JSC Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG is keen to offer its brand new fighter MiG-35 under the ‘Make in India’ scheme, according to the company’s Director General Ilya Tarasenko. In an interview with BusinessLine on the sidelines of Aero India, he said MiG is ready to meet all the requirements of the Indian armed forces. Excerpts:

The Navy recently offered to buy 57 carrier-based fighter jets. Are you interested in that deal?

We completed deliveries of more than 40 carrier-based MiG-29K/KUB for INS Vikramaditya in 2016. We will offer MiG-29K/KUB for the Navy for all future carriers. We are prepared to meet any requirement of the Indian Navy with the aircraft.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said India may require 300-400 fighters in the coming years. Do you see this as an opportunity for the new generation MiG?

We are prepared to offer our new MiG-35 fighters. This aircraft is most loved by the Indian Air Force. We are planning to begin negotiations on its supply soon with the Ministry of Defence.

We are keen to offer it under the ‘Make in India’ programme with special focus on localisation. We have already gained the confidence of the Indian Air Force with the MiG-29 upgrade programme.

Tell us more about your offer of MiG-35 fighters to India, considering you are facing tough competition from SAAB, Lockheed Martin and Boeing...

MiG-35 is a brand new multirole fighter — the perfect solution for the Indian Air Force that is seeking to replace its old fleet. And it also fits the Make in India programme perfectly. We do not have any competitor in this because we feel we are the best and this is an absolutely new product with new radar, new equipment, different software and enhanced fuselage.

Well, you did offer MiG-35 previously to India under the medium multirole combat aircraft (MMRCA) tender in 2007. But you were not shortlisted and eventually Rafale was selected. Was it not a setback for you?

Our maintenance cost is almost 35 per cent lower than Rafale. But the Indian government took its own decision and we honour that. We are now exploring new opportunities in the fighter programme with promises of local production. We are soon beginning a new round of discussions on our offer of MiG-35 to India.

What is a good number for you to start the localisation process for the MiG-35?

It depends on the demand made by India. Our production plan is ready.

Do you feel India’s confidence in MiG has taken a hit — since difficulties in procuring spare parts had resulted in a series of MiG-21 crashes...

This I do not know. The deliveries were done on schedule. Moreover, MiG-21 is recognised as one of the best fighters in the world. In India, the exploitation of the MiG-21 was extended until 2025.

So we have no problems with our fighters in India.

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