New Delhi: The first batch of 10 sophisticated Russian-made multi-role Sukhoi-30 MK-I warplanes will form part of Indian Air Force fleet in August giving more teeth to the country's military strike power.

While four of these jets, customised for India, were delivered by Russia's Irkutsk plant last month, two more were expected to arrive by the third week of July and another four by August end, Defence sources said on July 11.

With the induction of these jets, the Su-30 fleet would go up to 28, of which, 18 have been delivered in phases since June 1997. The nearly Rs 6,500 crore contract for purchase of 50 Su-30s was signed in November 1996.

The MK-I version of Su-30 has significant improvements over the previous variants and contains latest avionics, sophisticated thrust vectoring for greater manoeuvrability and shorter wings to allow better take-off loads.

"Twenty-two more SU-30 MK-Is will be delivered in the next two years after which the 18 previous variants will be upgraded," the sources said.

SU-30s can carry conventional and nuclear weapons and can take a load of upto eight tonnes. With mid-air refuelling, its range is over 7,000 km.

The sources said the SU-30 MK-I, comparable to the best warplanes in the world, would form part of IAF's "Lightning Squadron" and is likely to be based in Maharashtra.

The latest version of the twin-seated Sukhois would also be manufactured under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and the first of the 140 of these is expected to be inducted in the IAF by 2005-06.

The first 18 SU-30s delivered to India were basically fighter jets described as 'K' series by the Russian as against the SU-30 MK-I that is a multi-role version.

Besides, French-made Mirage 2000 warplanes, IAF is equipped with Russian-made jets of the MiG series and Sukhois.

PTI