Bangalore, Feb 07: The Russian makers of MIG aircraft today blamed procurement of spurious parts by India from "uncertified sources" for the crash of a number of the fighter jets in the country.

First deputy general of MIG corporation, Vladimir Barkovskiy, said that a large quantity of "uncertified spare parts are available, especially in eastern Europe, which are not of best quality." "We cannot bear responsibility for spare parts (sourced from other suppliers)," Barkovskiy told reporters at the Aero India 2003, a five-day international aero exposition at Yelahanka near here. Only MIG Corporation and Rosoboron Export in Russia were certified suppliers of MIG aircraft parts, he said.

He admitted that the number of accidents involving MIG fighter aircraft was more in India compared to eastern Europe and Russia and said that MIG had supplied to the Indian government "comparative data" regarding the number of accidents involving MIG in India and those in the other two areas.
Bureau Report