India and Malaysia have finalised Terms of Reference (ToR) for the establishment of a ‘SU-30 forum’ for closer cooperation between the air forces of the two sides for exchanging best practices on the maintenance of the Russian origin fighter aircraft both operate.
While Malaysia has one squadron of SU 30s based at RMAF Gong Kedak Air Base, India has the largest fleet of SU 30 MKIs as the IAF operates over 270 of them.
India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd has indigenised many systems, sub-systems and components for maintenance of SU 30MKIs which will be going in for life enhancing upgrades shortly.
The upliftment to make the mainstay aircraft “Super Sukhoi” will include refitting of indigenously made avionics, radars, electronic warfare suite and weapon systems following a contract which would be signed next month, said government sources.
The upgrade of first 84 SU 30-MKIs is expected to cost ₹63,000 crore. Of that, the IAF will be funding 90 per cent, while the HAL, which has got licence for production of the fighter jets from Russia, will take care of the remaining 10 per cent.
Besides, Ministry of Defence has inked deal with HAL on December 12, last year, for acquiring 12 more Sukhois at approximately ₹13,500 crore.
Sources said that SU-30 forum will give India opportunity to offer its expertise over maintenance and repair of the SU 30s to Royal Malaysian Air Force.
13th meeting of Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Committee
The ToRs were exchanged between the two nations at 13th meeting of Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Committee (MIDCOM), that took place in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday and was co-chaired by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Secretary General of Ministry of Defence of Malaysia, Lokman Hakim Bin Ali, the Ministry of Defence noted.
Singh highlighted the capability of the Indian defence industry, particularly its potential to collaborate with the Malaysian companies and the armed forces in their capability enhancement and modernisation.
The two countries also exchanged the finalised Terms of Reference (ToR) on the establishment of Strategic Affairs Working Group. This forum will act as a consultative mechanism intermediate between the MIDCOM and the two sub-committees to progress all aspects of bilateral defence cooperation, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Wednesday.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to fully implement the new initiatives under the defence pillar of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Malaysian counterpart Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the latter’s visit to India in August 2024, the MoD informed.