Nueva Delhi, 9 de octubre, RIA Novosti. India prepara una modernización a gran escala de su parque de cazas Su-30MKI, anunció hoy el Ministerio de Defensa de ese país.
El programa de modernización, que abarcará más de un centenar de cazas pesados Su-30MKI, será examinado en la reunión de la comisión intergubernamental ruso-india para cooperación técnica y militar que se celebrará los días 14 y 15 de octubre en Moscú.
Pues en esa reunión también tratarán la extensión del acuerdo de cooperación técnico-militar (hasta el 2020):
The extension of the existing India-Russia Long Term Inter-Governmental Agreement on the programme for Military Technical Cooperation for a further 10 years, from 2011 to 2020, will be the main focus of discussions during the meeting of the commission.
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The continuation of the India Russia Joint Venture BrahMos is also likely to be discussed, in the context of on-going discussion for the development of the next generation hypersonic Cruise Missiles '' BrahMos-2 and the on-going proposal to coordinate the BrahMos with the SU 30 MK1.
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The co-development and co-production of the FGFA with Sukhoi Design Bureau Russia has been progressing, with several rounds of discussion already completed to finalize the technical requirements. During discussions in the meeting of the Commission, Shri Antony would highlight New Delhi's interest in ensuring that the development phase of the FGFA is completed by 2016,as originally anticipated and that induction of the aircraft into the IAF can start by 2017.
Both sides will also review the progress on the MTA, on which the Inter-Governmental Agreement had been signed during the visit of Dr Manmohan Singh's to Moscow in November 2007. Both sides have been discussing the formation of the Joint Venture company which would execute the project involving design, development and production of the Medium Transport Aircraft in the 15-20 tonne class to meet the requirements of the Russian and Indian Armed Forces. Both sides are likely to conclude the Agreement to form the JVC shortly.
La ratificación del acuerdo de cooperación ya se había anunciado a finales de septiembre del año pasado, supongo que será una renegociación de algunos puntos o algo por el estilo. Por otra parte, si consiguen introducir su caza de 5ª generación en 2017, será sin duda todo un éxito. También llama la atención lo del BrahMos hipersónico, aunque todavía no esté ni sobre la mesa de diseño (¿o si?)
Y además, parece que lo de los E-2D ya está hecho:
The latest India-U.S. defense deal is the sale of this Airborne Early Warning aircraft, Hawkeye E-2D, developed by American arms manufacturer, Northrop Grumman. Woolf Gross, the corporate director at the company, says the reconnaissance plane has yet to be introduced in the U.S. Navy. Its sale to India, he says, is a symbol of how close India/U.S. military relations are.
"So they [the Indians] could have advanced Hawkeyes in India about the same time that the U.S. Navy becomes fully operational with the same aircraft," he explained.
During Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to India in July, the two countries agreed on the terms of such high technology sales to India.
Pues nada, a sus 4 modelos de caza (FGFA, MMRCA, LCA y Su-30), ahora le suman 3 de AWACS. Supongo que toman eso de que "en la variedad está el gusto" al pie de la letra