India Considers Major Su-30MKI Modernization with Russian Backing
The deliberations coincide with India’s broader effort to acquire a fifth-generation stealth combat aircraft. In that competition, Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57 has reportedly positioned itself as a leading candidate.
At the center of the current proposal is the so-called “Super Sukhoi” upgrade package, which remains subject to approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security. As outlined in reports, the plan would initially cover 84 aircraft. However, the Indian Air Force is also exploring alternative pathways to modernize the remaining Su-30MKI jets in its inventory—estimated at roughly 175 additional planes.
In a recent development, a senior Russian delegation visited a production site operated by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the state-run aerospace manufacturer that assembles Sukhoi aircraft domestically under license from Moscow. The engagement signals ongoing coordination between New Delhi and Russian defense counterparts.
The rationale behind seeking Russian involvement appears tied to concerns over project timelines. Domestically executed upgrade programs led by HAL are said to require approximately seven years from the point of formal clearance. Relying exclusively on in-country processes could therefore extend completion into the next decade, an unnamed source reportedly indicated, explaining the push to accelerate modernization through closer cooperation with Russia.
The Su-30MKI—an India-specific adaptation of the Russian Su-30 platform—was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2002 and continues to serve as a core component of its combat aviation capabilities.
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