HAL To Supply 12 Advanced Sukhoi Jets To Indian Air Force For Rs 13,500 Crore

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. will supply 12 Su-30MKI aircraft along with associated equipment to the Indian Air Force for Rs 13,500 crore. The Ministry of Defence signed a contract with HAL on Thursday.

The aircraft would have an indigenous content of 62.6%, enhanced due to the indigenisation of many components to be manufactured by the local defence industry, a statement said.

"The supply of these aircraft would enhance the operational capability of the Indian Air Force and strengthen the defence preparedness of the country," the ministry said. The order amount is inclusive of taxes and duties, it added.

The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is a two-seater, twinjet, multirole air superiority fighter developed by Russian manufacturer Sukhoi and built under license by HAL for the Indian Air Force. A variant of the Sukhoi Su-30, the MKI is a heavy, all-weather, long-range fighter.

These aircraft would be manufactured at the Nasik division of HAL.

The announcement comes days after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Moscow, where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin and other top officials to discuss defence ties.