<p>Five years ago, the IAF entered into an agreement with the HAL for the supply of 180 Su-30 MKI by 2014-15. “Out of the total 180 aircraft, 99 aircraft have been delivered till 2010-11,” Defence Minister A K Antony informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.<br /><br />But going by the information shared by Antony, HAL does not seem to be in a position to fulfill its contracted commitment, as its assembly line can produce only 16 aircraft every year.<br /><br /> This means in the remaining four yers, HAL can at best produce 64 aircraft and may require at least another year to deliver the 17 others. <br /><br />As per the initial contract between IAF and HAL approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security in December 2000, the Su-30 project was to commence from 2004-05 and be completed by 2017-18. <br /><br />In June 2005, Air Headquarters requested HAL to explore the feasibility of compressing the delivery programme by three years. HAL submitted a proposal envisaging compressed delivery of 140 aircraft within 2014-15, which was approved by the CCS in 2006 .<br /><br />Antony said his ministry was in the process of procuring six mid-air refullers from the global market. The ministry wants to conclude the contract in two and half years from the date of issuing the tender. <br /><br />Currently, India has six IL-78 mid-air refullers that have increased the IAF's strategic reach. An earlier defence ministry effort to purchase an European refueller did not fructify.<br /></p>
<p>Five years ago, the IAF entered into an agreement with the HAL for the supply of 180 Su-30 MKI by 2014-15. “Out of the total 180 aircraft, 99 aircraft have been delivered till 2010-11,” Defence Minister A K Antony informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.<br /><br />But going by the information shared by Antony, HAL does not seem to be in a position to fulfill its contracted commitment, as its assembly line can produce only 16 aircraft every year.<br /><br /> This means in the remaining four yers, HAL can at best produce 64 aircraft and may require at least another year to deliver the 17 others. <br /><br />As per the initial contract between IAF and HAL approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security in December 2000, the Su-30 project was to commence from 2004-05 and be completed by 2017-18. <br /><br />In June 2005, Air Headquarters requested HAL to explore the feasibility of compressing the delivery programme by three years. HAL submitted a proposal envisaging compressed delivery of 140 aircraft within 2014-15, which was approved by the CCS in 2006 .<br /><br />Antony said his ministry was in the process of procuring six mid-air refullers from the global market. The ministry wants to conclude the contract in two and half years from the date of issuing the tender. <br /><br />Currently, India has six IL-78 mid-air refullers that have increased the IAF's strategic reach. An earlier defence ministry effort to purchase an European refueller did not fructify.<br /></p>
