India commits $6 bn for developing stealth jet with Russia

New Delhi, Oct 10: India has committed an initial $6 billion for jointly developing a fifth-generation stealth combat jet with Russia, a project that will eventually cost the country $30 billion and envisages the manufacture here of 144 aircraft. Browne, told India Strategic defence magazine in an interview on the occasion of the IAF's 80th Anniversary Oct 8 that all these aircraft would be single seaters, the same which the Russian Air Force will have, but some components like onboard computers and systems would be different as in the case of the Sukhoi SU-30MKIs.Now designated PMF, or Perspective Multirole Fighter, by Russia, the Indian aircraft would be made in India, Browne said, adding that discussions with the Russian government are already on.India and Russia had signed an agreement in this regard Dec 21, 2011, to set up a 50:50 joint venture on the lines of BrahMos Aerospace and share development work.India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, aided by the Defence Research and Development Organisation will partner Russia's United Aircraft Corporation - which will provide the super cruise engines and certain stealth technologies - in the project.Indian scientists are keen to pool in the R&D effort, and the agreement calls for joint development, particularly in design, guidance systems and onboard software. Development in that time frame however is not happening.To cut down on the development costs and the timelines, the IAF has plans to begin their induction from 2020 onwards, Air Chief Marshal Browne said.Discussions with Russia are on to sign the first R&D phase, and the first prototype is likely to be delivered to India in 2014, followed by two more in 2017 and 2019. The IAF had already spent around Rs $30 billion in the last five years and that there was adequate budgetry support to execute its transformation programmes by 2027, when all the 42 combat squadrons sanctioned by the government will be operational.He reiterated that he expected the deal for 126 French Rafale medium multi-role combat aircraft to be finalised by March 2013. There are virtually daily meetings between the aircraft partners, Dassault, Thales and engine maker Snecma on the one side and IAF, HAL and defence ministry representatives on the other.On the legacy aircraft, he said that while the Soviet-vintage IL-76 and AN-32 transport aircraft were already under upgrades to give them an extended life of 10 to 15 years, the tender to upgrade the IAF's 100-odd Jaguar aircraft with new engines was about to be issued - likely by October-end - to Honeywell of the US.IAF tenders for combat and heavy-lift helicopters and midair refuellers have already been opened over three weeks beginning mid-September.