HAL Revives Nashik Plant to Fulfill 12 Su-30MKI Order worth $1.3 Billion, Seeks Additional 72 Order with “Super-30” Upgrade

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is reactivating its Nashik plant to fulfill a $1.3 billion order for 12 Su-30MKI fighter jets. This move comes as the Indian Air Force (IAF) seeks to replenish its fleet and strengthen domestic aircraft production.

The Nashik facility, once a dedicated Su-30MKI production site, will now play a crucial role in delivering these essential aircraft, bolstering India's air capabilities.

Beyond this immediate order, HAL is proposing an ambitious plan to the IAF for an additional 72 Su-30MKI fighters. If approved, this would expand the IAF's Su-30MKI fleet to over 344 aircraft, adding four new squadrons by 2029-30.

This potential $5 billion deal reflects HAL's commitment to modernizing the IAF with advanced indigenous technology. However, budgetary constraints may pose a challenge to the proposal's approval.

HAL's offer for the 72 fighters includes a comprehensive "Super-30" upgrade package, designed to enhance the Su-30MKI's combat effectiveness for modern warfare. Key elements of this upgrade include:

• Indigenous AESA Radar: Integration of an Indian-developed active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar to improve detection range, accuracy, and jamming resistance.
• Upgraded Avionics and Indian Systems: Incorporating advanced avionics, mission computers, and navigation systems sourced from within India.
• Indigenous Weapons Integration: Ensuring compatibility with a wide array of Indian-made weapon systems, including missiles and precision-guided munitions.

HAL's Nashik plant has been producing the Su-30MKI under license from Russia's United Aircraft Corporation, with each aircraft costing approximately $70.3 million. The current order of 12 aircraft is expected to be completed within the next three years.

If the IAF approves the additional 72 units, HAL is confident in its ability to deliver them within six years, by 2029-30. This would significantly enhance the IAF's operational strength, bringing the total number of Su-30MKI squadrons to 34.

 

[Benith Israel]

Restarting production is one thing. Establishing a new one is exponentially costly and time consuming for new mrfa plane. It's better to order 90 su30 super sukoi and keep the line running for 8 more years till amca ioc at least if not full scale production run

 

[Sandeep]

The cost for just 12 jets is about $108 million each which is expensive but buying 72 it reduces that price to about $70 million each which is more reasonable. However buying more Sukhoi jets is expensive and it will reduce the number of indigenous jets that we will end up buying. Right now we should just concentrate on starting the Super Sukhoi program so that we can overhaul the jets technology and equipment. This will increase its lethality and improve its combat capabilities. We should also try and reduce its RCS so we should paint them with radar absorbing paint to make it as stealthy as possible.

What we need to do is focusing on our own indigenous jets. We need to sort out the problems and issues on the Tejas MK1A and continue manufacturing it. We also need to quickly manufacture the Tejas MK2 and AMCA prototype so that we can run the tests, get it certified and then manufacture it under HAL and several private sector companies to speed up the process and quickly increase our squadron numbers.

 

[Dredd]

Agree at most of the points apart from acquiring SU-57. It will be far better and a good decision that we go with this additional Su-30mki for now as our squadron strength is getting really low! MRFA is delayed and we may get the first plane not before 2030, so it's better to go with this!

I really wish that IAF consider Al31 fn engine series 5 developed for the J-10 as it is almost a similar engine with the current Al31 family with some new technology and better engine life!

P.s. I really don't think this deal will see the day of the light as due to the Russia-Ukraine war. Russia may not be able to supply the knocked-down kits and we also don't want any further transactions with Russia related to defense for now!

Costs for 72 Sukhoi won't be $5billion as it only covers the basic kit costs of Su30MKI not the uper sukhoi upgrade which costs approx $80million a jet. Total costs for 72 extra super sukhoi will be around $12billion and that too will be delivered by 2035 considering first super sukhoi upgrade jet will be rolled out in 2028.
Faster Tejas Mk2 and AMCA rollout is better bet along with more su30MKI upgrade to super sukhoi.
I don't think IAF favours such proposal considering they don't want heavier jet with poor availability and higher maintenance.

 

[Dredd]

Tejas mk2 is an LCA. Its official designation is LCA AF mk2.

IAF calls it LCA, HAL and ADA classifies it MWF.

 

[Dredd]

Considering the fact that the last non-SFC Su-30MKIs we ordered as part of the initial fleet of 272 aircraft cost us just north of 40 million USD apiece, this figure of 5 billion USD for 72 more jets is overly optimistic. That cost of 40 million USD was for only the jet, and dates back to 2007.

Factoring in inflation, and going by today's exchange rate of the INR vs the RUB, this comes to just north of 80 million USD apiece. For 72 jets, therfore, that comes to just over 5.74 billion USD.

Costs for 84 super sukhoi upgrade is 68000 crore , which amounts to $8 billion, If we take out the R&D costs and production line, it would still costs 60-70 million per jet for upgrade, increasing costs of 72 new super sukhoi to around $180million per jet and total 12-13 billion dollars.

 

[Anant]

Costs for 84 super sukhoi upgrade is 68000 crore , which amounts to $8 billion, If we take out the R&D costs and production line, it would still costs 60-70 million per jet for upgrade, increasing costs of 72 new super sukhoi to around $180million per jet and total 12-13 billion dollars.

Sir, you have a good point, but there is one thing you have missed. In building new jets to the Super Flanker standard, we would not be sourcing a lot of Russian-origin components. For instance, you wouldn't source the Russian PESA radar, as we would be installing the Virupaaksha AESA radar there. Therefore, the prices of such components needs to be deducted from the initial purchase price.

 

[War is good for business]

We won’t be buying barebones Su30 either, would we? These 12 are replacement for jets lost in accidents so these 12 are coming barebones as the infra, weapons etc. exist. So if Su30 is more costly at the barebones level, there is no reason to believe that the cost for full package will be any less either.

And the new Su30 (these 12) won’t come in the super Sukhoi configuration. The cost mentioned here is for the original Su30mki configuration. The cost for Super Sukhoi will be on top of what we are paying here, and that cost is supposed to be an extra 80 million usd per jet. So you can do the math.

The 72 proposed Su-30s will come in Super Sukhoi configuration and there will not be extra $80 mill as there will not be replacement of subsystems but rather that the new subsystems would be fitted from the beginning itself. With a fully established production line there would not be any issue in the production. For the MRFA fighter, we would also have to factor in the cost of establishing the production line. France alone will not be able of deliver the aircrafts in any reasonable timeframe. the Su-30 with the indigenous flight computer would have Indian weapons fitted from the start, allowing us to purchase the weapons at will. Yes there will be a cost but spread out over a bigger timeframe. French weapons would have to be paid for though as they are very reluctant to integrate local sub systems and weapons. In a long run a medium fighter will be cheaper than a heavy fighter, but that luxury of choice is going further and further away each passing year.

 

[Rajesh]

72+12 is a good number which even Russia can't imagine from an export perspective. We can use more composite materials. Modify the air intakes (hiding the blades) also make sure the engine is offered in a full ToT from Russia esp the new engines which have a better life. Such a huge number of Su-30 without engine manufacturing (not assembling) inside the country is suicide. We can offer them to Armenia and as an export. All the new Su-30 should be able to launch BrahMos-A. Modified Su-30 can mitigate the need for a bomber to an extent esp for heavy missiles like BrahMos, Rudram. There might be more capable platforms but the already present logistics, spares & ability to integrate our weapons makes them more economical.

 

[Bikramjeet Goswami]

Sir, any deliveries of critical parts from Russia will also not happen for a fair while even if we place orders today. Russia will prioritise their Su-35 production before us.

The war in Ukraine won't last forever. The capacity build-up that Russia has made in the past 2 years might actually work in our favour.
If the war doesn't end we are looking at WW 3 and nobody is going to have anything to sell.

 

[Sridhar]

Good, IAF need to show interest this will sort term stop gap arrangement as MRFA will take another 5 years to deliver first fighter jet. Second, GE making delay in engine delivery so it's wise to have another 72 Super Sukhoi. IAF is having 260 Su-30 MKI, 12 are on order that makes 272. This translates into 15 sqad strength of Su-30 MKI. Delivery of GE-404 Engine is likely to miss November 2024 deadline too. Delivering 72 Su-30 MKI by 2030 that means within 6 years as compared to Dassault who delivered 36 Rafales after 65 months. If IAF agree to HAL offer for additional 72 Su-30 MKI then it's just formality that under MRFA Rafale will be manufactured in Bharat with local eco-system. Su-30MKI being in heavy category only option will left is twin engine medium fighter jet. Bharat already have plans for light category fighter jets building indigenously Tejas MK1A & Tejas MK2.

Manufacturing of SU 30 MKI in India by HAL is different from RAFALE by Dassault. The first lot of SU 30 did not come with Indian specifications. SU 30MKK was the 1st variant. . Indian specific SU 30 came after more than 3 years. Whereas RAFALE from the very 1st jet came with Indian specifications. Unlike the spare parts challenge IAF faced with SU30 MKI, RAFALE deal was seamless.
If you are a bg fan of Russian weapon , that's your choice. But don't belittle French weapons without any rhyme or reason.

 

[Anurag]

Costs for 72 Sukhoi won't be $5billion as it only covers the basic kit costs of Su30MKI not the uper sukhoi upgrade which costs approx $80million a jet. Total costs for 72 extra super sukhoi will be around $12billion and that too will be delivered by 2035 considering first super sukhoi upgrade jet will be rolled out in 2028.
Faster Tejas Mk2 and AMCA rollout is better bet along with more su30MKI upgrade to super sukhoi.
I don't think IAF favours such proposal considering they don't want heavier jet with poor availability and higher maintenance.

That's the issue of thinking here we badly needs fighter aircraft!! If we are going to repeat the mistakes of past then I don't think we are ever going to reach the sanctioned strength of 42!!
If it is cost related issue then what is the issue man we are developing our own industries!! I prefer our own jets but the issue is we are lacking for now we can't mass produce them if we kept on waiting we will be just flying old fighter aircraft beyond their service life!! Is it good?? If we have the option then surely we should go for it because everyone here knows that MRFA can't we conclude in 4-5 years and first jet then before 2030 looks impossible!!

Tejas Mk1a and Tejas mk2 and Amca and MRFA and additional SU-30mki will help us maintain the strength while comparatively a better airforce!!
If we kept on delaying the things then surely we will be old airforce which flies the aircraft like mig-21, mirage-2000, Jaguar....

 

[Sanatani Yodha]

72 additional Su30mki… Hmmm… means MRFA can go to the dustbin!! IMOH, they should manufacture Su35Mki instead of Su30mki as it provides way better improvements in thrust and RCS…. Then this will automatically make way for FGFA…. But, then it will close all possible entry of F35 in IAF….

 

[Anant]

The war in Ukraine won't last forever. The capacity build-up that Russia has made in the past 2 years might actually work in our favour.
If the war doesn't end we are looking at WW 3 and nobody is going to have anything to sell.

That capacity build-up will help, but Russia will also have to disband that excess capacity very quickly. While Russia's economy hasn't been hit nearly as hard as the West would like, it also cannot be denied that Russia is presently growing through weapons production and commodity exports primarily. The latter of those is being done at discounts that cannot be sustained forever, and when the war does end, Russia will have to pivot back to consumption and other forms of economic growth rather than arms production and discounted commodity exports.

 

[Dredd]

That's the issue of thinking here we badly needs fighter aircraft!! If we are going to repeat the mistakes of past then I don't think we are ever going to reach the sanctioned strength of 42!!
If it is cost related issue then what is the issue man we are developing our own industries!! I prefer our own jets but the issue is we are lacking for now we can't mass produce them if we kept on waiting we will be just flying old fighter aircraft beyond their service life!! Is it good?? If we have the option then surely we should go for it because everyone here knows that MRFA can't we conclude in 4-5 years and first jet then before 2030 looks impossible!!

Budget is the biggest issue with MoD and IAF, If IAF is okay with the plan then we should go ahead, but this is not the best solution to depleting strength. Affordable MRFA which are made in india is the answer, don't care any more for the jet that is chosen.
Super sukhoi will come only post 2030s. so it's not like it will fix the depleting strength issue in short term.
Should aim to sign MRFA contract in 2025, otherwise IAF will be doing stop gap solution like 72 Su30MKI, 36 more imported Rafale etc.

 

[Bikramjeet Goswami]

That capacity build-up will help, but Russia will also have to disband that excess capacity very quickly. While Russia's economy hasn't been hit nearly as hard as the West would like, it also cannot be denied that Russia is presently growing through weapons production and commodity exports primarily. The latter of those is being done at discounts that cannot be sustained forever, and when the war does end, Russia will have to pivot back to consumption and other forms of economic growth rather than arms production and discounted commodity exports.

Russian economy has relied on commodity export for a long time now and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. There population demographics is terrible and the loss of young men in the current war won't be helping it any.

 

[Anurag]

Budget is the biggest issue with MoD and IAF, If IAF is okay with the plan then we should go ahead, but this is not the best solution to depleting strength. Affordable MRFA which are made in india is the answer, don't care any more for the jet that is chosen.
Super sukhoi will come only post 2030s. so it's not like it will fix the depleting strength issue in short term.
Should aim to sign MRFA contract in 2025, otherwise IAF will be doing stop gap solution like 72 Su30MKI, 36 more imported Rafale etc.

Don't we already know that while we try to save on budget we always end up spending more and more!! It was always the case with us!!
MRFA contract by 2025?? Is that a joke? Or are you really forget about Bureaucracy man!! Indian bureaucracy at its peak will take atleast 2-3 years to go ahead with the MRFA!!
MRFA is never going to affordable it was widely known!!
While I really think of we are mass producing mk-2 we really don't have to think about anything but here we are in a situation where we are not going to get the jets atleast before 2030 so for stop gap we badly needs something to make up!!
while proposal of Su-30mki I considered not bad on few basic

1. It is already widely used by the airforce so we really don't have to spend on infrastructure and training
2. we are already improving day by day by lot of modern avionics other key developments
3. We can integrate our own weapons like Astra, rudram, brahmos, future alcm and we don't have to wait for years for integration!!
4. It's order will help us improve our industry development because most of the amount will still remain in India!!

P.s. Conclusion of this deal is more complicated than we assume!! I really don't think it will see light of the day, but still better option for us!!

 

[Dredd]

Don't we already know that while we try to save on budget we always end up spending more and more!! It was always the case with us!!

Budget is not something which is in your control. Due to government indecisiveness and DPSUs' lethargic speed, we are at the stage where all projects are to be funded at the same time: Tejas Mk1a, Tejas Mk2 development, AMCA development, and Super Sukhoi upgrades. We have to fund further orders of Mk1a and future orders of Mk2 (by 2028-29) and AMCA (in 2030), and MRFA (in the next 2 years). I don't think we have the money to fund all of them without compromising each other. So going for an MRFA option which doesn't impact the budget of our critical projects like TEDBF, AMCA, and Mk2 should be a priority. Su-30MKI's large numbers have already disbalanced the IAF squadron, with more than 50% of the fighting strength relying on high-cost and heavy jets. Additional Super Sukhoi will further worsen this ratio considering that by 2032-2035 we will be retiring all our medium-weight jets like Mig-29, Mirage, and Jaguar.

 

[AK S]

Manufacturing of SU 30 MKI in India by HAL is different from RAFALE by Dassault. The first lot of SU 30 did not come with Indian specifications. SU 30MKK was the 1st variant. . Indian specific SU 30 came after more than 3 years. Whereas RAFALE from the very 1st jet came with Indian specifications. Unlike the spare parts challenge IAF faced with SU30 MKI, RAFALE deal was seamless.
If you are a bg fan of Russian weapon , that's your choice. But don't belittle French weapons without any rhyme or reason.

First Rafale with all India specific enhancements came at the end of the delivery… literally the last Rafale.

Rafale is a good plane, but it’s expensive. While IAF loves it, they can’t afford it. That’s the real problem.

 

[Akshat]

The 72 proposed Su-30s will come in Super Sukhoi configuration and there will not be extra $80 mill as there will not be replacement of subsystems but rather that the new subsystems would be fitted from the beginning itself. With a fully established production line there would not be any issue in the production. For the MRFA fighter, we would also have to factor in the cost of establishing the production line. France alone will not be able of deliver the aircrafts in any reasonable timeframe. the Su-30 with the indigenous flight computer would have Indian weapons fitted from the start, allowing us to purchase the weapons at will. Yes there will be a cost but spread out over a bigger timeframe. French weapons would have to be paid for though as they are very reluctant to integrate local sub systems and weapons. In a long run a medium fighter will be cheaper than a heavy fighter, but that luxury of choice is going further and further away each passing year.

Again, misinformation/false information buddy. France is not only allowing integration of Indian weapons but has already signed agreements with Indian firms for such integration.

As for delivery, I gave numbers yesterday that France has a surplus of some 100 planes over the next 10ish years, which I would say is both reasonable and enough.

And as I said, Rafale is cheaper, and that is without the integration of AESA radars and other components. When we start such integration on Su30, we will have to pay for that and the more advanced components as well. Super Sukhoi itself is not gonna roll out before 2028, and then the tests and all and then the manufacturing. So Rafales will be cheaper, better and faster to deliver than the Su30mki in super Sukhoi configuration.

 

[Akshat]

IAF calls it LCA, HAL and ADA classifies it MWF.

Nope they don’t. ADA only called it MWF and that too only during the Aero India 2019. In 2921, during interviews with the media, ADA again resorted to the name LCA. In fact, the project name, which is given and used by ADA, remained LCA AF Mk2 throughout and never changed. Highly likely that it was just a mischief by someone.

 

[PKPRS]

Good, IAF need to show interest this will sort term stop gap arrangement as MRFA will take another 5 years to deliver first fighter jet. Second, GE making delay in engine delivery so it's wise to have another 72 Super Sukhoi. IAF is having 260 Su-30 MKI, 12 are on order that makes 272. This translates into 15 sqad strength of Su-30 MKI. Delivery of GE-404 Engine is likely to miss November 2024 deadline too. Delivering 72 Su-30 MKI by 2030 that means within 6 years as compared to Dassault who delivered 36 Rafales after 65 months. If IAF agree to HAL offer for additional 72 Su-30 MKI then it's just formality that under MRFA Rafale will be manufactured in Bharat with local eco-system. Su-30MKI being in heavy category only option will left is twin engine medium fighter jet. Bharat already have plans for light category fighter jets building indigenously Tejas MK1A & Tejas MK2.

This is the best thing that could happen, this is the best solution to fix the falling squadron strength, wish HAL fits AL-41F1 engine in these new SU-30’s 0r even the derivative of Al-51 engine, instead of AL-31FP engines in these, another 3 squadrons of SU-57 will make it past 114, we can go ahead and scrape the MRFA nonsense. Tejas MK2 is more than enough for the MWF category and MK1’s for daily sorties, if there is a prolonged delay in Tejas MK2 we should buy the cheapest of the MRFA jets and make them, either way we need 2-3 squadrons of SU-57 as a backup until AMCA becomes available.

 

[War is good for business]

Again, misinformation/false information buddy. France is not only allowing integration of Indian weapons but has already signed agreements with Indian firms for such integration.

As for delivery, I gave numbers yesterday that France has a surplus of some 100 planes over the next 10ish years, which I would say is both reasonable and enough.

From where are your surplus 100 French planes coming? Only way I see that is you are talking about 20 years old second hand Rafales for India. What you wrote somewhere yesterday is not known to me maybe you could elaborate on that. The Super Sukhoi after 2028 rollout will be inducted from 2030 onwards production aircraft. We are almost at 2025 anything approved will be after next budget, suddenly the timeline doesn't seem too long. As for weapons integration there are a lot of talks but till now (as of Sep 2024) no indian weapons or subsystems have been integrated.

 

[PKPRS]

I agree. Just 90 more su 30 mki is good enough to cover mrfa delays.

no need of MRFA if we make 90 SU-30’s.

 

[Gary]

12 aircraft in 3 years. HAL needs to close down. The combination of HAL and The govt are responsible for the mess the airforce is in today.

 

[PKPRS]

First Rafale with all India specific enhancements came at the end of the delivery… literally the last Rafale.

Rafale is a good plane, but it’s expensive. While IAF loves it, they can’t afford it. That’s the real problem.

and it took 6 years for France to deliver 36 Rafale’s when they were chasing flies in their shop without any international orders, now we have to wait 15-20 years, we are not getting one extra Rafale for the Air Force anyways.

 

[PKPRS]

We don’t need junk that no one else wants. We are not a junkyard.

Yep, this is the reason why we Indians stopped buying your Rafale after buying only 36, India is not a junkyard like your country.

 

[PKPRS]

Increase production lines in Bangalore, Nashik and may be Lucknow.

Nashik is a dedicated SU-30 production line, may be HAL should open a new production line else where, posdibly expand the one in bengaluru.

 

[Anurag]

Budget is not something which is in your control. Due to government indecisiveness and DPSUs' lethargic speed, we are at the stage where all projects are to be funded at the same time: Tejas Mk1a, Tejas Mk2 development, AMCA development, and Super Sukhoi upgrades. We have to fund further orders of Mk1a and future orders of Mk2 (by 2028-29) and AMCA (in 2030), and MRFA (in the next 2 years). I don't think we have the money to fund all of them without compromising each other. So going for an MRFA option which doesn't impact the budget of our critical projects like TEDBF, AMCA, and Mk2 should be a priority. Su-30MKI's large numbers have already disbalanced the IAF squadron, with more than 50% of the fighting strength relying on high-cost and heavy jets. Additional Super Sukhoi will further worsen this ratio considering that by 2032-2035 we will be retiring all our medium-weight jets like Mig-29, Mirage, and Jaguar.

So basically waiting is the ideal thing we supposed to do but I don't agree with these terms as I know already what you are proposing is very optimistic approach!! MRFA in 2 years?? it is still waiting for AoN, and it's a long process with the chance that it can get scrapped any second!!
Tejas mk2 in 2029? Maybe or will say atleast 2030, Amca at starting it will be more like that it will act as a evolving fighter before 2034 it may not be at it's best!!
So what we are going to do with all these depletion of strength numbers!! What if our relations got worse with our two neighbour, one is already flying two fifth generation while other one can get it before we actually start getting our own MRFA!!!

 

[basil1891]

So basically waiting is the ideal thing we supposed to do but I don't agree with these terms as I know already what you are proposing is very optimistic approach!! MRFA in 2 years?? it is still waiting for AoN, and it's a long process with the chance that it can get scrapped any second!!
Tejas mk2 in 2029? Maybe or will say atleast 2030, Amca at starting it will be more like that it will act as a evolving fighter before 2034 it may not be at it's best!!
So what we are going to do with all these depletion of strength numbers!! What if our relations got worse with our two neighbour, one is already flying two fifth generation while other one can get it before we actually start getting our own MRFA!!!

As they say `Good, Fast, and Cheap…Pick Two (c)`, some compromises is due

 

[Naveen]

Considering the cost of Rafale, SU30MKI with more indigenous content will be a good idea, but this should not affect MRFA. This idea will not only boost the Air Force but with BrahMos missiles, it will also boost the Navy.