New Delhi, Aug 18 (IANS) A Rs.11,000-crore project has been proposed to upgrade the Su-30 MKI fighters of the Indian Air Force with the Russian help, the government said in parliament Wednesday.
‘There is proposal to upgrade the Su-30 MKI aircraft of the Indian Air Force by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) with the support of the Russian original equipment manufacturer,’ Defence Minister A.K. Antony said in the Rajya Sabha.
He said, ‘The current estimated cost is Rs.10,920 crore and the aircraft are likely to be upgraded in a phased manner from year 2012 onwards’.
Su-30s aircraft were inducted into the IAF in the late 1990s and at present six squadrons of the aircraft are in service.
The IAF is already upgrading its two main fighter aircraft fleet of 60 MiG-29s and is about to sign an around $2 billion deal with France to modernise its 50 Mirage aircraft.
The Jaguar, MiG-27 and MiG-21 fleets have already been upgraded by the force.
