Pune: CSIR-NCL Rejuvenates On-Board Oxygen Generation System for MiG-29 Fighter Aircraft
Pune, 25th October 2024: The CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL) has successfully rejuvenated the On-Board Oxygen Generation System (OBOGS) of the MiG-29 fighter aircraft, enhancing its performance and safety for high-altitude operations. This initiative, initiated in November 2023 at the request of the Indian Navy, was led by Dr. Vijay Bokade, Head of the Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry Division, along with Dr. Prashant Niphadkar and a team of research students.
The OBOGS unit in the MiG-29 plays a crucial role by providing a continuous oxygen supply to pilots operating at high altitudes. The system relies on zeolite material to selectively adsorb nitrogen and produce pure oxygen. However, prolonged exposure to moisture can diminish the zeolites’ effectiveness. The CSIR-NCL team developed an optimized rejuvenation process that significantly improved oxygen output in the OBOGS units from 30% to 85%, as confirmed by tests conducted at the Naval Aircraft Yard in Goa. This process was scaled up to rejuvenate approximately 54 kg of zeolite, enabling several MiG-29 aircraft to be successfully deployed with the enhanced systems.
Dr. Bokade expressed his pride in the project, stating, “It was a moment of immense pride and excitement to witness the flight of the aircraft after zeolite rejuvenation.” The indigenous development of zeolites at CSIR-NCL ensures the long-term functionality of the OBOGS units, setting a new benchmark for utilizing local research to tackle critical technological challenges in defense.
The rejuvenation efforts have been implemented for the Indian Navy, with aircraft successfully operating at high altitudes. Furthermore, CSIR-NCL has developed proprietary process technology for synthesizing oxygen-enriching zeolites, and the integration of these zeolites into MiG-29 aircraft is currently underway.
