The Hindu : Russia may allow India to export Sukhoi jets

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 23, 2002

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Russia may allow India to export Sukhoi jets

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI APRIL 22. Signalling a desire for deeper co-operation with the Indian aircraft industry, Irkut Corporation of Russia has said it will not object to India selling Sukhoi fighter jets to other countries.

``It is up to India to approach the Russian Government for an export licence,'' said the Irkut Chairman, Alexei Fyodorov. His company had allowed Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to manufacture 140 Sukhoi fighter jets (Su-30 MK `I' series) from 2004 after securing an order for 40 jets, some of which have already arrived at the Indian Air Force bases.

Irkut has already assured a role for the public sector defence major in case it is successful in a tender for the multi-purpose fighter aircraft floated by the Royal Malaysian Air Force.

Irkut has envisaged a larger role for HAL and two other Russian companies (Ilushyin and Rosoboron export) by involving them in design and production of a futuristic multi-functional transport aircraft (MTA) which should start rolling out in 2007. Described as ``an absolutely new event in Indo-Russian co-operation,'' the alliance is in conformity with the trend towards consolidation in the world aerospace industry.

Aware that the quartet — Irkut, Ilushyin, Rosoboronexport and HAL — have chosen the difficult path of taking on competitors from the west, Mr. Fyodorov indicated the possibility of roping in a European aerospace company for the project. With firm political backing from India and Russia, the Irkut chief was confident of the project taking shape in accordance with the time schedule envisaged by the four partners.

The cost of initial development has been estimated at about Rs. 1,500 crores and financing will be carried out on the basis of parity.

Irkut along with other Russian companies is planning to invest ``up to tens of millions of dollars'' in an assembly line at HAL's facility in Kanpur.

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