Sukhoi-30 MKI Will Soon be Upgraded with More Indigenous Components

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is starting a major upgrading programme for its Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets in collaboration with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

This ambitious programme, which aims to outfit the aircraft with cutting-edge Indian-made equipment to enhance its overall capabilities, is a significant step towards achieving self-reliance in defence technology.

In order to ensure the upgrade program's seamless execution and liberty from the current defence budget limits, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has planned to designate a separate budget for it.

Important components including the radar, infrared search and track system (IRST), and electronic warfare (EW) suite will be given priority throughout the upgrade, which will greatly improve the aircraft's situational awareness and combat effectiveness.

With the integration of touch-based Large Area Displays (LADs) and an AI-supported Electronic Pilot capability, HAL is spearheading a comprehensive review of the cockpit architecture. This will give pilots a user-friendly, information-rich environment that will speed their decision-making in combat.

Start with 84 jets, the update will be implemented gradually. The programme will utilise two Sukhoi-30MKIs fitted with Advanced Situational Awareness Tactical Enhancement (ASTE) as flying test beds to ensure comprehensive testing and validation before to wider deployment.

The programme represents a dramatic turn in the defence industry towards self-sufficiency. DRDO intends to work with Indian suppliers in order to reduce reliance on the original Russian manufacturer and raise the proportion of Indian-made systems and equipment on the upgraded aircraft.

The updated Sukhoi-30MKIs will strengthen India's air defence capabilities with better situational awareness, faster reaction times, and increased combat effectiveness. The programme would propel the growth of domestic technology development and integration, boosting India's defence self-sufficiency efforts.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Good luck trying to implement any type of "Make in India" with HAL leading tge affair.
The buggers at Korapur plant have been assembling AL-31FP engines since ages, but still cant learn a thing or two to tweak the engine to bypass IP and make own engines based on the ruskies model.

If Bharat forge were to replace HAL in that role, they would be by now producing improved versions of AL-31s. And I am not throwing random numbers here.

 

[NSR]

If India want to be a well defended country, then the Super Sukhoi upgrade is a must for it until MRFA or some more Rafales or Tejas Mk 2 or 5th generation AMCA comes abroad.
Without Super Sukhoi configured fighters, it will be very difficult to defend against the modern fighters. AESA is a dire need on it so are other radars and avionics.

India should negotiate with Russia for an improved AL-31F engine with better high temperature alloys so it will get some more power to alleviate the weight gain.

But for this engine and RD-33MK engines, the Ukraine-Russia was is a big question mark as I doubt that Russia will transfer all of technologies.

But hurry up with the upgrades.

 

[Pink Panther]

Swap the old slow AL-31 engine AL-41F1 engine or even AL-51F1 AKA izdeliye-30 engine.

 

[Ranjeet Singh]

Defence think tank should clear all hurdles to fit Metor, Scalp/Storm shadow missiles on Super Su-30MKI if it happens we should buy 80+ more Super SU-30MKI from HAL !

 

[Sudha]

Gawd how many times should one read the upgradation of SU30MKi before it actually happens? HAL when are you planning to do it? Is it 2040 or 2045?

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

Defence think tank should clear all hurdles to fit Metor, Scalp/Storm shadow missiles on Super Su-30MKI if it happens we should buy 80+ more Super SU-30MKI from HAL !

Stop day dreaming. Meteor, Scalp, Storm Shadow are all produced by MBDA. Don't think they will be thrilled to integrate western missiles with a Russian fighter aircraft, especially in current geopolitical scenario.

 

[Baiju Bhaskaran]

Sukhoi should also have new upgraded engines.

 

[Deepak Hegde]

I really wish Raunak Kunde stops playing this same Sukhoi upgrade banjo till HAL actually finishes something. Sick of hearing this " will significantly increase, Heightned..., bolstering... etc " over and over again !!!

 

[Hari Sud]

Without Super Sukhoi configured fighters, it will be very difficult to defend against the modern fighters. AESA is a dire need on it so are other radars and avionics.

Just elaborate, who has modern fighters in India’s neighbourhood. Pakistan’s airforce is old and partly made in China; which makes it much inferior. You think Chinese Airforce will invade India with their bases on Ladakh 300 miles away from the border and located at 4000 feet altitude. No sir, your selection of words for criticism is worthless.

 

[Sandeep]

It's great that India will develop and manufacture all of the upgraded equipment, components, sensors and technology 100% indigenously. In this upgrade program the military should allow the private sector to contribute in modernising the jets as they could do it more quickly and properly without any problems or errors that is common at HAL sometimes.

 

[NSR]

Just elaborate, who has modern fighters in India’s neighbourhood. Pakistan’s airforce is old and partly made in China; which makes it much inferior. You think Chinese Airforce will invade India with their bases on Ladakh 300 miles away from the border and located at 4000 feet altitude. No sir, your selection of words for criticism is worthless.

You gotta think very hard, Hari.
Shooting from hip won't do with me.

SU-30MKIs need AESA radars to fire Astra II (160 kms).
During Balakot SU-30MKI danced to escape F-16s AMRAMs

PAF JF-17s have AESA radars and chinese long range BVRAAMs.

Only Rafale with Meteor can counter it.
Only Rafale and AWACS in the neighborhood can see JF-17s. Rest of them can't even see or even know about their locations or their firing of long range BVRAAMs.

 

[Hari Sud]

PAF JF-17s have AESA radars and chinese long range BVRAAMs.

Nothing of Chinese made works. So do not quote them unless you are their salesman.

 

[ryan]

Shooting from hip won't do with me.

SU-30MKIs need AESA radars to fire Astra II (160 kms).
During Balakot SU-30MKI danced to escape F-16s AMRAMs

PAF JF-17s have AESA radars and chinese long range BVRAAMs.

Not from hips but at least from chest, pls for heaven's sake dont put Junk 17 with Sukhoi. That junk cannot even be in single frame with Sukhoi. Pls get the priorities right. Pigs will always defend themselves with F16s no matter how many 17s, 10Cs or J31s they have. They know well these all will fail in real war. If the PESA BARS radar of 90's can detect a so called "stealth J20" of Coronostan, the world knows who stands where

 

[Tanishq Bafila]

Good luck trying to implement any type of "Make in India" with HAL leading tge affair.
The buggers at Korapur plant have been assembling AL-31FP engines since ages, but still cant learn a thing or two to tweak the engine to bypass IP and make own engines based on the ruskies model.

If Bharat forge were to replace HAL in that role, they would be by now producing improved versions of AL-31s. And I am not throwing random numbers here.

Things to consider here : The amount of TOT transferred for the Engine till date..

Permission granted by the manufacturer for any Modifications

Talking about Bharat forge : they are not involved with Engines only 3 private companies are involved into crucial parts of engines that are currently supplying materials for Kaveri..

Kuch hua to HAL aur DPSUs ko gaali de do , kabhi Government to gaali de do , kabhi armed forces ko , kabhi Foreign vendors to kabhi Indian private vendors ko... Qki comment mai cool dikhna hota hai naa..

 

[Ajath]

Stop day dreaming. Meteor, Scalp, Storm Shadow are all produced by MBDA. Don't think they will be thrilled to integrate western missiles with a Russian fighter aircraft, especially in current geopolitical scenario.

You cannot blame him. He is always on the high.
He can make Tom Clancy run for his money with his imagination.

 

[Varaaah]

Then what is the problem in making the frame as well? So you can make brand new versions.

 

[Aayush Pratap]

All this time and they haven't frozen the configuration yet? Yeh kya ho raha hai?

 

[Death]

SU-30MKIs need AESA radars to fire Astra II (160 kms).

You are spot on. Sukhoi without ASEA radar can't face the enemy.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Things to consider here : The amount of TOT transferred for the Engine till date..

The world does nor revolev around ToT. Mark my words, engine technology is such closely guarded secret that no country will transfer 100% technology. Any engine production in India will haopen the hard "Reinvent the wheel" way.

Permission granted by the manufacturer for any Modifications

Did you even read my comment?

Qki comment mai cool dikhna hota hai naa..

Haan bhai, comment section mei sabhi cool dikhne waalon ko sarkaar seedhe District Collector bana deti hai. Comment section ke Cool-dudes ke liye ladkiyan apna nass kaat leti hain aur Frank apni gend de deta hai. Hai naa?

 

[NSR]

pls for heaven's sake dont put Junk 17 with Sukhoi.

I love SU-30MKIs.
My summary is that any fighter with AESA radar and long range BVRAAMs are a threat to all fighters except Rafale with Meteor.
Simple fact as they can launch their BVRAAMs as soon as they detect our fighters.

The best BVRAAM that we have is upcoming Astra Mk I with 110 kms range.

 

[NSR]

Nothing of Chinese made works. So do not quote them unless you are their salesman.

No patriotic Indian want anything to do with criminal china.
You need to read, comprehend, and write better comments than the depressing ones.
Don't know what you are drinking or smoking.

 

[Anant]

Nothing of Chinese made works. So do not quote them unless you are their salesman.

True, but Mr. Clancy atleast used to do his research, which is more than what we can say for Mr. Singh here.