Jul 4, 2010

            The Cabinet Committee on Security cleared one of the biggest defence orders of recent times as per the Times of India valued at almost Rs 15,000 Crore for an additional 42 Sukhoi-30 MKI fighters. This will take the Sukhoi fleet of the Indian Air Force to 272 when all the aircraft are delivered by around 2018. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will begin manufacture of the 42 aircraft sometime in 2014, each costing in the range of Rs 350 Crore. The Su 30 order book started with 50 fighters, followed by licensed production of 140, to which another 40 were added. The present order for 42 fighters is up scaled from 40, with two more added to make up for the two crashed fighters. HAL has  delivered 23 fighters in 2009 and is expected to produce 28 in 2010. HAL has already supplied 74 Su 30 fighters.

            Induction of another 42 Su 30 would certainly take up the Russian made fighter inventory of the Indian Air Force along with the upgraded MiG 29. What is evident is that the expansion of the Su 30 MKI fleet has been necessitated by the slow process of acquisitions, therefore the IAF is going for repeat order of the Su 30 MKI which is within the laid down parameters for acquisitions. Whether this will create the right atmosphere for induction of MiG 35 in the race for the 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft remains to be seen for will India like to put all its eggs in the Russian basket will be a moot question?

JULY 2010

Related Article