SU 30 Fighter to Be Central Exhibit of AERO India 2003

The Su-30 multi-purpose fighter will become the centrepiece of the Russian exposition at AERO India 2003 air show to be held in Bangalore on February 5-9.

According to Alexei Poveschenko, advisor to the general director of the Sukhoi aviation military-industrial complex, the objective of Sukhoi's participation in the exhibition is to present its products and offer upgrading and post-sale services in the region it considers one of the most promising.

Poveschenko stressed that the Sukhoi company had traditionally participated in international air exhibitions in Bangalore. The 2003 exposition will be made up of thematic blocs on both the Sukhoi aircraft and their functional elements - avionics, engines, aviation weapons. The exposition consists of real samples and models.

The exposition's centrepiece will be the Su-30MK training complex. It will also feature models of the Su 30 multipurpose super-manoeuvrable fighter, the Su 27SK fighter and an experimental aircraft with variable sweep of the wing. In addition, mock-ups of engine with controllable thrust vector and engine for trainer aircraft will be presented.

The exposition of Sukhoi aircraft weapons features "air-to-air" and "air-to-surface" missiles, along with a new missile will radar homing reed.

Apart from materiel, Russia will present in India samples of its civil aircraft - the Su 80 multi-purpose aeroplane and Be 103 light amphibious plane.

The first consignment of the Su 30MK for the Indian Air Force was supplied in June 2002. Meanwhile, the Su 30MKs of the second consignment are being tested in Russia. This project is unique - no other air force is equipped with serial fighters with controllable thrust vector. At last, it is the first time that Russia exports aircraft equipped with avionics manufactured in co-operation with Indian, French, and Israeli firms.

Bilateral co-operation in the aircraft construction sphere received an impetus in December 2000, when Russia signed a contract with India on the sale of licence for manufacturing the Su 30MK fighters and on-board equipment.

The contract provides for the transfer of relevant technical documentation. The license production of the Su 30MK will start in India in 2004, and a total of 140 aircraft will be constructed. This is the largest, $3-billion worth contract in the history of Russo-Indian co-operation.

The reconstruction of the Indian aircraft building plant to produce 10-15 SU 30MKs annually has been accomplished.

Alexei Poveschenko underlined that for Russia, manufacturing of the Su 30MK by Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) is a crucial project. Technologically, it is unprecedented in the history of Russo-Indian defence co-operation. Its implementation draws closer the technological bases of Russian and Indian aviation industries, from designer schools to production technologies.