India orders 12 locally manufactured Su-30MKI fighter jets for $1.5 billion

Asia-Pacific, News December 17, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

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India’s Ministry of Defense signed a $1.5 billion contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to produce 12 Su-30MKI fighter jets. The move comes as the Indian Air Force (IAF) seeks to replenish its operational fleet and enhance its defense preparedness amidst growing geopolitical tensions.

The strength of India’s Su-30MKI fleet is 272 aircraft; however, only 259 are currently operational. The acquisition of these 12 additional jets aims to address this shortfall. “The supply of these aircraft would enhance the operational capability of the Indian Air Force and strengthen the country’s defense preparedness,” stated the MoD in an official release.

The new batch of Su-30MKI jets will be manufactured by HAL at its Nashik division. Notably, the jets will feature over 62.6% indigenous content, underscoring India’s ongoing efforts to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers and boost domestic defense production. The aircraft have been license-produced in India under a long-standing partnership with Russia.

The Su-30MKI, an Indian-specific variant of the Russian Sukhoi Su-30, was first inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2002. Known for its advanced capabilities, the twin-engine, multi-role fighter has a maximum takeoff weight of 38,800 kilograms and can carry a payload of over 8 tons. This includes an array of sophisticated weaponry such as air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, and anti-ship missiles.

While the acquisition of these 12 jets is a critical step, the larger focus for India lies in upgrading its existing fleet of Su-30MKIs. Earlier this year, the government approved a $7-billion upgrade project for 84 Su-30MKIs, often referred to as the ‘Super’ Sukhoi program.

This upgrade will include next-generation avionics, advanced radars, and flight control systems, making the aircraft more capable of countering modern threats. HAL will carry out the upgrades in collaboration with the Indian industry over the next 15 years. The project aligns with the Indian government’s Make in India initiative, which aims to promote self-reliance in defense manufacturing.

*^{Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30MKI. (Image Credit: Airliners/Wikimedia Commons)}*

In addition to these upgrades, India has also inked a $3.1 billion deal with HAL for 240 AL-31FP engines to power the Su-30MKI fleet. Unlike the modernization efforts, this deal is primarily a sustainment measure to ensure the aircraft remain operational over the coming decades.

This agreement highlights the importance of maintaining the combat readiness of the Su-30MKI fleet, which forms the backbone of the IAF. The aircraft has been a workhorse for India, playing crucial roles in peacetime operations and military exercises.

India’s association with the Sukhoi jets dates back to the late 1990s when the Su-30MKI was jointly developed by Russia’s Sukhoi Corporation and HAL. The deal, worth over $1 billion at the time, was a milestone in Indo-Russian defense collaboration. The Su-30MKI was customized for Indian conditions, with advanced avionics sourced from Russia, Israel, France, and India.

Since then, the Su-30MKI has been a cornerstone of India’s air power, offering exceptional versatility and range. However, the dependence on Russia for spare parts and components has been a recurring issue, particularly during geopolitical crises. This has further accelerated India’s push to indigenize critical components of the aircraft.