India
pushes for stronger ties with Russia to support Su-30MKI fighters
Jon
Grevatt, Bangkok -
IHS Jane's Defence Industry
12 April 2017
India's
Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said stronger ties between Indian and Russian
aerospace companies are required to boost support for the Indian Air Force's
(IAF's) expanding fleets of Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft, which are
produced locally under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Citing
parliamentary comments by Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre, the MoD
said on 11 April that it has identified a total of 485 components and parts on
the Su-30MKI aircraft that could be produced by Indian private-sector companies
following technology transfers from Russia.
"Towards
this, 20 Indian vendors have been introduced to the Russian original equipment
manufacturers (OEMs) to find out the feasibility of transfers of technology in
the fields desired by Indian vendors," said the MoD.
It added that
it has requested Russia to consider permitting the OEMs to "establish
joint ventures or other means of localisation with Indian private industry
partners [to] manufacture [the Su-30MKI] spare parts through transfers of
technology".
The MoD's
moves to promote stronger industrial links to support the Su-30MKI were
revealed one year after India's state-owned HAL signed an agreement with
Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and United Engine Corporation (UEC)
to enhance after-sale support for the Su-30MKI aircraft.
The MoD said
this agreement had emphasised HAL's procurement of spare parts for the
aircraft. It added, "The agreement signed by HAL with Russian OEMs is for
the long-term supply of spares and rendering technical assistance for five
years [but] does not cover any technology transfers."
The MoD said
that despite this, the HAL-Russian agreement would enable the Indian company to
procure the required spares "based on the price catalogues directly from
the OEMs … and boost after-sales service by reducing lead time in procurement
of spares significantly".
In addition, Jane's reported
in January that HAL is in talks with Russian industry representatives about a
potential programme to produce more than 300 Su-30MKI line replaceable units
(LRUs).
Original
post: janes.com
Related post:
Su-30MKI: Details
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