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Journalism of Courage
The AN-32 transport aircraft upgrade and IL-78 mid air refueller acquisition are on top of the agenda of Chief of Air Staff S. Krishnaswamy’s visit to Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
The Indian Air Force while firmly denying Russian claims of purchasing sub-standard and reconditioned spares from countries other than Russia insist ‘‘warm relations,’’ with Ukraine and other Commonwealth of Independent States countries will continue.
Krishnaswamy is presently on a goodwill visit to Ukraine, one of the largest spares suppliers to IAF. After meeting the commander-in-chief of the Ukraine Air Force, Krishnaswamy will leave for Uzbekistan and meet K. Gulyanov, the Defence Minister and a host of other top armed forces officials.
India has signed an agreement with Uzbekistan for the purchase of six IL-78 aircraft to be used as the platform for mid-air refuellers. The agreement was signed in 2001 and the first delivery is expected to take place around mid 2003, IAF sources said.
‘‘He will be seeing the progress of the delivery of the platform and modification work,’’ sources added.
‘‘Russia and India are planning to set up factories in India for the manufacture of spares of old Russian origin aircraft,’’ an MoD official said. The An-32 transport aircraft was manufactured specially for the IAF keeping in mind air staff requirements laid down by IAF for operations in high altitude airfields like Thoise and Leh.
