HAL to revive Su-30MKI production, ₹60,000 crore upgrade to give IAF fighters major capability boost
HAL to revive Su-30MKI production. (Image courtesy: Wikimedia)
New Delhi: India is preparing to give its Su-30MKI fleet a major capability boost, with plans to equip the Russian-origin fighter with new radar, electronic warfare and infrared search-and-track systems. At the same time, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is gearing up to add another 12 aircraft to the Indian Air Force’s fleet from its Nashik production line.
The proposed modernization of the Su-30MKI fleet is estimated to cost around ₹60,000 crore and could be undertaken in partnership with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian private-sector companies. The programme is expected to be implemented in two stages, covering the aircraft’s mission systems as well as its flight-control architecture.
The first stage is likely to bring major changes to the fighter’s avionics and sensor suite. A new indigenous radar is being considered to address limitations in the older system and give the aircraft a longer detection and engagement range. The fighter could also receive an upgraded electronic warfare suite to improve its ability to identify and counter hostile threats.
Another important addition would be an infrared search-and-track system, which would allow the aircraft to detect and track targets without relying entirely on its radar. The second phase of the programme is expected to focus on the flight-control systems and other aircraft-level improvements.
While the upgrade programme is being planned for the existing fleet, HAL is also preparing to resume manufacturing new Su-30MKIs at Nashik. The facility is expected to deliver the first aircraft from the new batch in 2027-28, with all 12 fighters scheduled to be delivered by 2029.
The additional aircraft are part of an approximately ₹11,000-crore contract signed in December 2024 to replace Su-30MKIs lost in accidents. The new fighters will be manufactured with more than 50 per cent indigenous content, giving the programme a greater domestic component than the earlier licence-production model.
HAL has already manufactured 222 Su-30MKIs for the IAF under an agreement with Russia. The Nashik facility, which has traditionally been associated with the production of Russian-origin fighters, is also involved in manufacturing India’s indigenous light combat aircraft.
The simultaneous addition of new aircraft and comprehensive upgrades to the existing fleet is expected to strengthen the Su-30MKI’s role in the IAF for the coming years. The focus on indigenous radar, electronic warfare and sensor technologies would also deepen the domestic content of one of India’s most important frontline fighter platforms.
