In 2004, India Will Start the License Production of the Su-3OMKI Combat Plane

As is expected, in 2004 India will start the license production of the Su-3OMKI combat plane which has been designed by the Russian AVPK Sukhoi (the Sukhoi Aviation Military Industrial Complex). Director General of the AVPK Sukhoi Mikhail Pogosyan spoke about it on Tuesday at a news conference for Russian and Indian reporters in RIA Novosti.

According to Mikhail Pogosyan, the process of the organization of the license production of a plane consists of two main stages. At the first stage the sides concert all license documents and then preparations for the production begin.

"From this point of view the year 2003 will be the most active for the AVPK Sukhoi. It will imply the deepening of cooperation with the enterprises of the Indian HAL corporation which will produce the planes," said the AVPK director general.

The two-seat Su-3OMKI plane is meant mainly for hitting ground targets.

At the same time, the Sukhoi has also worked out a one-seat variant of this combat plane which is meant primarily for hitting air targets. According to Mikhail Pogosyan, the one-seat modification of the plane will "have a smaller weight and a smaller price."

Mikhail Pogosyan also said that the Sukhoi will take part in the great international exhibition of aviation technology which will be held in Bagalore (India) from February 5 to 9.