New Delhi: The country took another step towards self-reliance in the defense sector. The Defense Ministry on Monday signed a Rs 26,000 crore deal with public sector aerospace company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the purchase of 240 aero-engines for the fighter aircraft Sukhoi-30MKI. The aero-engines will be manufactured by HAL's Koraput division. This will help the Air Force maintain the operational capability of the Sukhoi-30 fleet.

The contract was signed by senior officials of the ministry and HAL in the presence of Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Choudhary. Under the contract, HAL will supply 30 aero engines per year. According to the Defence Ministry, the supply of all 240 engines will be completed in the next eight years. The ministry said - 'By the end of the supply program, HAL will increase the indigenization content to 63 percent, taking its average to more than 54 percent.

The number of fighter aircraft squadrons decreased to 30

This will also help in increasing indigenous content in aero engine repair works.' The deal for the engines comes amid concerns over the reduction in the number of fighter aircraft squadrons of the Air Force and delay in supply of Tejas aircraft by HAL. The number of fighter aircraft squadrons of the Air Force has come down to about 30 from the officially approved number of at least 42.