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Friday, 18.02.2011
Russian Defense Industry is booming
Moscow. Russia's defense industry landed export orders for over $30 billion. This year alone arms in the value of $10 billion will be exported. Production set even for own troops.
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The current orders amount to $30 billion (ˆ20 billion) announced Alexander Fomin, the deputy head of the state agency for military technical cooperation at a press conference during the air show Aero India in Bangalore. Fighter aircraft are the most important export item of the Russian arms industry.
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Armories report: plans have been fulfilled
“Last year's plan has been fulfilled and the Russian export was slightly above $10 billion. This will give you and indication of our plans for this year” said Fomin.
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At this Air Show Russia did not only display its passenger jet Sukhoi Superjet 100 but also its entire range of military aircraft and helicopters. According to RosOberonExport, Russia exhibits more than 80 fighter models at the show.
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Cooperation between Moscow and Delhi
This is no surprise as Delhi is now considered as one of Moscow's closest military partners. “We are moving up to deep-rooted cooperation and joint development of advanced systems. It requires a renewed level of trust” said Viktor Komardin, deputy director general of RosOboronExport.
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This statement refers specifically to the joint development of the of fifth generation fighter jets. The bomber's design will be based on Sukhoi and the on-board electronics will be supplied by Indian computer specialists. Russia will be responsible for 65 percent of the work.
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$6 billion for 5th generation fighter jets
The prototype Sukhoi T-50 (the project's name) has been able to complete a successful test flight last year. But work on the state of the art fighter jet is far from completed. Overall, the project will swallow up around $6 billion (ˆ4,4 billion) estimates Shiva Murti, Finance Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), the Indian partner of Sukhoi.
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The investment should pay off. Both, the Indian and Russian military are very interested to acquiring the fighter jet. It will be in action from 2015.
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Modernisation for ˆ500 billion
The next generation fighter jet is only a small part of the massive modernisation program that the Kremlin has planned for its military. By 2020, ˆ500 billion to be spent on modernisation of the forces.
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From 2015 the program is running at full speed. Therefore Sukhoil OAK is working full steam to fulfill the orders. Apparently the first two MiG-29K are to be delivered to the marines this year. But the marines have to wait as India's order of 16 jets has priority and is only partially completed.
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New contracts are already under negotiation in Bangalore. Russia sells its fighters to a total of 70 countries across the world.
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