India is to retain its controversial MiG fighter aircraft, dubbed the “flying coffin” after a series of fatal crashes.
At least 50 pilots have died in more than 100 MiG crashes over the last six years.
A Defense Ministry official said there were no plans to phase out use of the jets.
Work on upgrading the MiG-21s will continue and the entire fleet will be upgraded by 2005.
Defence Minister George Fernandes blamed the series of MiG crashes on human error, technical defects and collisions with birds.
He said the planes were checked before each flight and that every aircraft is "certified fully air worthy before a flight is undertaken.
“But fighter-flying, by its very nature, has certain inherent risks, which cannot be avoided altogether,” Mr Fernandes said.
Nine pilots died in 20 MiG aircraft crashes last year, while in 2001, 15 pilots were killed in 27 accidents.
The fleet of 125 MiG-21 aircraft forms the mainstay of India’s air force but frequent accidents have raised concerns about its safety.
Most of the MiGs that crash are repaired and put back into service.
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