Angola To Receive Four Modernized Su-30MK Fighters From Russia This Year

Angola will receive four overhauled modernized Su-30K multi-role fighters later this year from Russia.

“Up to four overhauled and upgraded jets of the type will be delivered to the customer this year. The contract will be implemented in late 2016 or early 2017,” Tass reported Tuesday quoting an unnamed source from the 558th aircraft repair plant (Belarus) as saying.

Russia and Angola had signed a contract for 12 upgraded Su-30K jets in late 2013.

The Su-30K fighters in question are a batch of 18 Su-30MK and Su-30K aircraft initially supplied to India in the late 1990s, prior to Delhi receiving the more advanced multirole Su-30MKI variant. They were returned to Russia in 2007 and have since lain idle in a Belarusian repair plant. Rosoboronexport is still on the lookout for a customer for six of these aircrafts after Angola signed a deal for 12 of them.

The Angolan Air Force currently flies around half a dozen Su-27s, out of 18 originally delivered. It also has other Sukhoi aircraft in its inventory, notably the Su-22 and Su-24.