If the Indian Air Force accepts the proposal, it would generate another big contract for the Russian manufacturer as the Indian firm has to purchase ready to assemble kits for putting them together at its Nashik facility.
New Delhi (Sputnik): India’s aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has offered to produce 40 more Sukhoi-30MKI fighters for the Indian Air Force (IAF) at a cost lower than that of the multi-role fighter Rafale. The Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets will be equipped with the air-launched version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. HAL is currently producing the last batch of 23 Su-30 fighters, of the 222 it was mandated to build at its facility in Nashik, Maharashtra.
HAL has already absorbed the technology for building and supporting the Su-30. Now, the aim is to build those three new squadrons as quickly and cheaply as possible, Raju added.
Last December, the Indian defense ministry had assured HAL that production at Nashik would continue to flow even after the conclusion of the Su-MKI manufacturing activities.
The work has been underway to integrate BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles on 40 Su-30MKI jets at the Nashik facility, but HAL chairman Raju believes that instead of upgrading older fighters, with a shorter residual lifespan, it would be better to build three more squadrons of Sukhois capable of carrying BrahMos missiles.
The IAF is currently facing a shortage of at least eight squadrons (18-20 jets in a squadron) of fighter jets due to aging MiGs and delays in fresh procurement. The IAF desires the strength of some 42 combat squadrons by the year 2027-32 in order to meet the contingencies of a two-front war with China and Pakistan.