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Su-33 stars at Bangalore air show

The star attraction at the Aero India '98 that ended on Saturday was the Su-33.

The naval version of the Sukhoi family, with a formidable array of missiles and bombs and maximum speed of 2,700 km an hour, kept thousands of onlooker spell-bound for a full seven minutes. And at the controls was arguably the world's best pilot, Victor Pugachov, Russian hero and test pilot of the Sukhoi Design Bureau.

Though formal negotiations are yet to take place for the purchase of Su-33, the company has expressed its interest to supply the aircraft to India. The Indian government has made no offer though, and no enquiries were made.

However, the Sukhoi Design Bureau team pointed out the long and friendly association between India and Russia in the field of defence and hoped to further this.

The Sukhoi Design Bureau already is supplying a large number of Su-30 aircraft to India, besides getting into an arrangement to produce them at the Nashik division of the Hindustan Aircraft Limited.

A contract has also been signed for the delivery of 40 multi-role twin seat Su-30 MK fighters. This is an updated version of the Su fighter, having enhanced manoeuvrability, combat capabilities and better avionics.

The contract was worth $ 1.55 billion. About a 100 improved versions of Su-30 will roll out of the Nasik plant in a phased manner from early next year. The Nashik contract is estimated at $ 1 billion.

The Sukhois were also the big draw at the previous air show at Bangalore, Aero India '96.

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