Contract for 240 AL-31FP Aero Engines for Su-30MKI Formally Signed in New Delhi Today

In a significant step towards bolstering India's defence capabilities and promoting self-reliance, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) today formally signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the procurement of 240 AL-31FP aero engines, valued at over Rs 26,000 crore.

The agreement was finalized in New Delhi in the presence of Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari.

These engines, destined for the Indian Air Force's Su-30MKI fleet, will be manufactured by HAL's Koraput Division. With a planned production rate of 30 engines per year, the entire order is expected to be fulfilled over the next eight years. This move is crucial for maintaining the operational readiness of the Su-30MKI, a cornerstone of India's air defense strategy.

HAL intends to leverage India's growing defense manufacturing ecosystem during production, involving MSMEs and both public and private sector industries.

By the conclusion of the delivery program, HAL aims to increase the indigenous content of these engines to an impressive 63%, with an average of over 54% throughout the project. This will also contribute to greater self-reliance in the repair and overhaul of these critical aero engines.

 

[sanket]

Good 30 Engines per year good production rate unlike one or two or 14 or 16 per year, GE too likely to get 200 plus Engine orer for 83 Tejas MK1A+97 Tejas MK1A (Follow-on) But difference is preparedness for the order.

 

[Aloo]

1 engine for 108 crore.

Even including life cycle maintenance which costs more than engine themselves, it feels exorbitantly expensive.

 

[Anant]

Absolutely ridiculously expensive engines, even though we unfortunately have no alternatives here. Around 13 million USD each is just crazy.

For reference, the license-built F414s are expected to cost less than half of what these engines are.

 

[Benith Israel]

240 is enough for 120 su30. What about the rest?
if cost was not to high, it's better to manufacture new super sukoi airframes as well as engines to replace retiring mig 29 and Jaguars.

 

[ramdas]

All these years ADA/HAL/DRDO have drawn any lessons from the manufacture of the engines. Will SU30 airframe hold these engines for another 2 decades or evolve into another MIG21 like crashes

 

[vinod nair]

Rs 109 crore for one engine??? SEEMS like every one want too much from unavoidable Made in India initiative. Things like Brahmos Like missile can be much more effective. We need more and more unmanned aerial platform for surveillance which are networked and cost effective with standoff weapons foe A2A and A2G weapons on aircraft so that costly men and machine are kept away from harms way.

 

[Dredd]

1 engine for 108 crore.

Even including life cycle maintenance which costs more than engine themselves, it feels exorbitantly expensive.

it is .. each Sukhoi needs 3 pair of engine in its lifecycle (7500hrs) with each engine costing 100+ crores, engine cost itself for 270 sukhoi in its lifetime would be 270x2x3 x 108= 175000 crore in today;s money.I don't understand why IAF is ordering engine for only 115 jets which will come in 9 years, by then we would be needing to overhaul remaining 150 Su jets. IAF should have ordered 500+ engine and that would have helped in keeping cost down, I am sure in 2033 when IAF will again put order for these engine it will be costing atleast 2x more than today.

 

[Dredd]

Absolutely ridiculously expensive engines, even though we unfortunately have no alternatives here. Around 13 million USD each is just crazy.

For reference, the license-built F414s are expected to cost less than half of what these engines are.

even F-15 engine costs less than these engines, F100-PW-229 have more than twice the life of AL31 engine as well .

 

[Sangram]

240 is enough for 120 su30. What about the rest?
if cost was not to high, it's better to manufacture new super sukoi airframes as well as engines to replace retiring mig 29 and Jaguars.

We already making whole airframe in Nasik of Su30MKI

 

[Raja Raja Cholan]

Absolutely ridiculously expensive engines, even though we unfortunately have no alternatives here. Around 13 million USD each is just crazy.

For reference, the license-built F414s are expected to cost less than half of what these engines are.

But, they are so concerned about cost and dragging their feet for far too long on RFI and RFP on the procurement of 114 MRFA fighter aircrafts to fill in the gap in fighter squadrons.