Indians takes delivery of additional Su-30MKs

Published: 6/11/1999

Indian news agency, PTI, has reported that, on Monday 7th June 1999, Russia began the delivery of 10 Su-30MK aircraft to India, by airlifting the first batch of four aircraft. Under the terms of an additional $300m deal signed in 1998, the fighter jets, costing $30m each, are being sent to India aboard An-124s in “ undocked" shape. The aircraft will be reassembled in India by Russian technicians before delivery to the Indian Air Force. Russian defence sources told PTI that the Irkutsk aviation plant, IAPO, which manufactures the whole range of Su-30 aircraft, hopes to complete the deliveries of the 10 jets by the end of August 1999. In 1997, Russia supplied eight Su-30MKI to the Indian air force, as part of a $1.6bn deal for the supply of 40 Su-30MKI fighters. Meanwhile, the ongoing development plan for the MKI version continues. Moscow hopes to complete the deliveries of remaining 32 aircraft equipped with Indian, French and Israeli avionics, Russian thrust-vectoring engines and “smart" weapons within next three years under the deal, which was originally signed in November 1996. After the delivery is completed, Russia intends to upgrade the previously supplied Su-30MK to the MKI version, and transfer the licence for their manufacture at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd"s Nasik plant in India.

Article ID: 581