Su-30MKI set for long-range boost as India eyes Russian RVV-BD missile
Su-30MKI. (Image courtesy: Wikimedia)
New Delhi: India is looking to expand the combat reach of its Su-30MKI fleet by exploring the integration of a Russian long-range air-to-air missile with the fighter aircraft. The move is part of a broader effort to equip the Indian Air Force with weapons capable of engaging aerial targets well beyond conventional visual ranges.
The defence ministry is considering a proposal to modify the Su-30MKI for carrying the Russian-origin RVV-BD missile, which has an engagement range of up to 300km, defence sources told ANI. The proposal is expected to be considered by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) at its meeting on Monday.
The timing is significant as the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, is expected to visit India for the BRICS meeting, where several defence-related issues could come up for discussion between the two countries. The prime minister, Narendra Modi, and Putin last interacted on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
With more than 260 Su-30MKIs in service, the aircraft remains the backbone of the IAF’s fighter fleet. India is already pursuing two separate modernization programmes for the platform to improve its ability to detect and strike targets at greater distances, while the DAC is also considering a separate programme to overhaul the aircraft at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, including work on their AL-31 engines.
The Su-30MKI has also been used as a key long-range strike platform. During Operation Sindoor, the fighters employed weapons including the air-launched BrahMos and Rampage, and the ongoing upgrade efforts are aimed at further improving the aircraft’s ability to detect and engage targets from greater distances.
The proposed RVV-BD integration would add another dimension to that capability, with the missile family including variants designed to engage high-value aerial targets such as airborne early warning and control aircraft and other surveillance platforms. Some Russian variants are capable of speeds of around Mach 6.
The move is a part of a wider effort to build up India’s long range air-to-air arsenal through both indigenous development and foreign procurement. The Defence Research and Development Organisation is also working on future Astra variants, which are expected to have a range exceeding 300km, while India has also placed large orders for French Meteor air-to-air missiles.
The wider aviation modernization push also includes a significant order for ALH Mark 3 helicopters that HAL is expected to receive. For the Su-30MKI, however, the proposed RVV-BD integration could provide a major boost to its long-range air combat capability by giving the IAF another weapon to engage aerial threats at distances of up to 300km.
