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Russia signs deal on maintenance services for Indian Air Force’s Su-30MKI fighter jets

According to data of the United Aircraft-Building Corporation, the Indian Air Force operates over 230 Su-30MKI fighter planes

Indian Air Force’s Su-30MKI fighter jet EPA/JAGADEESH NV

Indian Air Force’s Su-30MKI fighter jet

© EPA/JAGADEESH NV

NEW DELHI, March 17. /TASS/. Russia’s United Aircraft-Building Corporation has signed a deal with India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to provide maintenance services for Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets operational in the Indian Air Force, a TASS correspondent reports from the signing ceremony.

The deal was signed by United Aircraft-Building Corporation President Yuri Slyusar and HAL Chairman Suvarna Raju in the presence of Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov and acting Indian Defense Minister Arun Jaitley as part of a Russian-Indian military and industrial conference. The contract has been signed for five years with a prolongation option.

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The United Aircraft-Building Corporation president said his company was interested both in expanding the volumes of aircraft deliveries and increasing the speed and the quality of after-sale services and developing a comprehensive customer support system.

"The right to provide services abroad is an important step in this direction. We believe this will allow the United Aircraft-Building Corporation to considerably increase the efficiency of providing after-sale services for our products abroad. We also count on higher revenues from this business," Slyusar said.

According to data of the United Aircraft-Building Corporation, the Indian Air Force operates already over 230 Su-30MKI fighter planes and this figure will exceed 270 aircraft in the future. The scheduled volume of deliveries in the next five years may reach $300 million. In December 2016, the United Aircraft-Building Corporation gained the right to deliver spare parts, conduct repairs and provide maintenance services for aircraft earlier supplied abroad.

"Along with the work on the programs of licensed production, repair and upgrade of Su and MiG planes, the United Aircraft-Building Corporation is carrying out work jointly with HAL on the programs of jointly developing aircraft, for example, the FGFA (Fifth-Generation Fighting Aircraft)," Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said.

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