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Рубрики ВВС; Версия для печати

А еще индусы заплатят $2,5 млрд за модернизацию 50 Су-30МКИ

Rahul Bedi JDW Correspondent
New Delhi
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is to upgrade part of its Su-30MKI fighter fleet for an estimated INR109.20 billion (USD2.42 billion) by equipping the aircraft with advanced avionics and radar.
"There is a proposal to upgrade the IAF's Su-30MKIs by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) with the support of the Russian original equipment manufacturer," India's Defence Minister, A K Antony, told parliament on 18 August.
The aircraft are likely to be upgraded in phases from 2012 onwards, the minister added.
IAF sources said the airframes of the approximately 50 Su-30MKIs earmarked for the retrofit would also be strengthened. This will enable them to carry air-launched versions of the 292 km-range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile developed jointly by Russia and India's state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation.
Flight-tests of BrahMos, which is based on Russia's 3M55 Oniks/Yakhont system ('SS-N-26'), are expected to begin in 2011, with the IAF inducting BrahMos-armed Su-30MKIs a year later.
Russia's Irkut Corporation is currently modifying some Su-30MKIs in order to fit BrahMos under the aircraft belly and integrate it with the aircraft's fire-control system. The company is also strengthening the Su-30MKI's wings so that two additional missiles can be carried.
The Sukhoi induction into the IAF began in the late 1990s with 50 fighters - 18 of which were Su-30s - acquired for USD1.46 billion. These were later upgraded to Su-30MKI standard. Thereafter the Su-30MKI numbers continued to increase, with the Ministry of Defence agreeing in 2000 to license-produce 140 of them locally.
Another 40 fighters were added to the contract soon afterwards, of which HAL has so far handed over about 74 to the IAF.
In July the Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh cleared the procurement of an additional 42 Su-30MKIs for INR150 billion in a bid to bolster the IAF's fast-depleting fighter squadrons.
With this additional acquisition the total number of Su-30MKIs in the IAF will eventually be 272, making it the single largest type of fighter in the force.