RUSSIA - INDIA Military Contracts

Indian Air Force will receive 230 Su-30MKI fighters by 2015

13.07.2009

MOSCOW, July 10. (ARMS-TASS). The Indian Government plans to more than double the number of Russian fighters Su-30MKI in the composition of the Air Force, reported ANI with reference to the statement by Defense Minister AK Anthony Upper House of Indian Parliament. As expected, the total number of fighter aircraft of this type will, by 2015, 230 units.

Replying to parliamentary questions, the defense minister said that since the inception of the program purchase of fighter aircraft SU-30 Indian Air Force received 98 aircraft. By 2015, armed with plans to have a fleet of 230 fighter aircraft company Sukhoi. "

The start of deliveries of Su-30 India has been signed on 30 November 1996 a contract worth 1.462 billion USD, which supply the first 40 aircraft. The first flight version of the Su-30K had been transferred to the Indian Air Force in 1997. In 1998, ordered 10 more planes worth 277 million USD. In 2000, an agreement on the licensed production in India, 140 Su-30MKI fighters from Vehicle, which produces NPK Irkut. The cost of this contract is estimated at 3.5 billion USD.

By April 2006, the company handed over to the Indian Air Force Khal first eight fighter planes, assembled in India. Under this contract in the 2009-2013 biennium. must be made 98 cars (42 are already assembled). In the period 2010-2015 he worked. planned to license the production to 16 cars annually.

Last signed in 2007, the contact for the supply of ready 40 Su-30MKI planes estimated at more than 1.6 billion USD. Delivery is scheduled to perform until 2010.

Earlier, India had received 40 aircraft. In addition, existing agreements for the supply of 18 ready to fly the Su-30MKI instead initially received less than 18 aircraft of the type Su-30K.

In January of this year, two Su-30MKI fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force were sent to Russia for upgrading, which will enable them to perform start-up version of a supersonic air-launched cruise missiles BraMos.

According to the Defense Minister of India, "Dry" is one of the most advanced fighter in the world and most of India meets the environmental conditions and requirements of Indian Air Force.
10.07.2009

Права на данный материал принадлежат АРМС-ТАСС

Of course they buy more. Su-30MKI is one of the most advanced planes in the world.

Severodvinsk shipbuilders received orders for the fifth upgrade the diesel-electric submarine of Indian Navy
27.07.2009
ARKHANGELSK, July 24. (ITAR-TASS). The fifth diesel-electric submarine (DEPL) Navy modernize India in the ship repair center "Zvezdochka in Severodvinsk, the head of the press service of the company Hope Scherbinina.

According to her, the director, "star" Vladimir Nikitin signed a protocol in India working on the deployment of an enterprise for the repair and modernization of submarines "Sindurakshak" ( "Sea-giant"). "In August of specialists" star "will leave for India to conduct a technical inspection of the ship. In Severodvinsk submarine delivered to the transport ship, tentatively in June 2010", - said Scherbinina.

"Asterisk", which specializes in the repair and disposal of nuclear submarines, upgraded the stocks to its four DEPL on the order of the Navy of India. The company also continues to work on the renovation and modernization of this submarine "Sindukirti" in place of her home - the city Vizakhapatnam.

All of these Russian built submarine Project 887 EKM (by NATO - "Kilo"), developed in the CDB for Marine Engineering "Rubin" (St. Petersburg). They are intended to counter enemy submarines and warships, as well as for the defense of naval bases, coastal and marine communications, reconnaissance and patrol activity. These submarines have a displacement of 2300 tons, a length of 72,6 m, speed 19 knots underwater course (about 35 km / h), depth 300 m, crew of 52 persons, self-navigation 45 days. Armament: six torpedo tubes 533 mm caliber. As a result of modernization on the boat set the current range of cruise missiles "Club-S" a range of about 200 km, as well as contemporary Indian hydro-acoustic equipment and radio system.

http://www.itar-tass.com/

Bringing its number of Su-30MKI to 320. Incredible number and decision as they oredered 40 of them only recently.
Also besides 80 Mi-171 40 more are expected to follow throw. Anyway enjoj.

50 more Su-30MKI

it seems India's plan is to reach a parity with China ... buying more stuffs while developing their own

Vladislav wrote:Of course they buy more. Su-30MKI is one of the most advanced planes in the world.

MIGHTY FIGHTER FOR MIGHTY AIRFORCE...

This I think is connected to main topic:


India set to buy 42 more Russian Su-30 fighter jets

RIA Novosti

02/03/201016:05

NEW DELHI, March 2 (RIA Novosti) - India and Russia are negotiating a new contract on the delivery of 42 Su-30MKI to the Indian Air Force, an Indian newspaper reported on Tuesday, citing military sources.

According to the Daily News and Analysis newspaper, the new deal, which is reportedly worth more than $3 billion, has been in the works for several months.

The new air-superiority fighters will come on top of the 230 already contracted from Russia in three deals worth a total of $8.5 billion.

"The [new] order is being placed due to the insufficient number of fighter squadrons in the Indian Air Force and would allow us to eliminate potential threats," a source in the Indian Defense Ministry told RIA Novosti.

India originally ordered 50 Su-30MKI aircraft from Russia in 1996-98 and an additional 40 planes in 2007. Hindustani Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) was also contracted to build 140 aircraft in India between 2003 and 2017 under a licensed production agreement.

The Indian Air Force currently has about 100 Su-30MKIs, mainly deployed at airbases close to the borders with China and Pakistan.

Analysts believe that India will remain the main purchaser of Russian-made combat aircraft for the next 15 years under existing and future contracts, as the country desperately needs to upgrade its fighter fleet, which includes Su-30MKI and MiG-29 fighters, but mainly consists of obsolete Soviet MiG-21 models.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/india/2010/india-100302-rianovosti01.htm

Russian Patriot wrote: This I think is connected to main topic:


India set to buy 42 more Russian Su-30 fighter jets

RIA Novosti

02/03/201016:05

NEW DELHI, March 2 (RIA Novosti) - India and Russia are negotiating a new contract on the delivery of 42 Su-30MKI to the Indian Air Force, an Indian newspaper reported on Tuesday, citing military sources.

According to the Daily News and Analysis newspaper, the new deal, which is reportedly worth more than $3 billion, has been in the works for several months.



The new air-superiority fighters will come on top of the 230 already contracted from Russia in three deals worth a total of $8.5 billion.

"The [new] order is being placed due to the insufficient number of fighter squadrons in the Indian Air Force and would allow us to eliminate potential threats," a source in the Indian Defense Ministry told RIA Novosti.

India originally ordered 50 Su-30MKI aircraft from Russia in 1996-98 and an additional 40 planes in 2007. Hindustani Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) was also contracted to build 140 aircraft in India between 2003 and 2017 under a licensed production agreement.

The Indian Air Force currently has about 100 Su-30MKIs, mainly deployed at airbases close to the borders with China and Pakistan.

Analysts believe that India will remain the main purchaser of Russian-made combat aircraft for the next 15 years under existing and future contracts, as the country desperately needs to upgrade its fighter fleet, which includes Su-30MKI and MiG-29 fighters, but mainly consists of obsolete Soviet MiG-21 models.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/india/2010/india-100302-rianovosti01.htm

Its little bit confusing for me .Can you please tell me ,how many it(india) will procure..I mean what will be the total strength of su-30mki..
thanx

270 Su-30MKIs so far.

Im little puzzled why they did not order Su-35BM .. or ?

i thought they were considering that sexy beast of a jet - mig-35? or is this seperate? shit load of planes in any case...

crod wrote:i thought they were considering that sexy beast of a jet - mig-35? or is this seperate? shit load of planes in any case...

Cozz MIG- has not jet finished development of its 35 I dont thing its stands a good chance with MRCA althrow it does have its advantages.

But the funny part is that MRCA continues to delay while at the meantime India has time limit to introduce new fighters thus buying more and more of Su-30MKI.

So at the end of the story it could end up with 400 Su-30MKI strong airforce and canceled MRCA contest. LOL

Viktor wrote:

crod wrote:i thought they were considering that sexy beast of a jet - mig-35? or is this seperate? shit load of planes in any case...

Cozz MIG- has not jet finished development of its 35 I dont thing its stands a good chance with MRCA althrow it does have its advantages.

But the funny part is that MRCA continues to delay while at the meantime India has time limit to introduce new fighters thus buying more and more of Su-30MKI.

So at the end of the story it could end up with 400 Su-30MKI strong airforce and canceled MRCA contest. LOL

India has falling squadron numbers so they need MMRCA to fill the gap. They only make 14 MKIs per year at present with a max of 16 planned.

Russia, India to sign $4 billion military technical cooperation contracts

RIA Novosti

04/03/201011:45

MOSCOW, March 4 (RIA Novosti) - Russia and India are expected to sign three contracts in military technical cooperation totaling $4 billion, including retrofitting the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier during Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's visit to India, Vedomosti Russian daily reported.

A $2.35-billion contract between Russia's state-controlled arms exporter Rosoboronexport and the Indian Defense Ministry on refitting the INS Vikramaditya (Admiral Gorshkov) and the $1.2-billion contract on delivery of MiG-29K/KUB carrier-based fighters will be signed during Putin's visit to India on March 11-12.

The Vikramaditya is currently undergoing repairs and refit at the Sevmash shipyard in Russia.

The initial refit agreement of $970 million went up to additional $1.5 billion India is expected to allocate to Sevmash shipyard which already expended the money that was allocated for the Vikramaditya's refit.

DNA India said that the countries might also sign an agreement on nuclear reactors in Kudankulam and in Haripur, a new nuclear park in West Bengal.

Further agreements will include fifth generation fighter aircraft project developed jointly by both countries, and work on a multi-role transport aircraft.

India has a long history of defense relations with Moscow. The current cooperation program until 2010 comprises about 200 joint projects, including the modernization of the Vikramaditya for the Indian Navy, the transfer of technology for the licensed assembly of T-90 tanks in India, the production of BrahMos missiles and the purchase of Smerch MLRS by India.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/india/2010/india-100304-rianovosti01.htm

Well its a good deal to finished once and for all those troubling deals and turn the new page.

Now with carrier and Il-38 deal done only thing that remaines is nuclear sub deal witch will be delivered by this year meaning new page in relations and doing bussines with Indians.

Yes, hopefully our contracts forfill!

Russia and India sign major military, nuclear deals

RIA Novosti

12/03/201020:17

MOSCOW, March 12 (RIA Novosti) - Russia and India signed on Friday a host of high-profile deals during Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's working visit to the country.

The visit kicked off late on Thursday, amid many expectations as well as big money.

New fighter jet contract
Russia and India have signed a $1.5-billion contract on the supplies of 29 more MiG-29K Fulcrum-D carrier-based fighter jets to New Delhi.

The start of the supplies is scheduled for 2012.

The two countries signed an earlier contract stipulating the supply of 12 single-seat MiG-29Ks and four two-seat MiG-29KUBs to India in January 2004. The contract is part of a $1.5-billion deal to deliver the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier, currently being retrofitted in Russia for the Indian Navy.

India's first MiG-29Ks and MiG-29KUBs officially entered service earlier this year.

Indian and Russian officials said a contract on the joint development of the new fifth-generation fighter would be signed within the next few months.

Gorshkov deal

The two countries have also signed a deal on upgrading the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier, following an earlier statement from the Indian government's security committee that it would allocate $2.3 billion to retrofit the ship.

The initial refit agreement of $750 million went up by an additional $1.5 billion. In line with the contract, the aircraft carrier will be handed over to India by 2012.

The Admiral Gorshkov is a modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier, originally named Baku. The ship was laid down in 1978 at the Nikolayev South shipyard in Ukraine, launched in 1982, and commissioned with the Soviet Navy in 1987.

It was renamed after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. In 1994, following a boiler room explosion, the Admiral Gorshkov sat in dock for a year for repairs. In 1995, it briefly returned to service and in 1996 was finally withdrawn and put up for sale.

The ship has a displacement capacity of 45,000 tons. It has a maximum speed of 32 knots and an endurance of 13,500 nautical miles (25,000 km) at a cruising speed of 18 knots.

Glonass project


Russia and India have signed several deals to establish a joint venture to produce navigation equipment for GPS and its Russian equivalent Glonass, including the use of the Glonass system for defense needs.

"We have signed a deal on the use of the Glonass system, specifically on commercializing this system, that is, the production of equipment. The second deal [is concerned with] the use of the Glonass signal for defense needs," Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said.

Glonass - the Global Navigation Satellite System - is the Russian equivalent of the U.S. Global Positioning System, or GPS, and is designed for both military and civilian use. Both systems allow users to determine their positions to within a few meters.

The Glonass navigation satellite system is expected to start operating worldwide by the end of 2010. As soon as global operations are launched, India will be able to use the civilian signal, allowing users to determine their position to within five to 15 meters.

India could offer new NPP construction site to Russia

India could provide Russia a third site for the construction of new nuclear power plants.

"There is Haripur, there is Kudankulam, and there will be another," said Sergei Kiriyenko, head of Russia's state-controlled nuclear power corporation Rosatom.

He did not indicate where the new site could be located.

He said a total of 12 nuclear power units are to be built at the first two sites.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said that under the new array of agreements just signed, up to 16 reactors would be built on "three construction sites."

SK Jain, chairman and managing director of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL), said Wednesday India had "an overall plan up until 2050" and in this context Russian participation was seen as "important."

He added that the cost of the reactors was $1,600 per kilowatt.

Russian company Atomstroyexport has been building two reactors for the plant since 2002 under a 1988 Indian-USSR deal.


http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/india/2010/india-100312-rianovosti01.htm

Komrade Putin just inked a deal in New Delhi last week o the supply of 29 Mig-29K's along with the refitted/ refurbished Gorshkov.

So with this Mig-29K deal whether the IAF gets the MRCA Mig-35's or OVT's..........the Mig bureau has some business to keep it going.

The sweet deal for okb Mig will be to secure the 126 fighter contract to supply the IAF with additional modern Mig-29's in the shape of the MRCA/ OVT/ 35.

Who knows where India will tilt now...(may be these Indians might wanna buy the F-16I/ F-18E/F)....but Putin was confident that he was a good salesman for okb Mig for this 126 fighter supply contract to India....ofcourse with TOT as part of the package.

To be clear the Gorshkov deal included 16 Mig-29Ks with the option to buy more later.
What Putin has just inked is a deal for the Indians to buy a further 29 Mig-29Ks to use on other carriers too.
Added to that the Russian Navy wants to replace its aging Su-33s and since the Su-33 is no longer in production and the Mig-29K is in production for the Indians the RuN is ordering twenty something (26 from memory) Mig-29Ks for itself.

Mig is also upgrading the existing Mig-29s in Indian service which includes new engines etc.

Regarding the MMRC it really comes down to the purpose of the competition.
If the Indians want to simply diversify its fleet then the F-18 might appear to be a good option, but I have suspicions about TOT (Transfer of Technology) and strings attached to its use... ie OK to use against China, but not Pakistan etc.
If the purpose is a lightish fighter to make up numbers as the Mig-21s are withdrawn then I think the Mig-35 would be a good buy, but I am of course biased.

As the Indians found with their Sea Kings, some suppliers are happy to impose sanctions which makes managing an armed force difficult if you main numbers fighter can't be used because the country you bought them from is in bed with the country you want to use them against.

Garry, lets be honest. India is a far more robust a customer with a far greater and growing economic clout with Western nations than this pathetic Pakistan can ever be.

The new deal with Putin envisages no fewer than 29 mig-29K's to be permanently based on the Gorshkov as the old relic called the INS Viraat with its complement of ancient Sea Harriers is retired into a floating museum in Bombay.

The Indian Navy is both China and Pakistan specific.

And ofcourse the TOT has gotto be part of the F-18E/F or even the MRCA contract or its a no go period. India will not accept half ass'd packages like Pakistan does (the F-16 block-15 debacle with the PAF) as a fine example of what happens when sanctions are imposed.

I also don't honestly believe that these 126 new aircraft have the potential or the capability to replace more than 500+ Mig-21FL's/ M's/ Bis's and Bison's in service with the IAF currently. India would for sure want to purchase 126 new aircraft from whoever, but also would want to manufacture under license another 126 at least to boost numbers to even begin to replace the Mig-21's alone in service with the IAF.

There is no question that India is a valued friend of Russia.

I was going to say customer but that wouldn't be accurate.

In many areas it is a true partner making more than just monetary contributions.

The extra Mig-29Ks will not be going on the old Viraat, but on the new carriers they are getting built.

The TOT will ensure that India has real control over the aircraft it eventually decides on.

In comparison even best friend of the US the UK doesn't get the software access to the F-35. This means if the UK wants to integrate a weapon to allow it to be used they have to send it to the US and hand over its secrets to integrate it into the F-35s weapon suite. No doubt they will have to pay the US for this privilege and of course the US can offer third parties access to use this weapon too.

Iran was of course very happy with F-14s but I think they are not satisfied with the support they got after they made changes to their government they were perfectly entitled to make.

I think the real purpose was to be a stopgap to fill some of the retiring units hangars with the ultimate solution the LCA for overall numbers.

From what I have read their ideal solution would have been 100-200 Mirage 2000s, but they are out of production and France will only offer the much more expensive Rafale.

As such what they really need is something light and low cost like a Gripen but that might end up threatening the LCA, so they have made some demands that make the aircraft heavier and actually less suitable for the job.

Personally I think 300 Mig-29SMTs with the upgrades to reduce operational costs by 40% would have made rather more sense as a stop gap measure especially as India is already making Mig-29s and is buying Mig-29Ks.

Of course if they are buying political favours then they will buy F-18s, but the US is fickle at the best of times and I wouldn't trust them with any significant percentage of my air fleet.

GarryB wrote:There is no question that India is a valued friend of Russia.

I was going to say customer but that wouldn't be accurate.

In many areas it is a true partner making more than just monetary contributions.

The extra Mig-29Ks will not be going on the old Viraat, but on the new carriers they are getting built.

The TOT will ensure that India has real control over the aircraft it eventually decides on.

In comparison even best friend of the US the UK doesn't get the software access to the F-35. This means if the UK wants to integrate a weapon to allow it to be used they have to send it to the US and hand over its secrets to integrate it into the F-35s weapon suite. No doubt they will have to pay the US for this privilege and of course the US can offer third parties access to use this weapon too.

Iran was of course very happy with F-14s but I think they are not satisfied with the support they got after they made changes to their government they were perfectly entitled to make.

I think the real purpose was to be a stopgap to fill some of the retiring units hangars with the ultimate solution the LCA for overall numbers.

From what I have read their ideal solution would have been 100-200 Mirage 2000s, but they are out of production and France will only offer the much more expensive Rafale.

As such what they really need is something light and low cost like a Gripen but that might end up threatening the LCA, so they have made some demands that make the aircraft heavier and actually less suitable for the job.

Personally I think 300 Mig-29SMTs with the upgrades to reduce operational costs by 40% would have made rather more sense as a stop gap measure especially as India is already making Mig-29s and is buying Mig-29Ks.

Of course if they are buying political favours then they will buy F-18s, but the US is fickle at the best of times and I wouldn't trust them with any significant percentage of my air fleet.

Garry, India is being built up by both Russia and the U.S. as a bulwark against the rising power of China. Everyone seems to be afraid and more like stunned by the insatiable Chinese appetite for growth and development. They truly seem unstoppable for now. If you read into the U.S./ India bilateral energy and technology transfer agreement signed by Manmohan Singh and that idiot Bush, you will quickly realize that in addition to providing your standard Siemens/ Bechtel model of NPP's India will have access to highly enriched plutonium and thus the main ingredient toward miniaturization of nuclear warheads. This is a prop and a warning shot to China that the powers are warily looking towards China. And ofcourse India's emerging 300 mil strong middle class wants blue jeans, soap, washing machines and I-phones too. The good news being that this new Indian middle class are a paying customer for western multi-national conglomerates with lots of future business potential.

So far only Putin has offered full TOT with the Mig-29OVT/ 35/ MRCA package. This is the only package on offer which has no strings attached as Russia seems confident that these new mig-29's offer India the best bang for the buck, which neither the U.S. nor the Euro-crats can manage.

I also agree that 300 upgraded mig-29's with Bars and RVV-AE capability and the all the MFD technology from Sextant Avionique, Indian databuss and mission computers and EW systems from Elta et al, just like the Su-30MKI package, is what will have India rolling along just fine.

P.S. As far as the F-14 goes....despite the IRIAF's good tomcat record against the Iraf, the Tomcat was a terrible warplane. I happened to know a former Tomcat RIO from my Plastic Scale modeling chapter back in Chicago (IPMS Mcinstry). He told me things that you can't even imagine about the F-14........It was just a shit of an aircraft period.

Things such as:

Maintained by 18 to 25 year old navy teens and adolescents with pathetic IQ's and no background or training in aircraft maintenance.

Having personally seen I-beams in critical stress areas....just welded all along to prevent a catastrophic failure. Each hard carrier slamming produced a lot of hairline cracks all over the critical structural bulkheads and stringers. Hundreds of F-14's were written off in non combat accidents and attrition with the both the IRIAF and the USN.

The notorious flame out issue of the shitty TF-30's never really got resolved man! At above 20,000 feet the throttle stayed put or else.....any jinking at or above that altitude would also generally snuff out the port TF-30. And it didn't restart no matter what you did.

The HE behind the RIO seat was notorious for bursting a coil and spraying hot coolant down the back of the RIO.....It happened to him once scalding his back very badly. He thought he was going to actually die that evening. The ass-hole who poorly designed the package to remove the massive heat from an operational AWG-9 was on drugs as his heat load was way off, and due to space constraints in the radome a retrofit never properly materialized. It was always a ghetto fix!

Proof of the AWG-9/ Aim-54's appalling lack of success is evident in the number fired by both the IRIAF and the USN in anger against Iraqi AF warplanes......with less than 10% success/ confirmation of kills.

You see Garry.....a lot of what they state in published literature and hyped combat capabilities of 'Western combat systems' is really what it is......It is all trumped up hype and largely bullshit!

Garry, India is being built up by both Russia and the U.S. as a bulwark against the rising power of China. Everyone seems to be afraid and more like stunned by the insatiable Chinese appetite for growth and development.

First of all I agree that the US is certainly trying to use India against China, they have a history of that... they used China against the Soviet Union not so long ago.
The real problem is the Americans have infected the Chinese with consumerism.

It was bad enough when 300 million people were consuming at a rate comparable to hundreds of people from other countries like the US was, but as that culture spreads the question posed is can the Earth handle it when 1.5 billion Chinese act like 300 million Americans?

It seems that the US's solution of doing the same to India will make everything even worse.

I remember watching a documentary where a woman was interviewing a guy that worked for some American car maker and the guy, who was sitting next to a window pointed out at all the cars in a Chinese city and said when he arrived 10 years before it was wall to wall bicycles and he was showing the wall to wall cars as being progress for China. He said he still had a long way to go because most of the cars are in the cities and they (car makers) haven't made a dent in the rural population.

Little wonder the price of oil got so high.

The bottom dollar is making money, nothing else matters.

If the US is "helping" India at the moment it is for a reason, and that reason will have nothing to do with what is best for the people of India and everything to do with what is best for American big business.

...And ofcourse India's emerging 300 mil strong middle class wants blue jeans, soap, washing machines and I-phones too. The good news being that this new Indian middle class are a paying customer for western multi-national conglomerates with lots of future business potential.

I am old enough to recognise the pattern.

When I was a kid the cheap crap that broke not long after you got it because it was poorly made or poorly designed came from Japan. Then it came from Taiwan. Malaysia. Indonesia. Now China. The pattern has been the west finds a place where labour is incredibly cheap and they set up factories to make stuff at rock bottom prices. Pretty soon however the wages mean the standard of living increases and higher wages are sought and locals start getting a bit of money and soon it is not so cheap so they move somewhere else. The only solution for the locals is to go high tech or luxury items. Sometimes they make it (Japan and Taiwan) and sometimes they dont.
Now things bought from Japan are usually high quality, as are products from Taiwan.

What I am trying to say is that perhaps the US is trying to shift the "Made in China" to "Made in India".

So far only Putin has offered full TOT with the Mig-29OVT/ 35/ MRCA package. This is the only package on offer which has no strings attached as Russia seems confident that these new mig-29's offer India the best bang for the buck, which neither the U.S. nor the Euro-crats can manage.

Actually there are strings attached to the Russian deal... while India is such a close ally the Russians will not sell their best stuff to China or any military stuff to Pakistan.

I also agree that 300 upgraded mig-29's with Bars and RVV-AE capability and the all the MFD technology from Sextant Avionique, Indian databuss and mission computers and EW systems from Elta et al, just like the Su-30MKI package, is what will have India rolling along just fine.

The point is to make them slightly worse than the LCA so as not to compromise its development. When the LCA becomes available you can keep best standard Migs in service and use the extras in storage for attrition spares for wartime or airfield hacks.

P.S. As far as the F-14 goes....despite the IRIAF's good tomcat record against the Iraf, the Tomcat was a terrible warplane. I happened to know a former Tomcat RIO from my Plastic Scale modeling chapter back in Chicago (IPMS Mcinstry). He told me things that you can't even imagine about the F-14........It was just a shit of an aircraft period.

It is strange that some seem to idolise it and others feel the opposite way.
The Iranian model (F-14A) did have bad engines and its main missile (early model Phoenix) left something to be desired with regard to use against a serious opponent.

...a lot of what they state in published literature and hyped combat capabilities of 'Western combat systems' is really what it is......It is all trumped up hype and largely bullshit!

I very much agree. The F-16 might take a 7 ton payload and fly at mach 2 and have an airframe life of x thousand hours and be able to pull 9 g, but not all at once.
If you fly in peacetime you don't pull more than 5 gs or it reduces airframe life by 60%. You can get airborne with 7 tons of weapons but you wont be going very far.

Look forward to discussing things with you lulldapull...

Rs 15,000 crore Sukhoi deal cleared
Josy Joseph, TNN, Jun 26, 2010, 01.13am IST

NEW DELHI: The Cabinet Committee on Security earlier this month quietly cleared one of the biggest defence orders of recent times.

The almost Rs 15,000 crore order for an additional 42 Sukhoi-30 MKI fighters would add up the total number of these modern Russian fighters for Indian Air Force to 272.

When the entire Sukhoi-30 MKIs, including the 42, are delivered to IAF by around 2018, it would become the single largest type of fighters in service, marking a huge technological transition from the dominance of MIG-21 fighters today.

A senior official said the CCS cleared the new order in the first week of June.

By the time HAL begins manufacture of the 42 aircraft sometime in 2014, each of them would cost in the range of Rs 350 crore, according to present day projections.

The new order for Sukhoi-30 MKIs comes even as attention is fully on the tender floated by the Air Force for $10 billion worth 126 MMRCA (medium multi role combat aircraft). But by the time the MMRCA enters the service, it would be the Sukhoi-30 MKI that would actually be the dominant fighter of the Air Force. And the combined contract value of SU-30 MKIs would be more than double that of the MMRCA.

The Su-30 MKI was originally contracted in 1996, when the Russian military-industrial complex was in a shambles after the Soviet Union collapsed. Its design and capabilities, however, continues to impress globally.

The initial contract was for 50 fighters, at $1.46 billion. Over the years, the numbers kept increasing. In 2000, the government contracted the licenced production of 140 of these highly advanced fighters by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Then another 40 were added to the contract.

The present order for 42 fighters was originally supposed to be 40, but two more were added to the order book to make up for the two crashed fighters. A senior official said that HAL is expected to complete all the SU-30 MKI orders by 2016-17 period.

HAL has been steadily stepping up its Sukhoi-30 MKI delivery schedules. While last year it delivered 23 of these fighters, this year it is expected to produce 28. HAL has already supplied 74 of these fighters.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Rs-15000-crore-Sukhoi-deal-cleared/articleshow/6092315.cms

Russia's defense corporation signs contract on helicopter supplies to India
RIA Novosti

19:23 19/07/2010

FARNBOROUGH, July 19 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's state-owned defense corporation Oboronprom and India's Vectra Group have signed a $30 million contract on the supply of four Ka-32 Helix helicopters, the Russian company's CEO Andrei Reus said on Monday.

"I signed a contract with the Indian company Vectra on the supply of four Russian Ka-32 helicopters," Reus said.

"Although this is only four aircraft, it is important that it is actually the opening of the Indian market for Russian helicopters," he said.

The Ka-32 can be employed as a transport aircraft, for ice patrol, fire fighting as well as search and rescue operations.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/india/2010/india-100709-rianovosti01.htm