HAL to start delivery of new Sukhoi-30s to IAF in April 2027

THE STATE-RUN HAL INKED A DEAL WORTH ₹13,500 CR WITH THE DEFENCE MINISTRY LAST WEEK TO DELIVER 12 FIGHTER JETS TO THE IAF

- Rahul Singh

NEW DELHI: State-run plane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will begin delivering in April 2027 the new Sukhoi-30s ordered by the defence ministry for the Indian Air Force and fulfil the contract it was recently awarded for 12 fighter aircraft two years thereafter, people aware of the matter said on Wednesday.

On December 12, the defence ministry inked a ₹13,500-crore contract with HAL for the 12 fighters along with associated equipment for the IAF, in a push for country's self-reliance drive.

HAL is reactivating its Su-30 production line in Nashik to execute the contract, said one of the persons cited above. The aircraft manufacturing division at Nashik, set up in 1964, has licence produced MiG variants as well as Su-30s.