Zhukovsky Airbase (Russia): India's state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is to supply crucial components for assembly of state-of-the-art multirole Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter jets ordered by Malaysia under the $ 900 million deal with Russia, a senior official said on August 21.

Under the deal signed earlier this month during President Putin's Kuala Lumpur visit, Malaysia is to get 18 Sukhoi fighters based on MKI version jointly developed by Delhi and Moscow for specific requirements of the Indian Air Force.

Under the production co-operation, HAL will supply up to 10 per cent components made of advanced composite materials for the airframes of Malaysian fighters, President of IRKUT Aircraft Corporation Alexei Fyodorov said on the sidelines of the ongoing international aerospace show- 'MAKS-2003'.

IRKUT Corporation's aircraft plant in Irkutsk (Siberia) is currently executing Indian order for the supply of 50 Sukhoi Su-30MKI multirole fighters regarded by the experts as the "best" warplane today.

PTI