Russian experts to investigate Su-30 jet crash in India

A group of Russian experts has arrived in India to look into the cause of a recent Su-30MKI fighter jet crash, a source in India's Defense Ministry told RIA Novosti on Friday. An Indian Air Force Sukhoi-30MKI crashed on April 30 during a routine training flight near a village 170km from the town of Jaisalmer in the northeastern state of Rajasthan, killing one of its two pilots. The source said 20 Russian experts arrived on Wednesday at the crash site to examine the wreckage of the plane. The incident was the first since the Su-30MKI was put into service with the Indian Air Force in 2002. The Indian Air Force originally ordered 50 SU-30MKI aircraft from Russia in 1996-98 and an additional 40 planes in 2007. Hindustani Aeronautics (HAL) was also contracted to build 140 aircraft in India between 2003 and 2017 under a licensed production agreement. According to open sources, the Indian Air Force currently operates some 60 Su-30MKI in three of its 33 squadrons.

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