Aircraft
India Expected To Sign for More MiG-29s and Su-30MKIs in October
New fighter aircraft and air-to-air missiles are at the heart of a procurement effort based on re-engineered arms purchasing processes with Moscow
The Su-30MKI is the Indian Air Force’s most important fighter type. Another 18 are expected to be procured from Russia. (photo: Vladimir Karnozov)
The Su-30MKI is the Indian Air Force’s most important fighter type. Another 18 are expected to be procured from Russia. (photo: Vladimir Karnozov)

New Delhi is expected to commit to a series of new major arms deals with Moscow at the next session of the Indo-Russian intergovernmental commission on military industrial cooperation, to be held in October. These would include a contract on 18 additional kits for the Sukhoi Su-30MKI heavyweight multirole fighter for assembly at HAL’s Nasik plant. This would bring the grand total of such aircraft procured since 1999 to 240. Additionally, the Indian Air Force would receive “over 20” used MiG-29 lightweight interceptors from the Russian Air and Space Force (VKS) for their subsequent conversion into MiG-29UPG multirole aircraft.


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