India Intends to Spend $35B for Military Aircraft Over the Next 25 Years

IAF: Jaguar, Mirage 2000SU-30K, MiG-27, MiG-21 BiS(click to view full) Replacing India’s rapidly aging military aviation assets will cost at least $35 billion over the next quarter century to bring its air force, army and navy aircraft up to date, according to India Strategic Defense Magazine. The magazine was released by IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal S. P. Tyagi during the Aero India air show that ran between February 7-11, 2007 at Air Force Station Yelahanka in Bangalore, India. Aviation manufacturers from Russia, the European Community, Brazil, and the United States were all there vying for a piece of the potentially huge market. See the full India Defence Article, and also their coverage of the Aero India 2007 defense exhibition. SU-30 MKIs(click to view full) Except for Sukhoi’s SU-30MKIs (India is preparing to purchase 40 more), a majority of the aircraft flying in the Indian Air Force were initially ordered by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi or her son Rajiv Gandhi between 1966-1989. Many are being modernized to keep them flying; meanwhile, India’s Army projects it will purchase at least 500 new helicopters during the period to replace its aging Chetak, Mi-8, and Mi-17 aircraft, and additional priorities include the […]