Bengaluru: Russian manufacturer MiG Aircraft Corporation offering its MiG 35 jet for an upcoming contest for 110 combat aircraft, said it’s offer to India will be at least 20 percent less than similar foreign models.
The presentation of the MiG-35 aircraft to India’s Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was held Wednesday on the sidelines of the Aero India show at the Yelahanka airbase, Bengaluru.
MiG has been the largest supplier of fighter jets to India. At the 12th edition of 2019 Aero India Show, MiG Director General Ilya Tarasenko said, “In terms of economical operations, it is well known that the Russian aircraft are at least 20 per cent cheaper than similar models produced by other plane-manufacturers.”
During technical trials in the past the MiG did not qualify, But Tarasenko assured that they were offering a completely new jets with 50 percent more combat potential. The company does not have any competitor in this sphere as Mig 35 is the most up-to-date aircraft in the world. “Technically too, the Russian company is far ahead of its competitors and the aircraft has at least a 40-year life-cycle,” he said.
He said if the company wins the tender for Mig-35, it would start manufacturing the aircraft in India by partnering with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Also in the race for 110 aircraft for the Indian Air Force is the Rafale fighter jet for which the government had floated an RFI (Request for Information) last year.