HAL Has Opportunity to Offer Advanced Version of 'Made in India' Su-30MKI for India's MRFA Program

While American defence giants like Boeing and Lockheed Martin vie for India's Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) contract with their F-15EX, F-21, and F/A-18 Super Hornet platforms, an intriguing possibility has emerged.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), in partnership with Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), could offer an advanced, indigenized version of the Su-30MKI – dubbed the "Super Sukhoi" – as a compelling contender.

This approach aligns seamlessly with India's 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiatives, promising a potent and cost-effective fighter with significant domestic input.

The Su-30MKI already forms the backbone of the Indian Air Force (IAF), renowned for its versatility, long range, and multi-role capabilities. By upgrading it to the "Super Sukhoi" configuration, HAL and UAC can deliver a solution tailored to India's specific needs while leveraging cutting-edge technology from the upcoming Super Sukhoi upgrade package.

This ambitious upgrade could encompass several key enhancements:

• Indian Weapons Package: Integrating indigenous weapons like the Astra Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile and the BrahMos-A supersonic cruise missile would optimize the platform for India's operational requirements and simplify logistics.
• Indian Avionics Suite: Incorporating an advanced avionics package developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) would bring the Su-30MKI on par with current-generation fighters, enhancing its situational awareness and combat effectiveness.
• Composite Airframe Components: Utilizing composite materials in the airframe would reduce weight, improve durability, and minimize the aircraft's radar signature, boosting its agility and stealth capabilities.
• Advanced AL-41 Engines: Replacing the existing AL-31 engines with the more powerful and fuel-efficient AL-41 engines would significantly enhance the Super Sukhoi's performance and reliability.

This "Super Sukhoi" offers several advantages over its American rivals:

• Technological Modernization: The proposed upgrades would bridge the capability gap between the existing Su-30MKI and future 5th-generation fighters like the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), ensuring the IAF retains a potent and relevant air superiority fighter.
• Cost-Efficiency: Leveraging indigenous technology and existing infrastructure would make the Super Sukhoi significantly more affordable than its American counterparts, potentially saving India billions in procurement costs.
• Indigenous Content: The HAL-UAC partnership ensures a high degree of domestic manufacturing and maintenance, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers and boosting India's aerospace industry.
• Strategic Continuity: As the IAF already operates a large Su-30MKI fleet, integrating an upgraded variant would streamline training, operations, and logistics, ensuring a smooth transition and rapid deployment.

The Super Sukhoi presents a compelling proposition for India's MRFA program. It leverages the IAF's familiarity with the Su-30MKI platform, offers significant cost advantages, and aligns perfectly with India's strategic goals of self-reliance and indigenous defence production.

This "low-hanging fruit" could be the ideal solution for the IAF's modernization needs, providing a potent and cost-effective fighter while bolstering India's domestic aerospace capabilities.

 

[Surfer]

India needs MWF like Tejas MK2, Gripen, EF Typhoon, MIg-35 and Rafale

 

[मित्र]

India needs MWF like Tejas MK2, Gripen, EF Typhoon, MIg-35 and Rafale

We already hv 2 mwf sqd of rafale and tejas mk2 in future, lwf (tejas mk1 & mk1a), hwf (su).
mk2 will fill the gap for mwf and in the meantime mk1a will perform peacetime patrolling a much better option for cost savings

 

[abhinav srivastava]

MRFA concept was good 20 years ago. Now focus should be on 5th gen. Sooner we will have Tejas mk1A, and thereafter MK2 fulfilling most of our 4th gen requirements. But their production and induction in larger numbers will be accomplished in next 10 years or so. We have to have some jets which can fill up numbers for next 10 years. Why not buy used mirages if available at reasonable rates and upgrade them?. Talk to Greece, UAE, Peru.....for old mirages. Buy 36-48 Rafales for IAF. Procure equal number of 5th gen jets. Only 5th gen non USA jet available to us is SU57. Provide inputs and implement a SU27 like deal, integrate uttam GAN, if ready. Get 2-3 squadrons. Once Pakistan gets them, our air force will be in inferiority complex.

 

[Ayyadurai Namasivayam]

MRFA concept was good 20 years ago. Now focus should be on 5th gen. Sooner we will have Tejas mk1A, and thereafter MK2 fulfilling most of our 4th gen requirements. But their production and induction in larger numbers will be accomplished in next 10 years or so. We have to have some jets which can fill up numbers for next 10 years. Why not buy used mirages if available at reasonable rates and upgrade them?. Talk to Greece, UAE, Peru.....for old mirages. Buy 36-48 Rafales for IAF. Procure equal number of 5th gen jets. Only 5th gen non USA jet available to us is SU57. Provide inputs and implement a SU27 like deal, integrate uttam GAN, if ready. Get 2-3 squadrons. Once Pakistan gets them, our air force will be in inferiority complex.

You are correct. 5th gen fighter purchase also needed. We are lagging very much in 5th gen fighter requirement. Even a financially weak country like Pakistan is going to get the 5th fighter in 5 years. The current govt worst policies of concentrating only on TOT and local manufacturing will definitely not good for security of india

 

[Akshay]

If filling the critical gap is the urgent requirement of IAF then Yes Super Sukhoi suits us more... Assembly lines are already in India. We have the positive experience. India should consider this...

 

[Raja Rajan]

Stick with India made or Russia's SU30 with latest engine, with a total tech transfer with IP rights, with no restriction on export with royality payment to Russia.

 

[SuryaK]

Just use these to EOL as bomb trucks and junk them slowly along with Jags and Migs. Too big, thirsty, spare parts issue, high operational costs, high RCS. Rafale for high end and Tejas variants for low end is good force structure (till Amca comes online ie) Tejas another line is need of the hour.

 

[MANIVANNAN N]

Nice idea. And al51 engine good for amca. That is scaled down version. Easily reach 80% local engine manufacturing. So all projects benefited.

 

[Akshat]

We already hv 2 mwf sqd of rafale and tejas mk2 in future, lwf (tejas mk1 & mk1a), hwf (su).
mk2 will fill the gap for mwf and in the meantime mk1a will perform peacetime patrolling a much better option for cost savings

Tejas mk2 is a LCA. Its official designation itself is LCA AF mk2.

 

[Radha Ramanan]

wrong article, just a wishfull thinkning . IAF does not want new engines as we have learnt to manufacture part of the engines and overhaul them after 20years of experiance. The russian tried to bait us with a later engine so a s to appropriate their cost of development .Al-41 not the 51 as stated. They will never give us the tech as they gave for the al-31 series that the IAFoperate.
You cannot just fabricate a metal stucture with a composite internal structure as wish full suggested by the author. Fighter aircraft design is not a lego plug and play. We dont have the IP or the engineering and stress analysis data for internal parts, Neither will sukhoi le t u do that. As it is we haveto pay a lot of money to get permision to do the su-30mki uprgade. We dont have the capacity of china to copy to exact level as they have done.
There is a lot we are upgrading on the su-30 and its going to take some time integrating the various systems, radar ew, computers, irst, missiles, data links and many more. Then checking if theere is mutual interference in Electronics. Then the test flight part of it is going to be massive as each induvidual system has to be test flown and then fitting the various missiles and bombs to integrtate them for flutter, electronic integration to all ssytems like misison computer, radar computer, weapons computer store pylon computer to name a few.
My guess is another 3 years after first flight. But then we will have a figther that is equal to the gripen, f-21 -f-18 as of today.

 

[Anant]

Stick with India made or Russia's SU30 with latest engine, with a total tech transfer with IP rights, with no restriction on export with royality payment to Russia.

Yeah... IP rights are not on offer anywhere unless we co-develop something.

 

[vamkris]

India shall Buy 54 su-57 immediately and develop Saab gripen I specially made for india with in 3 years so that
India can tackle j35 and j20 and kaan of pakistan+bangladesh+china+turkey

 

[सामान्य नागरिक]

Order more 36 Rafael on g2g deal and cancel mrfa close this circus once for all focus on tejas mk2 and amca make it national priority

 

[सामान्य नागरिक]

India shall Buy 54 su-57 immediately and develop Saab gripen I specially made for india with in 3 years so that
India can tackle j35 and j20 and kaan of pakistan+bangladesh+china+turkey

Why do we need saab gripen when we have tejas availaible

 

[Kira]

There is a good reason why the Super Sukhoi collaboration for the MKI with the Russians was abandoned especially considering the engine issue.
So this project is a non starter,and the primary reason why MRCA was launched back in 2007 was to induct a state of the art Western fighter to reduce over reliance on the Russians.

 

[Pramkumar]

Cancel the MRFA tender, invest in Kaveri engine and reverse engineer the AL31 and RD33 engines, Go for the more MK1a, MK2, ORCA (with Kaveri as twin engine) and AMCA only.

 

[RK]

Opting for Super Sukhois actually makes sense if we are sure that the planned modifications of Sukhois are a workable solution. How sure are we about our electronic warfare suits Astra integration and new onboard computer for the jet. Can the proposed super Sukhois can match the Rafales in terms of capabilities and serviceability?

 

[Mohamed Suleiman]

Great idea. It is a win win solution. India will retain control of the platform and avoid foreign supplier blackmail at crucial juncture. Such blackmails are inherent to such deals
India has experienced them, and we see other experience it all the time. It comes when a country wants to exercise free will in choosing who to deal with. One particular country is notorious with it. So, India need Super Sukhoi with new best engine in the world, and fabricated in India.

 

[Shine N s]

This is a good strategy. If India needs to spend large amounts of money they should either invest on stealth or buy stealth. Gen 4.5 aircrafts are outdated it would unwise to spend such large amounts on outdated aircrafts.

 

[Renu Sri]

The intent of the MRFA program is to bring in technologies that are either currently unavailable to India or will remain relevant for the next 40 years. Russia, due to limited investment in R&D, is beginning to fall behind technologically. If India sees any worthwhile technologies from Russia, these could potentially be integrated into our existing SU-30MKI fleet to keep it up-to-date, rather than making new procurements from Russia.

Operating costs of heavy Russian fighters, especially during peacetime, are high, with lifetime maintenance expenses generally exceeding those of Western fighters. For a cost-effective fleet with reliable performance, we could consider:

Saab Gripen: The Swedish Gripen offers compatibility with Rafale’s weapon systems and engine commonality with Tejas, making it a strong choice for streamlined logistics and affordability.

F-15 and F-35 Combination: A mix of 100 F-15s and 26 F-35s could work well. The F-15 has high production rates, allowing for quicker delivery, while a limited number of F-35s would introduce fifth-generation technology, giving us an edge in specialized operations and familiarity with advanced tech.

Rafale: While the Rafale would be ideal for seamless integration, higher costs and full order books might delay availability.

 

[Surendra Barsode]

Su 30 MKI is now going for upgrade anyway except for the engine. All that we need is to order some 36 more Su 30 MKIs with AL 51 engines and be done once for all with the MRFA tender. We can go for ToT for AL 51 engines if Russia is willing so that upgrade Su 30 MKIs can gt Al 51 engines. And then focus on Tejas II and AMCA and ensure they are delivered on time.

 

[Sentoki]

There's already a Super Sukhoi. It's called an SU-57.

Stop getting hung up about how it's RCS compares or not compares to F22 or F35 because you are never going to get them...

With the SU-57, you get at the least you will get a low observable bomb truck that can eventually replace the SU30's that will be retired from service without any upgrades.

You can also keep upgrading the SU-57 with all the radar absorbing materials & coatings India is developing for the AMCA program....

Crucially it will get you a 5th gen fighter in your fleet within next 2-3years.

frankly I am amazed that IAF has not come to its senses and included SU-57 in the MRFA tender......it should be the leading candidate over and above the Rafale.

 

[Sandeep]

The MRFA is dead and it will never happen now because it’s too expensive. Even if we went for a government to government deal for more Rafale jets there is a large backlog of orders and it could take about 5 years before we even start to receive them. Currently we are negotiating a deal for 26 Rafale marine jets so once it’s done we should get a good idea on how long it will take. By then Tejas MK2 would be flying and undergoing its tests so we need to focus on passing that and prepare several private sector companies to manufacture them on time. Also by the end of that time hopefully the AMCA would have started to fly and going through its long tests as well which is the most important jet and will be the main backbone of our air force for the next 50+ years.

Currently we need to urgently implement the super Sukhoi program as it’s crucial that we overhaul and upgrade the jet and technology which is 20 years old. We will be upgrading it entirely indigenously which is a major benefit to us and also to other Sukhoi 30 users around the world who might be looking to upgrade their jets but can’t because of the sanctions placed on Russia. Also to increase our squadron strength we can manufacture another 1-2 squadrons to improve our fire power and capabilities but it depends on the price that Russia quote us.

 

[Garuda]

Either go with this or integrate Virupaksha, AL51, better avionics, ew suit and RAM paint on Su 35 if man-unmanned teaming system doesn't need 2 seater fighter. Also get 2 squadrons of Su 57 for leveling field and better negotiations for mass production of Al 51 as IAF always intended.

 

[Garuda]

If it doesn't hinder development of upcoming indigenous engine for AMCA with Safran than its definitely good idea from Defense matrix.

 

[Surfer]

We already hv 2 mwf sqd of rafale and tejas mk2 in future, lwf (tejas mk1 & mk1a), hwf (su).
mk2 will fill the gap for mwf and in the meantime mk1a will perform peacetime patrolling a much better option for cost savings

Airforce Chrif himself said that MK2 is MWF compared to EF Typhoon and Rafale, we are missing Semi Stealth fighter jet like SSHWF Super-30 and SHWF SU-57 and SMWF AMCA, all will take time, for now ee have to dpeed up MWF Tejas MK2 and SSHWF Super-30.

 

[Rp]

Buying more Rafale is not cost effective. India needs TOT from Dassault to consider further orders. Down the road if supply chain disruption happens due to USA influence then India would only be affected. SU-57 is a better bet with all avionics/ewf suite, weaponry, etc to make Indian made weapons compatible. USA is unreliable, who will always remain a arm twister with continuing support to Pakistan, now Canada. Supply chain disruption even before our AMCA is developed. GE engine supply intentionally delayed to stop our AMCA development. Russia is more reliable and USA very high cost to supply old technology.

 

[Sriram Mahalingam]

The problem with Russian jets are they are cheap but will high maintenance issues.

 

[Dredd]

If filling the critical gap is the urgent requirement of IAF then Yes Super Sukhoi suits us more... Assembly lines are already in India. We have the positive experience. India should consider this...

IAF is considering retirement of majority of Su30MKi fleet from 2040 with few of the Super sukhoi serving till 2050. How much you update you won't be able to fix its fundamental flaws like RCS, IR profile, relic engines, old internals etc