Russia will resell 18 Su-30MKI fighters abandoned by Indian authorities in 2003 due to troubles with engines, RIA Novosti reports.

According to the First Deputy Director of Federal Service on Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC), Alexander Fomin, the batch of 18 Su-30s previously operated by Indian air forces are located in Belorussia at an aircraft repair plant at the moment and they are offered for sale. "Su-30 - 18 ones. Previously operated by India. We are open to any potential customer", - he said.

The aircraft are located at 558 Aircraft Repair Plant at the moment. It is assumed that they will be repaired and possibly upgraded, he noted.

Fomin added that repair and modernization will be performed only for the specific customer taking into account his own requirements. "We hope to find a customer for the whole batch, but maybe we will sell it by parts", - he added.

The representative of FSMTC underlined that Beltechexport, the Belorussia’s largest importer and exporter of arms, is also taking part in the search for the customer.

Su-30MKI jets form the basis of Indian fighter aviation. At present India has 100 combat-ready aircraft of this type. The number of Su-30MKIs operated by India should increase to 280-300 ones in the next ten years.