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.

 

[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.

 

[Akshat]

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

Yeah, that’s the reason we are negotiating for 26 more right now 😂😂😂 Meanwhile we walked out of your junk Su57 even after investing billions into it. Tells us who has the junk.

 

[Akshat]

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.

France has reached 2 jets per month this year, and has reached 3 jets per month at the component level. They will get there at the assembly level next years. Add those, and you will have some 370 planes between 2024 and 2034. Their backlog is only about 211, as of the start of 2024. That’s well over 150+ planes which are surplus. And 2028 and 2030 are HAL/ADA timelines. These guys also said LCA will be inducted by mid 90s and Mk2 will be in production in 2016. And even if they somehow make it happen, production starting in 2030 means first planes in 2033. France can deliver over 100 aircrafts by then, even if we assume that they don’t increase their capacity any further.

 

[PKPRS]

Yeah, that’s the reason we are negotiating for 26 more right now 😂😂😂 Meanwhile we walked out of your junk Su57 even after investing billions into it. Tells us who has the junk.

Su-57 is not mine, India invested only $295Mln,,not billions, you can’t even buy one Rafale with that money, Russia already paid back 50 times more the money in the form of oil discounts and in the form of allowing India to resell that oil to Europe, India is not negotiating any more for Rafale, talks stalled after repeated price negotiations.

 

[Anant]

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.

They will continue relying on commodity export, yes. However, the discounts they have been giving for increased commodity exports to compensate for the other forms of revenue they have lost since they invaded Ukraine are not sustainable in the long run.

Eventually, after the war, these discounts on exports will have to be scaled down or discontinued, which will mean their exports will take a hit, and without those other revenue streams, that means economic growth will take a hit.

 

[AK S]

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.

I'll not go that far. But with the backlog and global supply chain issues still around, I dont think off-the-shelf Rafale is not available right away. Last time I heard, Dassault made only 8 planes this year in 9 months against their claimed capacity of 2-3 planes per month - like 1/3 of the capacity. What it means is that even second manufacturing line in India might not be a quick fix solution as Dassault may not be able to send all the kits of the critical parts still manufactured by them.

Unfortunately, same thing goes for Russia too - In fact their supply chain may may be worse as they are busy in a war. They cant send the Su30MKI kits timely. We are indeed in a tough situation. Not investing in Kaveri engine is a cardinal mistake.

Improving the capacity of the existing planes and doubling down on MK1A (and pushing and naming and shaming GE) is the only realistic solution. Apart from the 12 Su30MKI with new Indian upgrades (costing about $1.5B), one can certainly shoot for a SU30MKI with the better engine and better RCS in the next 3-4 years.

 

[AK S]

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.

I dont think scraping MRFA is on the cards. It's more dependent on what's happening on MK2 and GE F414 front. If there is reasonable success and there is spare capacity with Dassault, then most likely it's going to be another order of off-the-shelf Rafales - may be few squadrons. If Mk2 fails then it's going to be MRFA all the way.

So you'd hear from the French lobby that Mk2 and Rafale are not in the same weight category or for that matter even the upgraded Su30MKI is junk and again not in the same weight category. True they are not in the same weight category, but they compete with limited defence dollars at IAF's disposal.

 

[PKPRS]

Improving the capacity of the existing planes and doubling down on MK1A (and pushing and naming and shaming GE) is the only realistic solution. Apart from the 12 Su30MKI with new Indian upgrades (costing about $1.5B), one can certainly shoot for a SU30MKI with the better engine and better RCS in the next 3-4 years.

Main problem is F404/414 engines, everything depends on those, even if we get those engines we will be having supply chain issues with the items that we import from UK, France, israel and Russia for Tejas MK2, if for any reason if we are sanctioned and engines are banned, we are totally screwed up.

 

[Gaurav Sharma]

Considering the dire need for Fighter aircrafts, delay in Indigenous projects and delay in MRFA deal, what should we do?

• We should consider every available option that can fulfill our requirements to maintain depleting Squadron Strength.
• We have a very successful Missiles Development Program. Brahmos NG, Astra Mk 2, Rudran 3 will all be inducted within a 4 year time period. So what we need are platforms to deliver those highly potent missiles.
• I firmly believe that the budget is not a big issue if the Govt. is fully convinced to buy an aircraft. Increasing GST on 5 products will generate the funds for the entire purchase within a few years. After Trump's victory, crude prices are going to fall again.
• To deliver our highly potent missiles, we need aircraft, and Sukhoi is not a bad choice. We have the entire setup ready to manufacture them, and after getting them, you can spend however much time you want on upgrades, but you first have to buy them.
• From Tejas Mk1A to Mk2 & AMCA, all projects will have the capability to fire MBDA Meteor & Scalp missiles, which are best in class. Our Hypersonic Cruise missile will be a reality in 4-5 years, and the purchase of Su 30 will be worth it.
• The MRFA project should also be concluded with all possible fast-tracking.
• The Chinese missile arsenal, on the other hand, is struggling with low precision and performance issues.

 

[Benith Israel]

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

MRFA will live forever under different acronyms. We need 36 Rafael's for immediate needs though which is better bought off the shelf and a fresh mrfa for a 5th gen fighter can be launched after
that.

 

[Shiva]

How foolish is this??!!!When we import trillions of dollars of components/engines from USA/France, then no one will see budgetary constraints.
But when there is something purely indigenous which will just increase money within the country from one bank account to another, then you will see a budgetary constraint!!!
What kind of nonsense is going on!!!

 

[PKPRS]

MRFA will live forever under different acronyms. We need 36 Rafael's for immediate needs though which is better bought off the shelf and a fresh mrfa for a 5th gen fighter can be launched after
that.

That is also a problem with 235 order backlog and supply chain issues, France makes only 10 aircrafts/year currently, no body knows when the backlog will clear, may be they could buy 3-4 squadrons of either EF-Typhoons or F15.

 

[tipoo2]

What would be the all in per airframe cost of the 72 more with the Super Sukhoi upgrades?

Might not be a bad idea for a relatively quicker turnaround to 4 more squadrons, we're still going to be falling in numbers for the next decade. With Virupaksha and the ASPJ GaN jammer it will be relevant for quite a while. I'm curious how much impact aftermarket radar cross section reductions can have, but it's probably limited there by the airframe design most of all.

Actually if it's significantly cheaper than MRFA and with a radar and jammer that are nearly up there with the best and new Indian missile integrations...Maybe go for even more than 72 and forget MRFA...

My only ask is, if we're spending millions on Su-30 upgrades for the existing jets, can we also spend a few thousand on a cool new paint scheme that says this is the new one and not your daddy's Su-30? 😁

 

[tipoo2]

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.

If there's a new line to be made it may as well be for the Su-57M which is their future, there's no more orders for the Su-30 apart from India (and maybe, a tiny one from Armenia for the Indian variant). So 4 more squadrons of Su-30, 2-4 of Su-57, drive everything else towards a timely development and high production rate of Tejas MK2 and AMCA, forget the MRFA.

 

[subash]

Hope HAL won't time pass and pool in indian private sector to support with additional infrastructure for faster logistics and extra infra. Clear red tapes for this association.

 

[AA AAP]

When will the 72 units of SU-30 secision be made ?