The new fighters for Belarusian air forces promised by Russia in fact have been operated by India before. The vehicles are owned by Irkut Corporation, Gazeta.ru reports with reference to Vedomosti.

The president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko said on September 21st that during his meeting with Vladimir Putin “a lot of questions connected with the air forces have been discussed. I asked for the supported and got it. In the nearest future we will acquire advanced aircraft». This refers to the above mentioned vehicles.

18 Su-30Кs have been delivered to Indian air forces inlate 1990s by the Irkutsk Aviation Plant as a provisional measure until the start of more advanced Su-30MKI fighter’sproduction. The contracts have been signed in 1996 and 2000 on delivery and licensed production of 190 Su-30MKIs on behalf of India.

In 2007 India has signed a contract on delivery of 18 Su-30MKIs in exchange for return of 18 Su-30Ks, which have passed into the ownership of Irkut Corporation and have been delivered to the 558 Aircraft repair plant (Baranovichi, Belarus) in order to avoid paying Russian VAT.