The Indian Air Force (IAF) has begun the tectonic shift of making the Russian-built Su-30MKI fighter jets, worth Rs 55,717 crore, the mainstay of its inventory, replacing the vintage warhorse, MIG-21s.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has begun the tectonic shift of making the Russian-built Su-30MKI fighter jets, worth Rs 55,717 crore, the mainstay of its inventory, replacing the vintage warhorse, MIG-21s. Around 17 squadrons will be deployed along India’s border with Pakistan and China and also in the South to cover up the country’s southern flank up to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
In 1996, the IAF signed a $1,462-million (Rs 5,122 crore) deal with Russia for the delivery of 40 Su-30s and the associated equipment from the Irkutsk plant in a phased manner, spread over four years – from 1997 to 2000. Since then, there have been several follow-up orders, bringing the total number of fighters to 230.
After Russian President Vladimir Putin signed another major contract for supplies of the Su-30s to India during his visit in December 2012, the portfolio of contracted fighters was expanded to 272 machines, more than 150 of which have already been delivered to India.
The first Sukhoi base in the south India will come up at Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. On Monday, while dedicating to the nation the New Air Force Station at Thanjavur, defence minister AK Antony said: “Various sensitive, strategic, industrial, aerospace and economic assets are coming up in the southern peninsula and the station will play a vital role in providing protection to those assets.”
Senior IAF officers said plans are afoot to base SU-30 MKIs at Bhuj (Gujarat), Sirsa (Haryana), Kalaikunda (West Bengal), Hashimara (in West Bengal) and Thanjavur.
The Thanjavur station, which will become operational for the SU-30 MKIs in 2016-17, will also help protect island territories and sea lines of communication in the Indian Ocean Region(IOR). The IOR is economically and strategically important for both India and China, as nearly 70% of the trade of the two countries passes through the Sea Lanes of Communication in the IOR.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has begun the tectonic shift of making the Russian-built Su-30MKI fighter jets, worth Rs 55,717 crore, the mainstay of its inventory, replacing the vintage warhorse, MIG-21s. Around 17 squadrons will be deployed along India’s border with Pakistan and China and also in the South to cover up the country’s southern flank up to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
In 1996, the IAF signed a $1,462-million (Rs 5,122 crore) deal with Russia for the delivery of 40 Su-30s and the associated equipment from the Irkutsk plant in a phased manner, spread over four years – from 1997 to 2000. Since then, there have been several follow-up orders, bringing the total number of fighters to 230.
After Russian President Vladimir Putin signed another major contract for supplies of the Su-30s to India during his visit in December 2012, the portfolio of contracted fighters was expanded to 272 machines, more than 150 of which have already been delivered to India.
The first Sukhoi base in the south India will come up at Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. On Monday, while dedicating to the nation the New Air Force Station at Thanjavur, defence minister AK Antony said: “Various sensitive, strategic, industrial, aerospace and economic assets are coming up in the southern peninsula and the station will play a vital role in providing protection to those assets.”
Senior IAF officers said plans are afoot to base SU-30 MKIs at Bhuj (Gujarat), Sirsa (Haryana), Kalaikunda (West Bengal), Hashimara (in West Bengal) and Thanjavur.
The Thanjavur station, which will become operational for the SU-30 MKIs in 2016-17, will also help protect island territories and sea lines of communication in the Indian Ocean Region(IOR). The IOR is economically and strategically important for both India and China, as nearly 70% of the trade of the two countries passes through the Sea Lanes of Communication in the IOR.
0 Comments