The Indian MiG-29 may receive the Astra Mk-II missile with a range of up to 200 km, but its own radar capabilities are significantly more modest. According to IDRW, the Zhuk-M2E radar system tracks enemy fighters from approximately 76–107 km. This means the missile can fly further than the aircraft can reliably track a target on its own, which limits the advantage of the new weapon.

External targeting could solve the problem. If the MiG-29 receives target data from an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, it can attack at a greater distance, using a data link to exchange information with the missile. But without such support, the range of the Astra Mk-II alone does not turn the fighter into a machine capable of effectively engaging an enemy at 200 km.

In its article, IDRW compares the capabilities of the MiG-29 with Chinese JF-17, J-10C, and J-16. According to the authors' calculations, when launched from 76 km, the probability of hitting a JF-17 with an Astra Mk-II missile is about 48% compared to 18% for the earlier R-77. This is a result of computer modeling, not real tests: the authors considered head-on air combat where the first participant to open fire forces the opponent to evade.

Against the more modern J-10C and J-16, the situation is more complex. Chinese aircraft are equipped with Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars and use PL-15 missiles. According to IDRW, even with external targeting, the MiG-29 will be able to approach parity, but not necessarily gain an advantage: the enemy retains the ability to detect and track the Indian fighter earlier.

Therefore, the authors believe that the MiG-29 needs not only a new missile but also a more advanced radar. As a possible direction for modernization, they name the Uttam Mk2 with AESA, which is planned for the carrier-based MiG-29K. The main problem for the Indian fighter is not the insufficient missile range, but the ability to detect the enemy and obtain data for an attack earlier than the enemy does.