Sokol aircraft plant general manager Vasiliy Pankov says the upgrade programme of 125 MiG-21bis fighters for the Indian air force will be completed in 2002-3. This year Sokol will deliver 36 upgrade kits to Hindustan Aeronautics in Nasik, where the upgrade of the first batch of aircraft has begun. The contract is estimated to be worth more than $400 million, including deliveries of new air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons.
Source: Flight International
Eurofighter chief executive Giancarlo Mezzanotto expects the type’s recent sales renaissance to continue, with a potential follow-on deal with Saudi Arabia and opportunities in Poland and Turkey on the company’s radar.
India’s state-owned airframer Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) is grappling with delays in deliveries of GE Aerospace F404-IN20 engines for the Tejas Mk-1A fighter.
Boeing is flying four of the twin-engined fighter jets in displays at the UK’s Farnborough international air show, after which the aircraft will be turned over to the Qatari air force for delivery to Doha.
