CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -Earlier in July 2020, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had approved a proposal for procurement of 21 MiG-29 fighter aircraft, along with upgradation of 59 Mig-29s, and 12 more Su-30 MKI aircraft for Rs 18, 148 crore (around $2.2 billion).

Detailed explanation-2: -SU-30 JET CRITICAL FOR IAF The deal for the 12 Su-30 MKI jets is critical for the Indian Air Force (IAF) so they can replace the aircrafts that they lost in accidents since the induction of the twin engines into the fleet.

Detailed explanation-3: -After two years of evaluation and negotiations, on 30 November 1996, India signed a US$1.462 billion deal with Sukhoi for 50 Russian-produced Su-30MKIs in five batches. The first batch were eight Su-30Ks, the basic export version of Su-30 (designated Su-30MKI-I by India).

Detailed explanation-4: -The Pilibhit Member of Parliament, Varun Gandhi, voiced what many feel when he termed the MiG-21 an “udta taboot” (flying coffin). Since its initial induction in 1963, India has inducted over 900 MiG-21s. The first MiG-21s arrived in October 1963, followed by six MiG-21PFs (Type 76) in 1965.

Detailed explanation-5: -The IAF operates about 66 of the Soviet/Russian origin fighters in three squadrons. Two of them are based at Adampur and Jamnagar, while the third has recently moved to Srinagar to replace a MiG-21 squadron that was phased out. In addition, the Navy also procured 35 MiG-29s for its fleet air arm.