SpArK
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- May 5, 2010
- Messages
- 22,519
- Reaction score
- 18
- Country
- Location
'Super Sukhoi' Purchase Likely During Putin's India Visit
Sep 27, 2012 14:51 CET
Just months after India rejected Russias aircraft pitch in the multi-billion dollar MMRCA program; the two countries are expected to sign a new deal for the supply of 40 Su-30MKI fighter aircraft, upgraded to the Super Sukhoi configuration later this year.
An announcement could be made during Russian President Vladimir Putins state visit to New Delhi in November, sources told defenseworld.net.
India is looking to procure Super Sukhois, the latest version of the aircraft which will have a new cockpit, state-of-the-art radar with stealth features besides being able to carry a heavier weapons load including the air-launched version of the Brahmos cruise missile.
With the latest order, Indias fleet of Sukhois will reach a strength of 270 aircraft. With the MMRCA deal with winner Dassault still under negotiations, India plans to phase out 120 MiG 21s, making the Su-30MKIs the leading fighter aircraft for the IAF. The new super Sukhoi deal is estimated to be worth $3.77 billion with the first delivery expected during 2014-15.
India is relying on the air superiority role of the Sukhoi-30MKI aircraft to take on a variety of threats in the region including Chinese and Pakistani ground-attack aircraft such as Pakistani F-16s and the Chinese J-10 jets.
It is increasing the deployment of Sukhois in forward bases. Recently, the Indian Air Force located a squadron of SU-30MKIs to a forward base near the India-Pakistan border to replace an earlier squadron of MiG-23 Jets.
India has first begun buying off-the-shelf Su-30s from Russia in 1997. But, in 2000, began developing Sukhoi Su-30MKIs at home after Hindustan Aeronautics Limited began production under license from Sukhoi Design Bureau. The Su-30MKI has considerable Indian components in it.
A Defenseworld.net Exclusive
'Super Sukhoi' Purchase Likely During Putin's India Visit : Defense news