India orders additional twelve locally-built Su-30MKIs
December 18, 2024
Additional units of the two-seater, twin-engine multirole fighter will be built under license by India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at its Nasik plant, with an indigenous content of 62.6%; “enhanced due to the indigenisation of many components to be manufactured by Indian defence industry,” explained the MoD.
A derivative of the Russian Su-30, the Su-30MkI – the backbone of the country’s current combat fleet – was developed for Indian specifications. In 2000, the Indian Air Force placed an order for 272 units, of which 222 would be license-built by HAL. A further order of 40 was placed in 2027, with the IAF having received a total of 272 units as of the Su-30MkI as of 2024. The MoD concluded that “the supply of these aircraft would enhance operational capability of the Indian Air Force and strengthen defence preparedness of the country”.
The new aircraft will augment an ongoing upgrade plan by which an existing 84 units will be significantly upgraded, critical to the 30 fighter squadrons operating the type. With improvements including advanced radar, upgraded avionics and weapons upgrades, HAL will act as the lead integrator for the project, supported by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the private sector.
In September, HAL was also contracted for an additional 240 engines (also built under Russian license) to help keep the ageing fleet airborne. “These aero engines will be manufactured by the Koraput Division of HAL, and are expected to fulfil the needs of the Indian Air Force to sustain the operational capability of the Su-30 fleet for the defense preparedness of the country,” stated the MoD.
