New Delhi: To ensure better operational availability of Sukhoi fighters, the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is planning to set up a store of components for India’s frontline Sukhoi 30 MKI fighters with an initial investment of Rs 2,000 crore to Rs 4,000 crore.

“Availability of Sukhoi fighter aircraft is more important. The existing system is that the customer (IAF in this case) places an order on HAL which we either buy or manufacture and then supply it. It is not an efficient way of doing things. Now, if we can order in bulk and store it, we get a bulk discount too. We are looking at an initial investment of Rs 2,000 crore to Rs 4,000 crore as an initial investment depending on what one stocks,” said T. Suvarna Raju, chairman and managing director, HAL.

The proposal to maintain a store with a five-year-long requirement is believed to be at an advanced stage.

Mr Raju was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event to mark the 70th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Russia which was celebrated by the handing over of the 50th indigenously-made Sukhoi aero-engine with only the raw material being sourced from Russia. As of now, the IAF orders spares and other Sukhoi components from abroad in a cumbersome and lengthy process.

A 2016 defence ministry internal audit report had also recommended: “IAF may formulate a proposal for placing indent for requirements of spares in bulk to cover five years requirements to enable HAL to go in for economies of volumes while placing orders either on foreign vendors or on indigenous vendors.” India has about 230 Sukhoi 30 MKI operational fighters although just half is available for operational flights at any given point of time due to repairs, upgrades and lack of spares.

The HAL chief also pitched for the fifth-generation fighter jet project with Russia. “This is an opportunity for us to go in for this kind of (high) technology,” he said.