The New Indian Express ·
Sukhois to pack Russian 'AWACS killer', Navy to build own warship engines in Rs 1.1L crore buy
NEW DELHI: Forty Su-30MKIs will be overhauled and modified to fire Russia's heavy R-37M long-range air-to-air missile, giving the Indian Air Force a dedicated weapon against high-value airborne targets like AWACS aircraft and aerial refuellers, under a Rs 1.1 lakh crore military buy cleared by the defence ministry on Monday. The package also clears development of an indigenous 24-28 MW marine gas turbine for the Navy's warships.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by defence minister Rajnath Singh, accorded "Acceptance of Necessity" (AoN) to the proposals, with the ministry saying around 98% of the procurement by value will come from Indian industry. AoNs are only the first stage, with technical evaluations, trials and negotiations still ahead. Major acquisitions then require the necessary government approvals, including from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), before induction.
For the Indian Air Force (IAF), the DAC cleared "various proposals to enhance the war-fighting capability of fighters, transports and helicopters". Sources said this includes the overhaul of 40 Su-30MKIs by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), twice the number the PSU had earlier proposed. The IAF operates around 260 Su-30MKIs, its mainstay fighter fleet, with the council having cleared the overhaul of Su-30 aero-engine aggregates in March.
