Bangalore: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on May 13 said that it is in touch with "Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG (RAC MiG)" over Russian media reports that HAL has supplied "substandard and uncertified" spares to Indian Air Force (IAF) resulting in a spate of MiG-21 crashes.

"It's a serious allegation. We have sent a message to RAC MiG. We are ascertaining facts," HAL spokesperson said, in an initial reaction from India's premier aircraft manufacturer.

"Such reports appear from time to time. It has been rejected in the past," the spokesperson said.

Leading Russian daily 'Izvestia' quoting unnamed Russian military experts had reported that the certified quality spares imported from Russia are being re- exported by HAL to Algeria and Vietnam while IAF is being supplied with "cheap and uncertified spares picked from former Warsaw Pact countries in Eastern Europe and CIS nations".

Asked if HAL denies the report, the spokesperson reiterated that it is ascertaining facts. "Such reports in the past have turned out to be untrue," he added.

When pressed for a specific reply as to whether HAL denied the latest press report or not, the spokesperson shot back, "We can't deny 22 times."

'Izvestia' report said that RAC MiG is likely to ask IAF to give the serial numbers of the MiG-21 trainer jets involved in the accidents since they suspect that these planes were never supplied to India by Russia and HAL had no license for their indigenous production.

PTI