Spare parts units for fighters likely

bangalore: india was holding discussions with russia to set up spare parts manufacturing facilities for fighter aircraft in india so that it can cater to the needs of india and a few other countries, defence minister george fernandes said on saturday. speaking to reporters after handing over two advanced light helicopters (alh) to indian air force chief of air staff air chief marshal s.krishnaswamy, fernandes said he would be going to russia on april 9 to hold further discussions.he said russia was forthcoming to help india in the sector. he had already held discussions with the russian defence minister who was in india sometime ago. india wants to produce the spare parts which russia has stopped manufacturing. both india and a few other countries were finding it difficult to keep their fleet of fighter aircraft going due to non-availability of these spare parts. chief of air staff, air chief marshal s.krishnaswamy, who received two dhruv - the alh, said the hal had made india proud. krishnaswamy said the hal was giving, according to the letter of intent, 120 alh''s each to the iaf and the army while 60 to the navy. hal chairman n.r.mohanty said he had held discussions with the iaf chief on the proposal to buy the attack version of the alh. defence production and supplies secretary subhir datta said that the hal would produce 20 alh''s in the initial phase and deliveries will continue in 2002-2003. a demonstration of the capabilities of the alh was performed for the audience.