We are the only partner who can offer more than 60% technology transfer to meet India’s combat requirements, he says.
We are the only partner who can offer more than 60% technology transfer to meet India’s combat requirements, he says.
The main focus of the Russian aircraft industry was on the ongoing ‘special military operation’, but “we are committed to meeting the needs of our allies”, Yuri Slusser, CEO of Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation, said on Tuesday, adding that they were the sole participant. Which can offer over 60% technology transfer to meet India’s combat requirements.
“We are facing two challenges. One with civil and the other with military. Our main task with civil is to replace foreign aircraft with indigenous ones… With the military the main focus is the special military operations that are going on,” Mr Slusser said while interacting with reporters at the ongoing Army-2022 exhibition. “At the same time, we remain a reliable partner. All of our contracts are in force, and we maintain good relationships with our partners.”
three main functions
On the civilian side, he said he had three main tasks. The first was to continue the stable operation of Russian aircraft in the fleet, the second was to complete the replacement program and the third was to increase the production volume to 120 units per year. “Now we are making 40 aircraft per year which need triple growth and which we should do as soon as possible. Because the fleets of Boeing and Airbus will age and need to be replaced with Russian planes, ”he said.
His main task on the military front was to work jointly with the Ministry of Defense (MoD) for fleet maintenance and to produce new aircraft as per the government schedule, Mr Slusser elaborated. “Despite logistics and payment difficulties, we are fulfilling all our contracts and supplying new aircraft.”
Since the start of the war in Ukraine in February, defense officials in India said that the armed forces had stockpiles of spares and supplies for 8–10 months and with the extension of the war, now closer to six months, Russia’s There are doubts about the capacity. Follow the deadline for both the spares as well as the new delivery.
Acknowledging that there were difficulties in logistics, payments and money transfers, Mr Sluser said that they remain fully engaged with their partners. “We are alive, we are working, we are working with our partners. And we will continue to be a trusted partner to our MoD and our customers,” he stressed.
Responding to a question on the performance of Russian aircraft in the war in Ukraine, Mr Slusser said that a number of aircraft and helicopters had participated in “special military operations” and that they were “skilled and complied with the requirements of the Ministry of Defense. “
Responding to questions on the issue in early May, Army Chief General Manoj Pandey acknowledged the military’s dependence on certain weapon systems from Russia and Ukraine, especially in the area of air defence, rockets, missiles and some tanks, and said As far as the immediate effect was concerned “the supply chain of some spares and ammunition has been affected to some extent, but we have sufficient stock for a reasonable period of time.”
He said that they were also looking at some alternative mitigation measures and identifying alternative sources from friendly countries, while in the long term, it was also an opportunity for private industry to increase production and meet requirements.
Another major issue was payments for ongoing deals and officials said smaller payments had resumed but efforts were still on for larger payments.
On the upgradation of the Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets in the Indian Air Force, for which discussions have been going on for a long time, Mr. Slusser said that he had offered his vision of the upgrade program and it was an ongoing discussion. Indian Air Force. “We have plans to visit India in the near future and there will be fruitful discussions going forward on this issue,” he said.