Belarus to receive used India fighter jets

Belarus is expected receive 18 renovated fighter jets that until recently were operated by the Indian air force, aleading Russian news magazine reported Friday, dpa reported. The Belarusian air force "is most likely" to obtain the Russian-built Su-30K planes after their refurbishment, Kommersant news magazine reported, citing an unnamed official in national arms trading company Rosoboroneksport.The price of a single fighter jet, once modernized, would be 15 million dollars, the article said, adding that the overhaul take place at a facility in the Belarusian city Baranovichy.However, the Kremlin has reportedly not made a final decision on where the former Indian jets will be sold. A 1996 Moscow-Delhi arms deal marked the first foreign sale of Russia's Su-30 fighter, a plane touted by Moscow at the time as capable of competing on even terms with all but the very best US fighters But the first 18 of a planned 230 aircraft were sent to India with simplified avionics, because of Russian production problems. India is now returning these less capable planes, designated Su-30K, to the Russian manufacturer Sukhoi, after replacing them with the more capable Su-30MKI fighter jet, the article said. The Su-30MKI is India's main air superiority fighter jet, a type of aircraft designed to seize control of enemy airspace. Dehli currently operates 140 of the jets, and is planning to manufacture more under license.