IAF to trade in 18 SU-30K for SU-30MKI from Russia
Apr 12, 2007 (FIDNS)
Interfax reports that contract for the delivery of 18 Sukhoi Su-30MKI multi-role fighters manufactured by Irkut Corporation to India has been signed.
“Several days ago Rosoboronexport arms trader signed a contract for the delivery of 18 Su-30MKI multi-role fighters to the Indian Air Force,” a military diplomatic source told Interfax-AVN on Wednesday.
The source said the fighters will be delivered on a trade-in principle, implying that in return India will supply the Su-30K fighters that it is currently using.
Analysts estimate the contract to be worth about $700 million.
According to Kommersant, IAF’s Su-30K have an average record of about 1,500 flying hours and require an overhaul and upgradation costing $12 million (about Rs 51 crore) per aircraft. While a new Su-30 MKI costs $40 million (about Rs 171 crore). It writes that the 18 used fighters of IAF were originally planned to be purchased last year for resale to Belarus. Unofficial sources say the planes may have been intended for sale to Syria or Eritrea through Belarus. That deal fell through when Russia and Belarus came into conflict over the price of Russian natural gas. However, last month, Minsk denied that Russian weapons were being resold through Belarus to the Middle East.
Sorry, comments for this entry are closed at this time.