Russia to sell refueling planes to India
Iran Press TV
Thu Aug 4, 2016 5:25PM
Russian media say the country is in talks with India over selling six Ilyushin transport aircraft to the country.
Izvestia daily has quoted unnamed officials in Moscow as saying that New Delhi wants to purchase the mid-air refueling aircraft for its Air Force, adding that the value of the contract could be as much as $2 billion.
The planes could enhance the operational capabilities of the Su-30 fighter jets specially developed for India by Russia's Sukhoi Design Bureau, Izvestia quoted unnamed officials as saying in a report also covered by Russia Today.
"For the first time Russia has offered New Delhi its IL-78MD-90A, which is a modernized version of the Il-76MD-90A military transport, also known as the IL-476," an unnamed source was quoted as saying.
The tanker aircraft can carry up to 110 tons of fuel and refuel a jet from the rear and from its wings. Three aircraft may be refueled in the air simultaneously.
The modular air fuel system allows the tanker to be easily converted into a conventional transport aircraft, the report added.
If the Russian-Indian talks succeed, it will be the first contract to supply the Il-78MD-90A. The new aerial refueling aircraft is a modernized version of an IL-76 transporter. It has a modified wing, new engines and control system, a higher load capacity and volume of transported fuel.
Negotiations with Russia over the purchase of refueling planes follow India's decision not to buy six Airbus 330 multi-role tanker transport planes due to the high cost, the report added. Airbus won the delivery tender in 2015, but last week the Indian government withdrew the tender.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
