Russia keen on fighter aircraft devp with India

Bangalore, Jan 23: Joint development of a fifth generation fighter aircraft by India and Russia is on the priority agenda of the Inter-governmental meeting on military and technical cooperation between the two countries to be held in New Delhi tomorrow.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Sergey Borisovich Ivanov told a press conference here that the joint participation by India in the project would be discussed along with upgrades of various existing fighter fleet of the Indian Air Force including Sukhoi 30 MKI and Mig 29 and joint development of a multi-role transport aircraft.

Referring to the fifth generation aircraft, he said that the sukhoi Company had been developing a fifth generation fighter on a sukhoi platform with a multi billion dollar investment. It would make its first flight in 2009. He said the Indian Government also decided recently to go in for fifth generation aircraft of its own design.

On the cost and investment proposal for the joint development of a fifth generation fighter aircraft, Mr Ivanon said it was too early to say.

Lauding the 44-year-old Indo Russian military cooperation, he said that his country would also strongly bid for the proposed order of the IAF for 126 fighter aircraft. He said the latest Mig variant MIG 35 would be, for the first time, unveiled to the world, outside Russia at the Aero India to be held here next month.

''We would strongly bid for the tender and have confidence that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have the capability to build engines for the aircraft'' he added.

Mr Ivanov said Russia was also keen to extend the cooperation to helicopters and aero engines with India. Replying to questions, he declined to comment on the value of the military deals the two countries would be signing during the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India. Russia had proposed to India the joint development of its 5th generation fighter aircraft in 2001 itself as indigenous development of such aicraft would take longer time and expensive besides being technologically challenging. The country had posted a medium combat aircraft as the next generation aircraft. Former Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee had stated that the government was evaluating the experience gained from the LCA programme for the MCA.

Mr Ivanov, along with his delegation members, earlier held discussions with HAL top brass, including Chairman and Managing Director Ashok K Baweja on various programmes taken up jointly and also the future programmes that India and Russia could take up. He also witnessed the flying display of Light Combat Aircraft, Intermediate Jet Trainer and display of Sarang team of Dhruv helicopters.

UNI

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