Shortage of certain spare parts of AN-32 jet due to strain in Russia-Ukraine ties

There is shortage of certain Russian-origin spare parts of AN-32 transport aircraft due to strained relations between Russia and Ukraine, the government said Monday.

In a written response to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik said the Indian Air Force (IAF) has 98 AN-32 aircraft and none has outlived its operational life.

"More than half of Indian Air Force's AN-32 aircraft have been upgraded with structural upgrade as well as installation of advanced avionics such as radar, radio sets, navigation system etc and the remaining are under upgradation in a phased manner. The serviceability of the fleet has been at par with other fleets," he said.

"There is shortage of certain spares of Russian origin due to strained relations between Russia and Ukraine," Naik added.

Russia had annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 following which the ties between the two nations strained.

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