AMCA Program: Gliders India Limited, also called GIL tried to win the interest of the Egyptian Air Force. The Indian company is fully owned by the Government of India and works under the Ministry of Defence. At the event, GIL brought a new brake parachute system that it made on its own for the MIG-29M and MIG-29M2 fighter jets. The Indian team said the goal is to give Egypt a cheaper and faster option for these parts, which have been hard to get since Russian supply chains slowed down.
The new drag chute was developed at GIL’s Kanpur unit. Engineers there spent years working on a very light and strong design. GIL now says this parachute can directly replace the original Russian system on Egypt’s 46 MIG-29M and MIG-29M2 jets. These fighters arrived in Egypt between 2017 and 2020. The Indian team said the chute fits the aircraft without any changes, so the air force does not need to modify anything.
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Trials in India Build Trust
GIL said the parachute went through many tests before the team brought it to Egypt. It completed ground deployment tests and high-speed sled runs at DRDO ranges. Later, test pilots flew Indian Air Force MiG-29UPG jets with this parachute during 2024 and 2025. After the trials, GIL sources confirmed that the Indian chute is “fully interchangeable with the original Russian PPK-29 system without any aircraft modification.” This message was important because Egypt wants smooth support for its fleet without long engineering delays, reported IDRW.
Inside the India Pavilion, company officials also talked about the price. They said the Indian chute costs “30-35% lower than current OEM rates” and can be delivered much faster. They explained that new spare canopies can reach the user within 90 days of placing an order. Many buyers now wait 18 to 24 months for Russian supplies, so the shorter Indian timeline impressed visitors.
Strong Interest From Egypt
Members of the Egyptian delegation came to the GIL booth and spent a long time studying the canopy samples. Senior maintenance officers from the Egyptian Air Force asked many questions and checked the papers and drawings. Egypt has looked for new sources for MIG-29 spares because the war between Russia and Ukraine made parts difficult to get. India’s option now looks like a practical choice because it is cheaper, faster, and already tested.
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GIL also used the show to display other gear it makes. The company brought anti-G suits, items for ejection seats, and different types of delivery parachutes. These products already serve many African and Middle Eastern air forces. People in the industry said that technical talks have already started. They also said a deal might go forward soon under the defence cooperation agreement signed by India and Egypt in 2023.
