NEW DELHI: The Russians have offered the latest jet aircraft S54 in its inventory to the Indian Air Force.

The S54, which is now in the prototype stage, incorporates the state of the art technology both in avionics and its weapons systems.

Two versions of this aircraft an advanced jet trainer and a combat plane were offered during the recent visit of Russian President Boris Yeltsin.

Official sources pointed out that the Russian President had offered not the MIG2] UB as an advanced jet trainer but the S54, hitherto unknown to the western world.

The S54 had been specially designed for the Russian Air Force and because of shortage of funds further development of this aircraft had been held up.

During his wide-ranging talks the high level delegation accompanying President Boris Yeltsin, offered to give this aircraft to India. The Russian side it is understood to have proposed that India should provide $500 million for joint production of this aircraft.

The Russian side stated that the 554 would be made in two versions; the first version would be an advanced jet trainer (AJT) to convert fighter pilots to the futuristic aircraft now on the drawing boards of various countries.

The Russian side pointed out that there were more than 5,000 various versions of MIG21 fighter aircraft now operating with various air forces of the world. These aircraft need replacement in the coming years. If India collaborated in the joint production of S54, then a combat version of this aircraft could be mass produced and sold worldwide as replacement for MIGO2 1s.

The Russians have sought a meeting with senior experts of the Hindustan Aeronautics LTD (HAL), the Indian Air Force (LAF) and the Ministry of Defence to further study the feasibility of joint production of S54 aircraft.

During a recent visit by an Indian defence delegation to Moscow it was pointed out to the Russian side that the IAF could not indefinitely wait for the AJT to meet its requirements and that it would go ahead with the induction of an aircraft of this type but would consider the offer of S54 to meet its later requirements.

The sources said the Russian offer of S56 does not in any way affect IAF’s plans to acquire an advanced jet trainer which could either be the British Aerospace Hawk jet or the French Alpha jet.

Article extracted from this publication >>  March 5, 1993