Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07NEWDELHI658
2007-02-09 12:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
INDIA COMPLETES PLANS TO BUY FORTY MORE SUKHOI 30S
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UNCLAS NEW DELHI 000658
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ETRD PINR IN
SUBJECT: INDIA COMPLETES PLANS TO BUY FORTY MORE SUKHOI 30S
UNCLAS NEW DELHI 000658
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ETRD PINR IN
SUBJECT: INDIA COMPLETES PLANS TO BUY FORTY MORE SUKHOI 30S
1. (U) Reporting from Aero India in Bangalore, Indian media
quoted Chief of Air Staff S.P. Tyagi on February 8 as saying
India would soon sign a deal to import 40 more Sukhoi-30
planes from Russia. The news, which was overshadowed in
morning papers by multi-billionaire Ratan Tata's
"exhilarating" - in his words - ride on an F-16 the same day,
has caused a bit of confusion in Delhi as observers of the
strategic relationship question whether this is part the
anticipated Request for Proposals (RFP) for 126 multi-role
combat aircraft (MRCA) which India has announced intentions
to procure. Our short answer is that these 40 SU-30s
complete a previous deal between India and Russia, and this
most recent purchase should have no direct impact on the
pending MRCA RFP.
2. (U) This "new" deal dates back to December 28, 2000, when
the GOI announced a $3.5 billion agreement for 190 SU-30s,
fifty of which were to be made in Russia, the remaining 140
from kits licensed for production at Hindustan Aeronautics
Limited's (HAL's) Nasik factory. At the time, the Indian Air
Force (IAF) had recommended procurement of 240 combat
aircraft -- 50 more than what the GOI decided to buy at the
time. The first indigenous SU-30s (or MK1, as the IAF
version is known) rolled off the Nasik line in November of
2004, with the last of the Russian-assembled 50 arriving by
the end of that year. Now, just weeks after President
Putin's visit to India, the GOI has decided to move closer to
the number originally requested by the IAF, and with the 40
additional aircraft being ordered, the total will add up to
230 aircraft. The 40 plane order is expected to be filled
within three years, at a cost of approximately $40 million
each.
3. (U) Tyagi said in a statement at the time of the Sukhoi
announcement that India is attempting to reduce the number of
types of aircraft in its inventory, adding that maintaining
spares and training crew was a logistical challenge and the
IAF wanted to have as few variants as possible. Therefore,
he was quoted as saying, the pending MRCA order for 126
fighter aircraft will be given to a single vendor and not
distributed to two or more companies. Currently, India's
inventory includes Anglo-French Jaguars, French Mirage-2000s,
Russian MiG-21, 23, 27 29 and the original Sukhoi-30s, in
addition to Russian transport planes. IAF Wing Commander
Mahesh Upasani confirmed to the press that the SU-30 purchase
was not part of the 126 MRCAs the IAF will soon be seeking.
4. (U) Tyagi also mentioned that IAF was negotiating a deal
with LOCKHEED Martin for the purchase of six (to twelve)
C-130s. The Letter of Request for this sole-source
procurement was issued December 14, 2006.
MULFORD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ETRD PINR IN
SUBJECT: INDIA COMPLETES PLANS TO BUY FORTY MORE SUKHOI 30S
1. (U) Reporting from Aero India in Bangalore, Indian media
quoted Chief of Air Staff S.P. Tyagi on February 8 as saying
India would soon sign a deal to import 40 more Sukhoi-30
planes from Russia. The news, which was overshadowed in
morning papers by multi-billionaire Ratan Tata's
"exhilarating" - in his words - ride on an F-16 the same day,
has caused a bit of confusion in Delhi as observers of the
strategic relationship question whether this is part the
anticipated Request for Proposals (RFP) for 126 multi-role
combat aircraft (MRCA) which India has announced intentions
to procure. Our short answer is that these 40 SU-30s
complete a previous deal between India and Russia, and this
most recent purchase should have no direct impact on the
pending MRCA RFP.
2. (U) This "new" deal dates back to December 28, 2000, when
the GOI announced a $3.5 billion agreement for 190 SU-30s,
fifty of which were to be made in Russia, the remaining 140
from kits licensed for production at Hindustan Aeronautics
Limited's (HAL's) Nasik factory. At the time, the Indian Air
Force (IAF) had recommended procurement of 240 combat
aircraft -- 50 more than what the GOI decided to buy at the
time. The first indigenous SU-30s (or MK1, as the IAF
version is known) rolled off the Nasik line in November of
2004, with the last of the Russian-assembled 50 arriving by
the end of that year. Now, just weeks after President
Putin's visit to India, the GOI has decided to move closer to
the number originally requested by the IAF, and with the 40
additional aircraft being ordered, the total will add up to
230 aircraft. The 40 plane order is expected to be filled
within three years, at a cost of approximately $40 million
each.
3. (U) Tyagi said in a statement at the time of the Sukhoi
announcement that India is attempting to reduce the number of
types of aircraft in its inventory, adding that maintaining
spares and training crew was a logistical challenge and the
IAF wanted to have as few variants as possible. Therefore,
he was quoted as saying, the pending MRCA order for 126
fighter aircraft will be given to a single vendor and not
distributed to two or more companies. Currently, India's
inventory includes Anglo-French Jaguars, French Mirage-2000s,
Russian MiG-21, 23, 27 29 and the original Sukhoi-30s, in
addition to Russian transport planes. IAF Wing Commander
Mahesh Upasani confirmed to the press that the SU-30 purchase
was not part of the 126 MRCAs the IAF will soon be seeking.
4. (U) Tyagi also mentioned that IAF was negotiating a deal
with LOCKHEED Martin for the purchase of six (to twelve)
C-130s. The Letter of Request for this sole-source
procurement was issued December 14, 2006.
MULFORD