Russia to repair India’s anti-submarine aircraft

Moscow, Aug 15:

A Russian producer of anti-submarine planes has said it will effect consecutive repairs of five Il-38SD aircraft which are in service with India.

“We’re overhauling the second Indian aircraft, and the next plane is to arrive in about four months,” director general of the Il company Yuri Yudin told Itar-Tass Friday, adding that the overhaul would include a minor upgrade.

He said India was no longer interested in these planes and that their further sales were unlikely.

India purchased five Il-38s in 1975-1983. In the 2000s, they were upgraded to the Sea Dragon version, featuring 14 hours of loiter time at a speed of 400 km/h. The maximum speed of these planes is 610 km/h, and the maximum range is 6,500 km.

In 2009, India signed a $2.1-billion contract to purchase eight US-made P-8I Poseidon anti-submarine aircraft. The first plane was supplied in 2013. India has an option to buy four more planes for one billion dollars.

–IANS/ITAR-TASS