India Opting to Modernize Existing Su-30MKIs instead of buying new ones?

India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is reportedly requesting $4 billion from the defence ministry to modernise the Air Force’s Su-30MKI fleet, but what happened to the ‘speedy’ procurement of Su-30MKI that was on cards?

In July 2020, Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) greenlit an Air Force proposal to speedily procure 21 MiG-29 fighter jets besides a dozen Sukhoi warplanes from Russia for nearly $2.4 billion. A contract was expected to be signed before 2021.

Dmitry Shugayev, the head of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, told TASS at the ARMY-2022 international arms show that Russia was working on supplying MiG-29UPG and Su-30MKI aircraft to India.

On 18 March 2022, it was reported that India ordered 12 Su-30MKIs. Two months later, the Indian government suspended the Su-30MKI order due to concerns over Moscow's ability to deliver parts to HAL and issues related to payment transfers.

The $4 billion Su-30MKI upgrade – dubbed Super Sukhoi – was announced in 2021 to modernise around 100 of 260 operationally ready Su-30MKIs. Around 11 jets were lost to crashes and accidents over the years. Anywhere between 40-50 Sukhoi aircraft are at HAL for overhaul repairs at any given time.

This Super Sukhoi project was delayed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Several Indian news outlets have now reported that a revamped upgrade program could soon be approved by the Indian government.

Under this project, obsolete Soviet N011M Bars radar will be replaced with locally developed Uttam AESA radar. The jet will also get other modern avionics and electronics, to put in the Generation 4++ category.

The upgrades would have brought Indian Su-30s on par with Russia’s Su-30 SM2, the most advanced Su-30, often called the Super Sukhoi. Su-30SM2 fighters come with an improved on-board radio-electronic equipment, better combat capabilities and target detection range. New high-precision means of destroying air, ground and sea targets at a distance of several hundred kilometers have been introduced into the armament of fighters.

Since India has been testing indigenous weapons from the Sukhoi jet, such as the BrahMos Extended Range supersonic cruise missile, Astra beyond-visual-range-air-to-air-missile (BVRAAM) and RUDRAM new generation Anti-Radiation Missile, the IAF could require more of these jets. These missiles give an edge to the Su-30MKIs operated by India over similar jets operated by other air forces including China.

Russia, in July 2022, offered to supply completely knocked down (CKD) kits of the Su-30MKI aircraft along with technology for their integration under the Make-in-India program. In addition, it has offered to carry out joint work on the modernization of the existing fleet of Su-30MKI jets including the integration of the latest air weapons, avionics, etc.