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India to bolster Air Force, submarine fleet: Fernandes |
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India has said it will bolster its armed forces by stepping up indigenous production of submarines and Russian-designed Su-30 combat jets. Defence Minister George Fernandes said indigenous manufacture of the Su-30MKI, a variant of the Russian jet developed to suit Indian requirements, would begin during 2004-05.
The government had cleared a long-term plan for indigenous manufacture of submarines and “acquisition of national competence in submarine-building.”
In replies to questions in the upper house of Parliament, Fernandes said a deal signed with Rosoboronexport, Russia’s arms export monopoly, in December 2000 allowed the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to build 140 Su-30 aircraft under licence.
The deal, estimated to be worth $3 billion, covers the manufacture of engines and spares for the aircraft.
Fernandes said Russia would supply technical documents, specific equipment and tooling and technical assistance for preparing a detailed project report on the indigenous manufacture of the Su-30. Russian specialists will be deputed to the Indian project site and Indian engineers will be trained in Russia.
The submarine-building programme will be implemented in two phases. The first phase is scheduled for completion in 2012 and the second in 2030.
Fernandes said India was looking for “requisite assistance in high technology areas from foreign sources” for the submarine programme. “A final decision has, however, not been taken in this regard.”
India is known to be having talks with Russia and France for acquiring technology to revive its submarine-building line at the state-owned Mazagon Dockyard in Mumbai. The Russians have offered the Amur submarine, New Delhi has finalised an agreement in principle with France to build the Scorpene-class submarines.
Meanwhile, a batch of Russian-made Su-30 multi-role combat aircraft will join the Indian Air Force (IAF) in May. Air Chief Marshal S. Krishnaswamy said delays associated with the delivery of 50 Su-30 jets ordered by India from Russia had been overcome.
An unspecified number of the jets will be inducted into the IAF in May-June.
Russia has delivered only 18 of the 50 Su-30 jets ordered by India in two separate deals signed since 1996. Deliveries were delayed due to problems associated with integrating a complex mix of French, Israeli and Indian weapon and electronic systems with the Russian-designed jet.
The new batch of Su-30s set to join the IAF in May will be first aircraft specially modified to suit Indian requirements, IAF sources said. They have been designated the Su-30MKI and will be equipped with canards and thrust-vectoring engines, making them highly manoeuverable.
“The delays are behind us. The first batch of Su-30MKIs will be joining us in May, with 32 more to come according to a schedule drawn up last year,” Krishnaswamy said.
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