India and Russia are close to concluding a long-planned lease deal for four Tupolev Tu-22M3 Backfire bombers. Signing of a contract for the delivery of the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov and 40 RSKMiG-29K Fulcrums, however, isfurther away.
The lease announcement was made by Russian vice premier Ilya Klebanov during a visit to New Delhi. No firm date for a deal has been given, but a signing for the long-range bomber is expected during Indian prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's visit to Moscow next month.
Although the Backfire deal appears close to conclusion there is no mention of the sale or lease of weaponry. In Russian service, the aircraft is armed with the Raduga Kh-22 supersonic cruise missile, although India may be intent on integrating the air-launched version of the Indian/Russian-developed Brahmos, a version of the NPO Mashinostroeniye Yakhont supersonic anti-ship cruise missile.
India's deal to acquire the Gorshkov, the MiG-29Ks for its air wing and the bombers was initialled in October last year, but negotiations have subsequently dragged. The carrier was sold for scrap but its refit and the MiG-29Ks are expected to cost India in the region of $1.8 billion.
Source: Flight International
