not given even to Warsaw Pact allies. The agency said that more than two squadrons will be bought, or about 24 to 40 planes, and that substantial numbers also will be produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. India has said that it needs MIG-29s to counter any threat posed by U.S. F-16 fighters sold to Pakistan.