MAPO and Sukhoi await the outcome of India's decision on carrier based fighter

Published: 10/6/1999

Competition is hotting up between Sukhoi and MAPO MiG for an expected order, valued at between $600m and $800m, from India, for the right to deliver aircraft to the aviation group of the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier; sold to India in March 1998. It is expected that a decision will be made by the end of 1999. The reports that India intends to buy an additional aircraft carrier have intensified the rivalry for the current contract, as the winner of the first contract will likely be the winner of the second. MAPO MiG believe that the next Indian aircraft carrier will be smaller than the Admiral Gorshkov, and India will therefore favour the navalised version of the MiG-29, the MiG-29K, over the heavier Sukhoi rival in the form of the Su-33, currently in service with the Russian Navy. The Indian government to date however, has not commented on its requirements. For MAPO the selection of the MiG-29K is an important development for a programme that lost out to the Su-33, when the latter was chosen as the aircraft for the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral of the Fleet Kuznetsov in the early 1990s. The programme was restarted in 1996 at Zhukovsky, outside of Moscow, specifically to win this contract and MAPO have devoted considerable funds to achieving the goal. In price terms the aircraft have little to distinguish them, but MAPO believe that the weight issue will win them the contract.

Article ID: 943