MOSCOW. Dec 7 (Interfax-AVN) - The Sukhoi Aviation Holding Company is going to further the cooperation with its Indian partners after executing the contract on SU-30MKI fighters, Sergei Korotkov, the company's deputy director general, told Interfax-Military News Agency on Tuesday.
"We will not finish the cooperation with India after the contract is fulfilled, but are going to move it to a better level. For instance, it is quite possible that India will participate in the fifth-generation combat aircraft program," he said.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov told reporters during his stay in India that Russia would fulfil its obligations under the SU-30MKI contract before this year-end.
Korotkov added that this contract had a great importance.
"The Indian side did not simply buy a ready-made aircraft, but contributed to the project at the research and development stage. As a result, the Indians got the aircraft they wanted," he said.
He also said that the fact that the work and the payment procedures were clearly specified was an undoubted advantage of the program. "Since 1997, we have known exactly what is coming next," he said.
According to him, India is also interested in further cooperation.
"There is a world-spread tendency now that countries do not want to simply buy ready-made aircraft, but either wish to participate in the development or obtain the technologies. We are ready to cooperate with our Indian partners on such terms," he said.
According to him, the Indian Air Force has a lot of Soviet and Russian aircraft and can boast a wealth of expertise of its maintenance and operation.
"Therefore, it is quite convenient for them to work with us," he added.