Indian Air Force Likely To Ink Deal For New Sukhoi Su-30, MiG-29 Aircraft, Components With Russia

India is likely to cement several arms deals, including that of Sukhoi Su-30 MKI and MiG-29 fighters, with Russia in October at the next session of the Indo-Russian Intergovernmental Commission on Military Industrial Cooperation, reports AIN Online.

The deals could reportedly include a contract for 18 additional kits for the Sukhoi Su-30 MKI heavyweight multirole fighter for assembly at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) Nasik plant. The Su-30 deal would bring the number of such aircraft procured since 1999 to 240.

Besides, the IAF would receive “over 20” used MiG-29 lightweight interceptors from its Russian counterpart for their subsequent conversion into MiG-29 UPG multirole aircraft.

The additional Su-30 MKI and MiG-29 jets will add two more squadrons to the IAF fighter fleet, DNA has reported.

Earlier in July, Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) Deputy Director Vladimir Drozhzhov had said in Moscow that India has placed a request for an additional 18 Su-30 MKI kits and over 20 modernised MiG-29 aircraft.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will assemble the Sukhoi twinjet multirole air superiority fighters from the kits at its Ozar plant in Maharashtra's Nashik while the MiG will come in flyaway condition.