Belarus has been long dreaming to upgrade the fleet of Su-27 heavy fighters, which it obtained after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Photo: Dmitry Lebedev
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Better to Import Via India
Belarus intends to buy 18 Su-30K fighters from India this year. The purchase will allow it to catch up with nearby Poland in air power. The origin of the planes is interesting. They were made by Russia’s Irkut Aircraft Corp. in 1997 to 1998 by order of Indian Air Forces. Now, however, India sells the Su-30Ks, as it is impossible to upgrade them into Su-30MKIs.
Contrary to India, Su-30K is a certain way out for Belarus, which has long craved for reinforcing the fleet of the obsolete Su-27s obtained after the Soviets’ collapse. But a new Su-30MKI costs at least $35 million, which is evidently too much for Minsk. Belarus could have bought the used Su-27s in Moscow, but the offered planes proved even older than the ones owned by Belarus.
For Belarus, the good news was the decision of Delhi to abandon upgrading 18 Su-30K into Su-30MKI. Unable to resist temptation to double the fleet of heavy fighters, Minsk ordered the whole consignment of 18 Su-30Ks, which are expected in Belarus before late this year. The residual cost of each plane is estimated at between $20 million and $22 million with the contract budget exceeding $600 million. Belarus has 14 Su-27s and four Su-27UBs now.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Feb. 06, 2006
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