Indian Navy should receive last 2 of 5 upgraded Russian Il-38SD planes this year
13.02.2009 The Indian Navy should be able to take delivery of the last installment of the five Il-38SD patrol airplanes Russia is upgrading this year, Viktor Livanov, the general director of Russian aircraft builder Iliushin, announced at the Aero India 2009 air show.
"The delivery had been postponed from the end of last year to this year. In principle, the planes are ready, and as soon as the Indian side comes to take delivery we will be able to deliver them. I think it will happen before the middle of the year."
Five Il-38S of the Indian Navy are undergoing modernization in Russia in the framework of a contract estimate to be worth $200 million. The upgrading centers on the installation of a new target-finding system dubbed Morskoy Zmey. The third upgraded Il-38D was delivered in the summer of last year. The first and 2nd were delivered in 2006.