Russia's fighter jet
makers 'not afraid' of U.S. competition in India
Send a link to a friend
[June 24, 2017]
By Andrea Shalal
PARIS (Reuters) - Russian military aviation
firm MiG said on Friday it was ready to deepen its cooperation with
India, just days after U.S. arms maker Lockheed Martin Corp <LMT.N>
agreed with Tata Advanced Systems to build F-16 fighters there.
India's air force needs hundreds of aircraft to replace its Soviet-era
fleet, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has said foreign
suppliers must build the planes in India to boost the domestic
industrial base and cut outright imports.
MiG General Director Ilia Tarasenko told Reuters in a written interview
that his company had been cooperating with India for more than 50 years,
providing planes, service and training centers, and remained upbeat
about further sales.
"We are not afraid of rivalry with the U.S. in this market," he said.
"On the contrary, we believe that attempts by other players to establish
cooperation with this country help us to better understand their needs
and better meet them."
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Jun/24/images/ads/current/lincolnchrysler_sda_072214.png)
At the same time, he conceded that Modi's "Make in India" initiative
required some changes in Moscow's approach, and said his company was
ready to respond.
"Regarding improvements, we believe that it is necessary to further
deepen cooperation within the framework of the 'Make in India' concept
and are ready to take the necessary steps," Tarasenko said. He did not
elaborate.
He said MiG's new MiG-35 fighter jet, which will debut at Russia's MAKS
2017 air show next month, was 20 percent cheaper to operate over its
lifespan and offered countries capabilities that went beyond those of
regular "fourth-generation" planes.
Tarasenko said two MiG-35s should complete flight tests by the end of
the year or early next, paving the way for serial production once a
contract was signed with the defense ministry.
[to top of second column] |
![](../images/062417pics/busine89.jpg)
A new multi-role Russian MiG-35 fighter is displayed during its
international presentation at the MiG plant in Lukhovitsy outside
Moscow, Russia January 27, 2017. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Jun/24/images/ads/current/rohlfs_lda_051513.png)
At least one of the two MiG-35 jets would appear at the MAKS 2017 air show,
Tarasenko said, adding that MiG met with 20 potential customers during the Paris
event and expected to make its first exports in 2020. He did not name potential
customers.
Tarasenko dismissed the importance of grouping jets into "generations," and said
the MiG-35 was already "stronger, smarter and more versatile" than
fourth-generation jets, but not as expensive as fifth-generation aircraft that
can evade radar.
"It will be barely noticeable on the radar - due to the reduction of the
reflecting surface, the special radio-absorbing coating, and electronic
radio-suppressing equipment," he said.
The MiG's radar would be able to track up to 30 targets, and lead six of them
simultaneously, with data streaming into pilots' augmented reality helmets to
enable more precise missile firing.
In addition, he said the aircraft could take on more fuel in mid-air and refuel
other planes, had greater range and could carry up to six tons of
weapons.Tarasenko said Russia was already working on new aircraft that would be
"smarter, faster" and with increased range and a higher top ceiling range.
"We are working on perspective projects that by some characteristics are ahead
of the current perception of aviation," he said.
(Reporting by Andrea Shalal, editing by David Evans)
[© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2017 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |