The cabinet committee approved the proposal for procurement of 240 aero-engines (AL-31FP) for Su-30 MKI aircraft of the IAF
Cabinet Approves Procurement of 240 Aero Engines For SU 30 MKI
The cabinet committee approved the proposal for procurement of 240 aero-engines (AL-31FP) for Su-30 MKI aircraft of the IAF under Buy (Indian) category from HAL at a cost of over Rs 26,000 crore inclusive of all taxes and duties. The delivery of these aero-engines would start after one year and complete over a period of eight years.
The engines will have indigenous content over 54%, enhanced due to indigenisation of some key components of aero-engines. These would be manufactured at Koraput division of HAL.
The engines will be built at HAL’s Koraput division in Odisha from raw material stage with transfer of technology from Russia, and only some spares, forgings and castings are expected to be imported, officials aware of the matter said. Su-30 MKI is one of the most powerful and strategically-significant fleet of IAF. The supply of these aero-engines by HAL would meet the fleet sustenance requirement of IAF to continue their unhindered operations and strengthen the defence preparedness of the country.
The engines will have an indigenous content of over 54%, the ministry said in a statement. IAF operates a fleet of 260 Su-30s and will get 12 additional fighters to make up for planes lost in accidents.
“The Koraput division has thus far manufactured and supplied 113 AL-31FP engines to IAF,” said one of the officials cited above. HAL estimates that IAF will need around 900 engines through the lifecycle of the entire Su-30 fleet, said another official.
IAF’s Su-30s will also be upgraded by HAL at a cost of around ₹65,000 crore. It will involve equipping the fighters with the indigenous Uttam active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, electronic warfare suites, weapon control systems, avionics and new weapons. Last week, HAL signed a contract with SAFHAL Helicopter Engines for the joint design, development and production of a new engine called Aravalli for the future 13-tonne Indian multi-role helicopter (IMRH) and its deck-based version. SAFHAL is a joint venture between French firm Safran Helicopter Engines and HAL.
Sukhoi Su-30
The Sukhoi Su-30 is a twin-engine, two-seat supermaneuverable fighter aircraft developed in the Soviet Union by Russia’s Sukhoi Aviation Corporation. It is a multirole fighter for all-weather, air-to-air and air interdiction missions.
Top speed: 2,120 km/h
Engine type: Saturn AL-31
Manufacturers: Sukhoi, Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant
Range: 3,000 km
Weight: 17,700 kg
Cabinet Committee on Security
The CCS is a cabinet committee of the Government of India that discusses, debates and is the final decision-making body on senior appointments in the national security apparatus, defence policy and expenditure and generally all matters of India’s national security.
The composition of the CCS is:
•Prime Minister of India
•Minister of Defence
•Minister of Home Affairs
•Minister of Finance
•Minister of External Affairs
The National Security Adviser, the Cabinet Secretary and the Defence Secretary have also been attendees of the CCS meetings.
