With the Indian Air Force (IAF) deciding not to use the Russian Ilyushin-78 refuellers after operating them for six years, it will not only be a loss of over $1 billion to Russia but will also be the end of Russian dominance in the Indian defence sector.
Tensions in the Indo-Russian ties have existed due to sudden price revisions in contracts for Sukhoi-30 fighters and aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov. Added to that are problems of lack supply of spares and poor vendor support.
India plans to drop the Russian mid-air refuellers and opt for the Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport. This is a military derivative of Airbus A330 airliner offered by European aerospace corporation EADS. India had floated the billion dollar global tender three years back and the Russian and the EADS have been the front-runners.
However, outgoing Indian Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major said India has finished all evaluations and selected the A-330 tanker transport and the deal will come up for final approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security very soon. He added that that the “Russian platform did not meet certain requirements.”
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