On Monday, the defence ministry signed a ₹26,000-crore contract with state-run aerospace company Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to buy 240 Sukhoi jet engines for Su-30MKI aircraft. The aero-engines, which are expected to meet the Indian Air Force's requirement to maintain the Su-30 fleet's operational capabilities, will be produced by HAL's Koraput division.

240 Sukhoi jet engines
Image Source: Bharat Shakti

The procurement deal was signed by senior ministry and HAL officials in the presence of Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari. HAL would supply 30 aero-engines each year in accordance with the contractual delivery schedule. The supply of all 240 engines will be completed during the next eight years, according to the defence ministry.

"During manufacturing, HAL plans to take support from the country's defence manufacturing ecosystem, involving MSMEs and public and private industries," the statement stated. "Of the delivery programme, HAL would enhance the indigenisation content up to 63 per cent to achieve an average of over 54 per cent," the ministry stated. It added that this will help improve the indigenous content of aero-engine maintenance and overhaul tasks.

The engines purchase comes amid concerns over the IAF's depleted fighter fleet and HAL's delays in supplying Tejas jets. The number of IAF fighter squadrons has been reduced to roughly 30, compared to the allowed strength of at least 42.

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