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India to produce 140 Sukhois: Fernandes
December 18, 2003 18:58 IST
India will produce 140 Sukhoi aircraft and have these warplanes as its mainstay in the coming years to replace the MiGs, Defence Minister George Fernandes said on Thursday.
He added the country was fully prepared to meet any military threat from Pakistan or elsewhere.
The country has already received the Sukhoi multi-role combat aircraft in two instalments and some technical problems faced by these aircraft, including those in the engine, have been resolved, he said during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha.
He said the Indian Air Force had formulated a modernisation plan 'to enhance the combat strength in terms of quality and quantity'.
Replying to a question on defence preparedness, he said, "With full confidence, I want to assure the House that today we are militarily as strong as never before. Sophisticated weapons have been acquired in the past three to four years and we are self-sufficient."
"Whether it is from Pakistan or anyone else, our armed forces are fully capable of meeting any threat from any quarter," Fernandes said.