OREANDA-NEWS. February 12, 2009. At the AERO INDIA 2009 international air show and exhibition "FORCE" magazine presented the award to "Irkut" Corporation, prime contractor and coordinator of the Su-30 program, acknowledged as the best program of India’s military-technical cooperation with foreign countries in combat aviation.

 JSC "Sukhoi Company" CEO Mikhail Pogosyan received the award on behalf of "Sukhoi Design Bureau" for the Su-30MKI design and development.

"FORCE" also recognized the personal contribution of Alexey Fedorov, President of JSC"United Aircraft Corporation" to Indo-Russian military-technical cooperation within the scope of the Su-30MKI project. 

 At the ceremony the awards were presented by Prawin Sawhney, editor-in-chief of the "FORCE" magazine that specializes in covering national security and defense issues.

According to a massive study conducted by experts from this respected Indian publication the Su-30MKI program is the most successful in the history of India’s military-technical cooperation with foreign countries, with the aircraft considered one of the top multi-role fighters in the world. The research authors highlight that the Su-30MKI became the first serially produced combat aircraft in the world to feature super-maneuverability conferred by the ultimate aerodynamic layout and TVC engines. A particular appreciation was expressed towards the onboard avionics suite with ESA radar to be the first fitted onto the exported fighter aircraft.

The specialists emphasize the fact that the Su-30MKI is the first combat machine developed outside India in accordance with the strict IAF requirements and produced in cooperation with Indian industry.

"Irkut" Corporation delivered to India over 100 aircraft and technological kits for their license production by Hindustan Aeronautics ltd. Since 2007 the Su-30MKI phases I and II are being upgraded to final technical configuration. Moreover in 2007 the contracts were signed to supply the IAF with 18 Su-30MKI aircraft in lieu of earlier inducted Su-30K and to deliver additional batch of 40 Su-30MKI.