By: Vivek Raghuvanshi
NEW DELHI — Despite signing a long-term agreement with Russia for the supply of spare parts and the rendering of technical assistance for five years for India's Sukhoi Su-30MKI aircraft, the fleet continues to face maintenance problems and a lack of spare parts.
T. Suvarna Raju, chairman of state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, signed an agreement with Yuri Slyusar, president of United Aircraft Corporation, and Alexander Artyukhov, director general of United Engine Corporation, in the presence of Indian Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov. The deal took place here on March 17 during an India-Russia military industrial conference.
The agreement will enable HAL to procure required spares directly from the original equipment manufacturers authorized by Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation.
"The deal will bolster the after-sales service and reduce the lead time of procurement of spares drastically. The agreement will result [in an] increase in the serviceability of the Su-30MKI fleet as spares would be available on time," Raju said.
However, a senior Indian Air Force official said this is only a long-term support agreement between HAL and the Russian original equipment manufacturers and therefore does not cover anything related to license production of critical spare parts that can improve serviceability of the fleet.
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