RF hopes to ink deal with India on SU-30 jets delivery by yearend.

7/10 Tass 260

NICOSIA, October 7 (Itar-Tass) - Russia hopes to ink a contract with
India on the delivery Sukhoi-30 jets and on joint research into and
development of an advanced front-line aircraft by the end of this year.
"The conclusion of contracts with India now is not on the agenda, but
we hope to do this before this year is out," the head of the state-run
corporation Rostekhnologii (Russian Technologies), Sergei Chemezov, told
reporters.
"It is too early to speculate about the Sukhoi-30's number or price,
the contract has not been signed yet," he said. Nor did Chemezov disclose
the value of the contract for joint research and development of an
advanced front-line aircraft. He did not confirm media rumors the contract
was 30 billion dollars worth.
"We (Russia) have practically created an advanced 5th generation
aircraft, but we are still to develop an advanced export version jointly
with India," Chemezov said.
"Initially we planned to split the development costs between Russia
and India evenly, but now we have an airworthy plane already," he added.

-0-gor/str