GELENDZHIK (South Russia), September 8 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's state arms exporter, Rosoboronexport, said on Monday it had contracted a number of Russian companies to provide India's A-50 AEW aircraft with after sale services.

"Rosoboronexport has signed contracts with the Beriev Aircraft Company, the Perm Motors Group and the Vega concern to provide after sale maintenance to India's airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft," a Rosoboronexport official told reporters at an air show in the Krasnodar Region.

The A-50 Mainstay is a Russian AWACS aircraft based on the Ilyushin Il-76 transport plane. It entered service with the Russian Air Force in 1984, and about 40 aircraft had been produced by 1992.

In 2001 India ordered three A-50EI variant fitted with the Israeli-made Phalcon radar system from Russia. The first aircraft was scheduled to arrive in 2007-08 but has been delayed.

According to various sources, the Russian Air Force has 16-19 A-50 AWACS aircraft.

Russia is currently developing a modernized version of the A-50 plane, which features an improved radar system and more sophisticated and powerful PS-90A engines.