HAL to supply components for Sukhoi fighters to Russia

India and Russia are expected to sign an inter-governmental agreement on supply on components by the end of this year, a top HAL executive has said.

"We are already supplying navigation and communication equipment for installation on the Su-30MK series of fighters exported by Russia to other countries," GM of HAL's Nasik based Aircraft Manufacturing Division, V Balakrishnan said on sidelines of the International
Aerospace Show-MAKS-2009.

The new agreement would provide for expanding the inventory to include the supply of airframe components for the multi-role jets to be exported by Russia, he said.

Russia has supplied Su-30MK series fighters to Malaysia and Indonesia and there are plans to export this powerful weapons platform to Algeria and Venezuela, media reports said.

"Next year HAL will achieve 100 per cent indigenisation of the Sukhoi aircraft - from the production of raw materials to the final plane assembly. We're currently testing the locally produced engine for Su-30MKI and are planning to launch its production in 2010," Balakrishnan said.

"HAL will manufacture 60 Su-30MKI fighters in the full production cycle till 1015," Balakrishnan said.

The aerospace company has a long history of cooperation with Russian aviation industry since it started licensed production of MiG-21 fighters in 1960s, the best combat jet of the Cold War-era. It is now involved in the production of Su-30MKI, believed to be the world's best in its class.

HAL's stall at the MAKS-2009 was inaugurated by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin here.

The IAF is acquiring a total of 230 Su-30MKI multi-role jets by 2015, tailor-made to meet its requirements over next two decades. Under the Sukhoi deal HAL is to produce 140 jets under license involving 'deep' transfer of technology.

The work began in 2004 with the assembly of knockdown kits provided by Irkut Aircraft Corporation, now part of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC).