Alexander Velovich/MOSCOW
Russia and India are close to signing a deal for the lease of Beriev/MNIP A-50 airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft. The two are also near to concluding contracts for licence production of Sukhoi Su-30MK twin-seat multifunction fighters and equipment to update and equip a Russian aircraft carrier sold to the Indian navy.
A Russian delegation visited India in early October, when Col Gen Anatoly Kornukov, the Russian air force commander-in-chief, confirmed that the deals "are in the final stages of negotiations".
A member of the delegation says the Indian air force "may get an A-50 by the end of this year". Some Russian press reports also suggest that a lease of Tupolev Tu-22M3 Backfire long-range bombers to the Indian air force may have been discussed. It is believed that Moscow is ready to offer the aircraft overseas. Purchase of Backfires would be a major escalation of the arms race in the region.
The deal for licence manufacture of the Su-30MK by Hindustan Aeronautics has been in negotiation for three years. Sukhoi announced a deal in 1996 to sell the strike aircraft to India and deliveries have begun. Licence manufacture relates to a new batch.
A major contract for the modernisation of the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier and deliveries of naval fighters to the Indian navy - either MAPO MiG-29Ks or Sukhoi Su-33/ 27KUBs - is close to being signed. The contract is worth about $1.5 billion.
India wants to decide this month on its carrier fighter for the Gorshkov. Last month a high-ranking Indian air force pilot flew the Sukhoi Su-27KUB twin-seater, performing ramp-assisted take-offs and wire-arrested landings. The Gorshkov is thought to be too small for the Su-27/33, however.
MAPO stresses that the MiG-29K has a flight-test proven multifunction weapons control system integrated with a wide variety of guided air-to-ground and anti-ship weapons, while the naval Su-33 remains a pure air defence fighter with limited attack capability. The Indian navy is reluctant to become the sole operator of the MiG-29K, however.
Source: Flight International
