A new Indian production plant is about to begin producing the advanced Su-30MKI combat aircraft. A Russian design, the Su-30 is one of the most advanced and capable fighters in service anywhere in the world, equally capable of air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The two-pilot aircraft is massive, and carries a huge weight of armament s and fuel. These features can allow it to be used to penetrate deep into hostile Pakistani air space for strategic attacks.
The Su-30 is no stranger to the Middle East, having been exhibited at the UAE’s recent IDEX 2001 show, where it impressed participants with its capabilities and its shear power. India originally ordered 40 of the highly capable fighters, but has also secured a license to produce 140 additional planes locally. The combine force of at least 180 Su-30MKI aircraft will be a formidable weapon.
The agreement to transfer the Russian knowledge and machines for producing the Su-30 fighter to India was signed by Russian President Vladmir Putin on his visit to India last year. An important additional aspect of the deal is that India will also receive the technology to produce the Su-30s associated Al-31FP TVC engines. In addition to the licensing money paid in the weapons deal, India has also invested some $200 million in setting up the new production line.
The multi-role fighter jets will be built by Hindustan Aeronautics at Nasik, where a new production line is now about to launch production. HAL Chairman Nalini Ranjan Mohanty, who is also the Chief of the Sukhoi program, told India’s Financial Express newspaper earlier this month that HAL intends to produce 16 SU-30s annually, beginning March 2002. The current crisis with Pakistan may speed up this schedule. (www.albawaba.com)
