Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led cabinet committee on security (CAS), on Monday, gave its nod for the proposal to procure 240 aero-engines (AL-31FP) for Su-30 MKI aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The purchase will cost over Rs 26,000 crore, inclusive of all taxes and duties.
HAL will start delivering the aero-engines for the twin-engine multi-role air superiority fighter aircraft after a year and will complete the entire deal in eight years.
According to a release from the ministry of defence, the engines will have 54 per cent 'made in India' content, due to indigenisation of some key components of aero-engines. These will be built at the Koraput (Odisha) division of HAL.
Su-30 MKI, which has advanced avionics and weapons integration from Russia, India, France, and Israel, is one of the most powerful and strategically significant fleets of the Indian Air Force.
Su-30 MKI, which forms the backbone of the IAF’s combat fleet, entered service in 2002. Indian Air Force has a fleet of 259 Su-30MKIs. In July, The Times of India reported that the defence ministry had nearly finalised the 'draft note' for CAS for the upgrade of 84 Sukhoi jets to make them more lethal, at a cost of Rs 63,000 crore.
The supply of these aero-engines would meet the fleet sustenance requirement of IAF to continue their unhindered operations and strengthen the defence preparedness of the country, the ministry said.
