India is paying Russia $300 million for license rights to built a thousand Al-55I jet engines. These engines will be used for the Indian designed and built HJT-36 trainer, and the HJT-39 combat-trainer, used by the Indian Air Force. Russian jet engines were always somewhat short of Western standards of reliability and durability. But since the end of the Cold War, they have closed the gap. India is in the process of developing a jet engine industry, and using Russian technology for the relatively simple Al-55I is a good way to develop those manufacturing skills. India has been buying more and more weapons manufacturing technology from Russia.