Su-35's High-Stakes Bid for India's Skies, Can It Outshine the Su-30MKI?

Russia's Su-35 fighter jet, a cutting-edge marvel of aviation technology, is making a bold bid to conquer Indian skies. This state-of-the-art aircraft, boasting a formidable arsenal and advanced avionics, is vying for a major contract with the Indian Air Force (IAF) under its multi-role fighter aircraft (MRFA) tender. But will it be enough to impress the IAF?

The Su-35, with its blistering speed of 2,500 km/h and an extensive range, is a technological powerhouse. Its diverse arsenal includes air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, precision-guided weapons, and a 30mm cannon, making it a versatile asset in any combat scenario. The jet's phased array radar, capable of detecting targets from 100 km to 400 km, coupled with its advanced information and control system, ensures superior situational awareness for its pilots.

However, the Su-35 faces a formidable competitor—the IAF's existing fleet of Su-30MKI fighter jets, a customized variant of the Su-35 family designed specifically for India. Often referred to as the "Indian Super-30," these jets are already a force to be reckoned with. Upcoming upgrades could potentially elevate the Su-30MKI to one of the most advanced Flanker variants, raising questions about the necessity of acquiring the base model Su-35.

The Su-35's fate in India's skies ultimately hinges on a rigorous evaluation by the IAF. The decision will likely depend on a meticulous assessment of its capabilities, cost-effectiveness, and compatibility with the existing infrastructure and systems.

While the Su-35 boasts impressive specifications and capabilities, its success in securing the Indian contract is far from guaranteed. The IAF's final decision will be shaped by a complex interplay of technical, financial, and geopolitical considerations.

Will the Su-35's advanced features and versatility be enough to sway the IAF? Or will the existing Su-30MKI fleet and other competing options prove more appealing? Only time will tell.

 

[Pad UwU]

India shall buy Al-41 engine from Russia to make super sukhois
India shall instead go for Semi stealth Su-57 as it will be cheaper during Russia-Ukraine war

We are being ask if India wanted it.but the government and air force are wasting time dilly dallying 😹😹😹
And waiting miracle to happen with HAL

 

[Pad UwU]

SU-35s, SU-57s, and any further S-400s armaments are considered to be new acquisition and falls under the stringent CAATSA law rules.
It is very difficult to acquire and pay for those systems as the dollar is the king of trading currency..
India is already having terrible difficulty paying for oil too.

India can buy 12 SU-30MKIs and 21 Mig-29s without incurring any sanctions.

Furthermore, President Putin is visiting crimnal china this month and Russia practically turned over to china as a vassal state.
It is best to build out own fighters at a faster clip.

Some things surely going to happen soon.

Kakakakak US and other western countries are also criminal in the eyes of some Slavs and Russian... It's normal to Russian and China doing business like we are doing business with Russian and American too... There's nothing wrong init

 

[Bhishma]

SU-35s, SU-57s, and any further S-400s armaments are considered to be new acquisition and falls under the stringent CAATSA law rules.
It is very difficult to acquire and pay for those systems as the dollar is the king of trading currency..
India is already having terrible difficulty paying for oil too.

India can buy 12 SU-30MKIs and 21 Mig-29s without incurring any sanctions.

Furthermore, President Putin is visiting crimnal china this month and Russia practically turned over to china as a vassal state.
It is best to build out own fighters at a faster clip.

Some things surely going to happen soon.

Russia is not China's vassal. They did authorize the sale of Brahmos to Ph to be used against China. Its a temporary marriage. They have the same BS with China that we are facing. China wants Vladivostok and created internal chaos there.

 

[Akshat]

India shall buy Al-41 engine from Russia to make super sukhois
India shall instead go for Semi stealth Su-57 as it will be cheaper during Russia-Ukraine war

Cheaper??? We were asked to pay 250 million dollars, plus 6 billion dollars in development costs, over 10 years ago. And that didn’t include any missiles or stuff. Imagine the costs now.

 

[Akshat]

Su35 makes much better sense due to cost to benefit ratio being rafale cost 250 million USD 100 million su35 surely give almost same capabilities + IAF use to of Sukhoi jets from past 24 years as well as years of experience of indigenous weapon integration on Russian plateform is added benefit + getting al 41 engine tech will help in super Sukhoi program which in turn helps in better maintenance of the jets.

100 million usd vs 250 million usd??? Kuch bhi?

Firstly, the deal for 12 Su30 mki in 2019 was pegged at 120 million per plane. That had no weapons, no additional ToT, no infrastructure, no training, nothing. Just the planes. Not even things like AESA radars and stuff.

On the other hand, Egypt paid 150 million ISD for Rafale’s second tranche. They had the infra, offsets, some weapons etc. Not to mention that Rafale kicked Su35’s rear. So a better plane for a lower cost…sounds like a deal.

 

[Akshat]

Uae buy 80 rafale at cost of 19 billion USD that was f4 without tot how much do you think 114 f5 rafale with tot will cost with our procurement budget for combine IAF + army and navy is 21 billion USD. In this budget spare parts + weapon system + support system is also included.

20k mahina kamane Wale iPhone ke sapne nahi dekhte. Budget is most important thing lene ko kuch bhi Lelo per paise bhi hone chahia.

Egypt bought their planes at 150 million usd for second tranche. Including weapons and stuff. We paid 120 million for just the plane for Su30 mki with Bars radar.

 

[Akshat]

Now, Rafale costs 300+ millions usd per jet for make in India by DRAL-Dassault! Just buy 114 nos. of F15EX jets now and add more later on; for a grand total of 226 nos. of F15EX jets- and PLAAF will be defeated easily; especially if Boeing-TASL can integrate Astra2-3 Meteor-NG and Rudraam-III AWACs killer missiles.

F15 costs well over 350 million without weapons off the shelf. 😂😂😂

 

[Akshat]

Russia is not China's vassal. They did authorize the sale of Brahmos to Ph to be used against China. Its a temporary marriage. They have the same BS with China that we are facing. China wants Vladivostok and created internal chaos there.

That’s why Russia officially said that India should have backed off from LAC and given its land to China? Directly from the government on record, not even some newspaper or think tank.

 

[SK]

Indian Govt should cancel the MRFA & opts to:-
(1) Buy additional 36 Rafale jets for IAF
(2) Encourage IAF & IN to form a JV to invest in : TEDBF (ORCA) & AMCA projects.

The more we invest in Indigenous systems the greater improvement will be seen in Indigenous technology, Scale of Economy & Export potential.

 

[Anant]

Su35 with old stocks of su30mki as super sukhois will be a good alternative than buying too much overprice 4gen if we are in budget crunch

And what makes you think the Su-35 will be cheap? The Su-35 is very different from the Su-30MKI in terms of subsystems and components. As it is, the baseline price is 83-ish million USD each (the price at which China bought them).

The Su-30MKI deal approved last year comes to some 110 million USD each. A new Su-35 deal would cost us significantly more very easily, not to mention would give us an older design style.

If you really wanted Su-35s, you may as well go for modernised Su-30MKIs instead.

 

[Sandeep]

Other than buying another 12 Sukhoi jets then India shouldn't buy anymore foreign jets at all. India needs to focus on its own indigenous jets with the Tejas MK1A and MK2 along with the AMCA jet. At the same time they need to upgrade our Sukhoi jets into the Super Sukhoi as quickly as possible as that will be using most of our indigenous equipment, parts, software and technology.

Also if the single engine stealth fighter Checkmate then we can also get 1-2 squadrons to boost our numbers and used for supporting our current number and type of jets if the technology and capabilities exist.

 

[Anant]

Geopolitical considerations will be important factor while selecting MRFA if ever it is materialised . Due to heavy Russian reliance on china ,any Russian aircraft will be excluded . Current hostile attitude of Five eyes (evils) alliance openly conspiring against our heroes like RAW chief ,NSA excludes all American origin fighters for foreseeable future. Bharat has only two options - one is French Rafales and another is cancellation of MRFA with all investment in indigenous jet engine and fighters.

Cancellation of MRFA isn't an option unless you want to significantly compromise squadron numbers.

 

[vikrant rao]

Su35 is history now…. It could be the better choice in 2010s…
Rafale is way ahead than Su35 technologically… additionally IAF can’t afford another heavy class fighter given limited budget…
I think Indian Air Force is waiting for F 35 to be offered in MRFA.

Who wants the F35 with all the baggage of terms and conditions that come along with any US deal? Look at Turkiye and Japan and South Korea. Being made to jump through hoops and bend over backwards and sign long term deals with parent Lockheed - these guys are crooks! The US will simply hold India to ransom when India will have no choice but to do what it says.

Also, can anyone say where the the Rafale, F-35, F16 etc have been tested? None of the Western aircraft have been tested in real world conditions or against peer adversaries getting shot down by S-300s in Syria but no media will talk about it and Israel recently junking Patriot in favour of their own Iron Dome- the US capabilities are exaggerated. Whereas India atleast has a reliable and trustworthy supplier in the Russians and understands the Su platforms to customise them quickly with more modern 'make in india' variants. The F-404 engine deal is a joke designed to restrict India the just the F404 and progress no further given the number of technical limitations set on the engine use and supply. US treats Indians like kings during negotiations but when it comes to finer details treats them like beggars. In the meantime the US is drawing India into its orbit of constant wars and conflicts while it sits comfortably far away protected by 10,000km of ocean on both sides! India must not become a Taiwan or Ukraine pawn bec the Americans dangle carrots. The long term costs far outweigh the consequences of war participation.

As Kissinger said, "to be an enemy of the US is dangerous but to be a friend is lethal".

 

[Anant]

Indian Govt should cancel the MRFA & opts to:-
(1) Buy additional 36 Rafale jets for IAF
(2) Encourage IAF & IN to form a JV to invest in : TEDBF (ORCA) & AMCA projects.

The more we invest in Indigenous systems the greater improvement will be seen in Indigenous technology, Scale of Economy & Export potential.

In order to maintain squadron numbers, MRFA is a necessity.

 

[Anant]

Other than buying another 12 Sukhoi jets then India shouldn't buy anymore foreign jets at all. India needs to focus on its own indigenous jets with the Tejas MK1A and MK2 along with the AMCA jet. At the same time they need to upgrade our Sukhoi jets into the Super Sukhoi as quickly as possible as that will be using most of our indigenous equipment, parts, software and technology.

Also if the single engine stealth fighter Checkmate then we can also get 1-2 squadrons to boost our numbers and used for supporting our current number and type of jets if the technology and capabilities exist.

Simply put, unless you want the IAF to face a massive crisis of the number of available squadrons, then MRFA is a necessity. Not necessarily qualitatively, but certainly so quantitatively.

Oh, and you are advocating buying a few squadrons of the Su-75 (a plane that doesn't exist and quite probably never will) right after you advocate no more foreign purchases? Make up your mind.

Also, why on Earth would you want to complicate maintenance again by bringing in yet another aircraft type?

 

[Anant]

We have run out combat squadrons. We desperately need combat aircraft. HAL aircraft will come late and are not tried and tested ones. How do we fill in the gap ? Intermediate purchase makes sense. But what need to keep in mind is tech availability and continuity in the type of aircraft. It makes logistical sense. Therefore its prudent to go in for SU 35. Its a good ac equipped with long range Air to Air weapons it can do wonders. The next bet is the Rafael ...we alread have 36 and to continue the line makes sense. We have to be vary of buying from the Yanks, they shift goal posts once they are finished with you.

The Su-35 is not a viable candidate for MRFA. It is very different than the Su-30MKI. The latter is already a bridge between the standard Symu-30 and the Su-35. Not to mention that it isn't particulate cheaper.

At this point, when it comes to MRFA, we should just write off the Su-35 and MiG-35.

 

[Anant]

India should fast track the su-30 upgrades and maybe procure used su-30 from the users like Malaysia etc to increase squadron strength rather than buy brand new su-30 which has little impact in the modern day(old design ,rcs ).against modern day fighter like rafale or typhoons if it wins mrfa competition. What india should consider is either design a more powerfull engine or go for a more modern engine(improved al41)for su-30 with Russia if possible.

Not happening. The Su-30MKI is very different than other Su-30 variants, and modifying those to the MKI standard would be fairly expensive. Moreover, no Su-30 operator is selling Su-30s yet, since the type isn't that old.

 

[shivkumar sinha]

Cancellation of MRFA isn't an option unless you want to significantly compromise squadron numbers.

The way American deep state is trying to discredit current Indian dispensation and going to the extent to undermine RAW chief and NSA, I think either state department will tone down after election or GoI will have to wait till US general election in November hoping some change of policies. If both doesn't happen , Bharat may have to rethink on current acquisitions plan that may result even in cancellation of MQ-9 and GE engine. In that situation MRFA for 114 Rafales will become urgent with possibly further orders until our Kaveri -2 becomes operational for Tejas mark-1A and SAFRAN -GTRE jet engine of 110-130 KN class is produced here in Bharat .

 

[Bhishma]

That’s why Russia officially said that India should have backed off from LAC and given its land to China? Directly from the government on record, not even some newspaper or think tank.

Do you have source for this ?

 

[Akshat]

Do you have source for this ?

It was broadcasted everywhere. You can google Lavrov’s comments. He openly said this.

 

[Bhishma]

It was broadcasted everywhere. You can google Lavrov’s comments. He openly said this.

its not there, nothing. do you have any link ?

 

[Akshat]

its not there, nothing. do you have any link ?

Tell me, did you even look? Did you find any comments at all? Let’s see how much how much effort you put in before coming back here.

 

[Agent Provocateur1]

If Su-35 is selected the only benefits will be time and costs. I am not advocating for it but thinking hypothetically. The Su-35 will be cheaper than the alternatives and we can easily use the Sukhoi factory in India. Our vast experience in Sukhoi production will allow us to simply start with a 50% indigenously content and rapidly expand it. Not only that but we can also include many of the same hardware from the Super Sukhoi upgrade. For Al-41 we can also get a deal possibly better than the F414 as instead of 400 units, taking into account all the Su-30s and a single lifetime engine change for all Su-35s we will need 800 engines so a massive ToT would make sense. But Ukraine war, Swift lockout makes it impossible.

The CAG report clearly exposed this lie about SU 30 assembled in India. It costs us Rupees 100 Crore more per unit to assemble in India. On top of it. What about sanctions, have you thought about it? Our trade with USA alone is $100 Billion. This is the money we use to buy Military hardware. Buying energy is one thing, but Military Hardware will attract sanctions.

SU 35 is out of the race already.

 

[Pink Panther]

Super sukhoi programme already going ,it less chance of Su-35 to win IAF can go for Higher Thrust Engine AL-41 for Super Sukhoi upgrade . Ithink if Russia offers Su-57 instead of Su-35 will make IAF think . AMCA even if inducted in 2035 will not b mature platform . Su-57 has Good chance to win if offered in MRFA . Under make in India. with Heavy weapon package.with Air Launch UAV(S-70 okhotnik ) will enhance its capabilities .

Even SU-75 made in India to India and the World like Brahmos would be much better, can call it VOLGAN 57,
Volga-Ganges,

we should rather replace AL-31F1’s with izdeliye 30 stealth engines, can use the same engine 108 KN dry thrust and 166Kn wet thrust for Tejas MK2.

 

[Pink Panther]

If Su-35 is selected the only benefits will be time and costs. I am not advocating for it but thinking hypothetically. The Su-35 will be cheaper than the alternatives and we can easily use the Sukhoi factory in India. Our vast experience in Sukhoi production will allow us to simply start with a 50% indigenously content and rapidly expand it. Not only that but we can also include many of the same hardware from the Super Sukhoi upgrade. For Al-41 we can also get a deal possibly better than the F414 as instead of 400 units, taking into account all the Su-30s and a single lifetime engine change for all Su-35s we will need 800 engines so a massive ToT would make sense. But Ukraine war, Swift lockout makes it impossible.

time and cost are the essence, but we will have too many 4.5 gen heavy aircrafts.