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Thursday 4 August 2011

Russia to supply India with fighter jets

Russia to supply new MiG aircraft to India
Tags: Russian-Indian relations, aircraft, aircraft industry, Business, Commentary, Russia, World
Nehay Oleg Aug 4, 2011 16:55 Moscow Time
Photo: RIA Novosti


Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG has started assembling carrier-based MiG-29K/KUB fighter jets to fulfill a contract concluded with India. It will supply a batch of 29 aircraft.

Corporation MiG is a leading fighter jet producer in the world. It produces multi-purpose ship-borne MiG-29 aircraft with one seat or two seats. India shows great interest in these aircraft says, the general-director of the corporation, Sergei Korotkov.

“Two years ago, India requested us to demonstrate the landing of MiG-29K/KUB fighter jets on a carrier cruiser and their attacking capability under a contract signed to purchase 16 aircraft. When we fulfilled it successfully, India gave the green light to deliver them. The corporation has supplied more than half of the consignment and the fighter jets are being used in India. They have over one thousand flight hours altogether. We will supply all aircraft under the contract by the end of the year. We signed another contract with India to supply 29 fighter jets. Today, we launched assembling these aircraft and started carrying out the second stage of the contract,” Sergei Korotkov said.

The MiG-29K/KUB was originally developed under a request submitted by the Indian Defence Ministry. This is a 4 plus-plus generation fighter jet that has an advanced air frame made out of composite materials.

Journalists got an opportunity to watch how the advanced jet is being produced at its presentation. Work is going on in a huge shop to carry out three export contracts. Besides ship-borne aircraft for India, fighter jets are being assembled in the shop for the Myanmar Air Force. The corporation will supply about 20 jets to Myanmar. At the same time, some of the aircraft previously supplied to India are being modernized, says the deputy general-director of the MiG Corporation, Vladimir Barkovsky.

“At present, we are modernizing Mig-29 fighter jets supplied earlier. We delivered more than 60 such aircraft. During the first stage four aircraft are being modernized in Moscow and another two in Nizhny Novgorod. At the same time, we will deliver modernization technology to India, and the corporation will supply complete sets for assembling,” Vladimir Barkovsky said.

The MiG-29 fighter jets are also being modernized for Peru and another two countries. The corporation is examining several other contracts. The modernization of an aircraft will cost up to 30 percent of the price of a new one. During the modernization, avionics will be replaced, new radar and additional weapons will be installed and the fuel tank will be expanded. In short, this trend in cooperation is quite promising and economically expedient.

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