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India First Country to Deploy Advanced Multi-Role Sukhois
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By IOL South Asia Correspondent
NEW DELHI, September 27 (IslamOnline)
– India Friday, September 27, 2002, became world's first country to
deploy the advanced multi role version of the Russian Sukhoi-30 MKI
military aircraft into the country’s Air Force.
The introduction of 10 upgraded
Sukhois was made at an impressive ceremony in the South-western city
of Pune, presided by Defense Minister George Fernandes and in the
presence of the IAF Chief S Krishnaswamy. Also present were aviation
experts from Russia, France and Israel.
India is the first country to get
these combat aircraft, considered to be the most potent fighters in
the region. The aircraft has a considerable indigenous content as
well. It is fitted with a laser-inertial navigation system which
permits it to fly in all weathers; day and night. The auto pilot makes
all phases of its flight automatic including the employment of its
weapons.
At present the Su-30 MKI is the
world's top line fighter. Other combat aircraft are measured against
it. Barring the F-22 (not yet operational) no other fighter in the
world is considered better than this aircraft.
Expressing happiness over the
introduction of Sukhoi fighter, the Defense Minister said that with
this, the IAF becomes one of the most formidable forces and it would
send a "proper signal to those people who look to India with an
evil eye".
The Su-30 MKI is the first Russian
fighter aircraft designed in collaboration with a foreign customer. It
is seen as the "ultimate" evolution of the highly regarded
Su-27 Flanker, which was first produced in the former Soviet Union
starting in 1982.
Air Marshal Krishnaswamy said the
Su-30 MKI aircraft are so special that no other country in the world
has a formidable aircraft to match this.
"With pressure building on the
border, having such an aircraft certainly gives an edge to our
country," he said. Fernandes said the first consignment of 10
Su-30 MKI aircraft was being introduced now and the second consignment
of 12 aircraft would be delivered by June 2003. The third consignment
of 10 aircraft will be completed by the end of 2003.
On completion of delivery of the
third consignment, Su-30K and the earlier variants of Su-30 MKI would
be upgraded to the standards of the third consignment, he said.
The Defense Minister said India has
also signed a contract with Russia for licensed production of 140
Su-30 MKI aircraft by Hindustan Aeoronautics Ltd (HAL) and added that
the Su-30 MKI fleet would eventually form the backbone of India's air
power in this millennium.
The new Sukhois are equipped with
variable thrust engines and state-of-art BARS phased-array radar.
India feels that it would be able to
establish its air superiority in the South Asian region when the
squadron becomes operational.
Earlier, the delivery of the aircraft
was marred by numerous delays due to unprecedented problems in
integrating avionics systems manufactured in India and some Western
countries with the Russian-built aircraft.
The Indian Air Force is the third
largest in the world. It presently has 833 fighter aircraft and
110,000 personnel. Technological strides in defense equipment
manufacture has enabled the country to produce aircraft indigenously.
However, defense cooperation with some countries, especially Russia,
helped India to gain technological know-how and the expert guidance of
its scientists in building its arsenal.
Ever since Pakistan became a nuclear
power, there has been a rush to modernize the Indian defense forces
and introduce high-tech gadgetry to establish military superiority in
the region which was eroded by the nuclear parity with Pakistan.
Keeping in view the traditional and
strategic partnership, India signed long-term defense deals during the
visit of the Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2000. The $3 billion
defense agreements included the licensed production of the Su-30 MK-I
fighter planes, 310 T-90 tanks and the aircraft carrier Admiral
Gorshkov. Particularly, the deal for the T-90 tanks was one of the
most important ones for countering the threat posed after Pakistan
acquired T-80 tanks from Ukraine.
The country’s defense forces are
likely to be equipped with the Kornet and Konkur anti-tank missiles
from Russia. Besides, agreements have been signed for medium-range
surveillance radars and thermal integrated observation equipment.
The Defense partnership between India
and Russia has a long history. Even in the post-Cold War phase, ties
between the two countries have strengthened. On June 12, 2000, the two
nations jointly tested the world's first supersonic cruise missile
with a range of 280 km from a vertical launcher. It has been developed
by Brahmos (Brahmaputra-Moscow), an Indo-Russian joint venture set up
in 1995.
Russia has invited India to
participate in the joint development and production of fifth
generation fighter, Light Frontline Fighter (LFF), also known as the
Su-37 Berkut. The project is likely to take more than a decade to
complete. If India invested in the PAK it would have access to cutting
edge aero space technologies that could give a lift to the aviation
industry back home.
At least four TU22M3 strategic
bombers are likely to be leased by Indian Navy for which negotiations
with Russian defense authorities are reportedly underway.
Besides, there are possibilities that
India may buy two unfinished nuclear submarines. The submarines are
equipped with 28 cruise missiles armed with nuclear or conventional
warheads with a striking range of 3,000 kms. Their construction was
stopped midway because of lack of funds.
Russia has also helped India in its
indigenous nuclear submarine program through which it could achieve
significant breakthroughs.
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