NEW DELHI: Russian government’s experts held discussions with Indian officers last week on a proposal to jointly manufacture improved M.I.G.21 fighter plane for export to third world countries according to authoritative sources here.
The participants from the Russian side were engineers belonging to Mikeyan Design Bureau for ML.Gs headed by chief designer Rostislav Belyakov. who came here after arranging an exhibition at Paris to make MG. planes popular internationally.
Belyakov in an interview with 40 Indian nows agency said that “Delhi sought Russian help to modernize the fighter air raft and Mikoyan Bureau had accepted the plea. “The technical design is ready and is being examined by Indian defence expend The improved design ensures an increase of combat potential of the plane by three times.
“The Russian engineer allayed Indian apprehensions about paucity of M.I.G. spares and said that Russia would soon cut its air force and would have plenty of M.l.G. air craft and spares for India. “Our Country could also sell to India a series of our latest most advanced frontline aircraft M.I.G.31” the engineer added.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 17, 1992
