Russian Su-30MKI fighters are not just as good as Rafale jets (France); they outmatch them, Deputy Director General of Rosoboronexport, Sergey Goreslavsky said at Aero India-2015 airshow, TASS reports.

He reminded that the Russian party is ready to deliver Su-30MKI jets to India in case negotiations with France on purchase of Rafale fighters are not successful. According to Goreslavsky, Russia will “respect” any decision made by India.

“However, in case India decides not to purchase Rafale jets, we are ready to replace them with Su-30MKI fighters,” he said.

He also noted that Russian aircraft offers a number of advantages. “India already has capacities for production and maintenance of the fighter and it is capable of carrying out personnel training. It will provide significant savings for the Indian party,” Goreslavsky said.

President of United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) Yuri Slusar said that the company would accept any decision made by Indian party. He also said that one of the most important advantages of Su-30MKI fighter is the fact that India already has capacities for production of the aircraft, infrastructure, trained pilots and maintenance personnel. According to Slusar, expansion of Su-30MKI fleet will help India save money.

Dassault (France) won the tender for delivery of 126 fighters to India in January 2012, but the contract was never signed. Earlier Indian Minister of Defense Manohar Parrikar said that the decision related to the purchase of Rafale fighters would be made by March.

It was reported earlier that Indian Ministry of Defense might refuse to sign the contract for 2 reasons – high operating costs and unwillingness of the French party to transfer all the required technologies to Hindustan Aeronautics.

Russian Su-30MKI fighters are cornerstone of the Indian air forces’ fleet – a total of 272 jets of the type have been ordered. The fighters are assembled in India under license.