Russian radar developer Phazotron-NIIR has inspected several Indian electronics companies to gauge their suitability to produce under licence advanced fighter radars, such as the Zhuk-ME and Zhuk-MA that equip the MiG-29M1/M2/K/KUB and MiG-35 respectively.
Phazotron-NIIR deputy general director and Zhuk-MA chief designer Yuri Guskov said at the Aero India 2007 air show this month that Astra, Icomm and Samtel have been screened for further consideration. He added that if India selects the MiG-35 following its tender for 126 fighters, series production of Zhuk-MA radars could be outsourced to a consortium of Indian companies.
"We are prepared to transfer 100% of the radar production to India should this be an Indian [defence ministry] requirement," Guskov said. He added that this also applies to the radar's active electronically-scanned array.
Source: Flight International