India: Modernization of the Su-30MKI will turn the fighter into the basis of the Air Force

India is rapidly increasing and modernizing its fleet of Su-30MKI multipurpose fighters. Thus, HAL expects further orders from the Indian Air Force to re-equip the Su-30MKI.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is one of the largest Indian aircraft manufacturing companies, assembling the Su-30MKI under the license of the Russian United Aircraft Corporation. The total number of Su-30MKIs, which, under an agreement with Russia, were assembled or are being assembled in India - 272 aircraft. Fulfillment of the task of re-equipping fighters should increase their combat power and turn the Su-30MKI into the basis of the Indian Air Force.

Recently, HAL applied to the Indian Ministry of Defense for permission to build 72 Su-30MKI aircraft at its plant in Nashik, Maharashtra. The cost of the order is about $ 5 billion, and one plane costs about $ 70 million.

Now the HAL is awaiting additional orders from the Indian Air Force and is counting on 2020-2021. get expensive contracts again. After all, in 2019-2020. the company had a record turnover of $ 3 billion. There is no doubt that in the foreseeable future, the company will receive orders from the Indian Air Force. After all, the Su-30MKI is one of the main aircraft used in the Indian military aviation.

At present, the Indian Air Force includes 32 Su-30MKI squadrons, while the Air Force command speaks of the need for 42 squadrons to counter the double threats from both Pakistan and China. Each Indian Air Force squadron has 18-20 fighters in its composition, all in all, there are currently 260 Su-30MKI aircraft in Indian aviation.

Not so long ago, a Su-30MKI squadron equipped with Bramos supersonic cruise missiles was deployed in Thanjavur in southern India. This unit is tasked with protecting the interests of India in the Indian Ocean region. In addition, to counter possible threats from Pakistan and China, the Su-30MKI squadrons are deployed in Jodhpur (Rajasthan), Bareili (Uttar Pradesh), Sirs (Haryana), Tezpur (Assam), Chabua (Assam), Pune (Maharashtra) and Halvare (Punjab).

As you can see, the squadrons are deployed in the north-west (states of Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana) direction - to counter Pakistan, and in the north and north-east directions (Uttar Pradesh and Assam) to counter China.

The Su-30MKI aircraft is capable of performing many functions - from air strike battles to strategic bombing. It is suitable for flying in any weather and at any time of the day, can strike on land and at sea, day and night. Now India plans to equip the main aircraft of its Air Force with a multi-mode, hybrid passive with electronic scanning array of the Russian-made Irbis-E radar system.

It is assumed that fighters equipped with Irbis-E radars will be able to exchange data from their sensors. This will significantly increase their situational awareness, which will destroy the enemy invisible fighters. Also, the radar will be resistant to interference created by the enemy’s electronic warfare.

In addition, the Air Force command expects to install an AL-31FS (Saturn) engine on planes, which has more power and a longer service life than the AL-31FP currently in use. The new engine will increase the endurance of aircraft, as well as increase their capabilities in terms of transporting heavy loads and installing additional weapons.

It is planned to equip Su-30MKI aircraft with R-37M missiles, which have a greater range than the R-77 and R-27 variants. The Indian Air Force command believes that these missiles will definitely give the advantage of Indian aviation over Pakistani and Chinese aircraft.

With the help of the Irbis-E system, the Indian Air Force will also receive great opportunities for using the R-37 at ranges of up to 400 km. The new radar will increase the effectiveness of missiles against the radar systems of the airborne early warning and control system.

It is also planned to deploy air-to-air missiles K-77 with a short range of 200 km, but with a missile radar that can detect enemy fighters. In addition, India is continuing negotiations with Russia on the development of a more modern and advanced version of the Bramos missiles, which have great performance in terms of speed and maneuverability. In India, in general, it is believed that hypersonic complexes can be created on the basis of available versions.

Thus, the Su-30MKI aircraft, as is believed in India, will become the basis of the striking power of the Indian Air Force. The Su-30MKI fleet will comprise 260 aircraft already in service, and another 240 aircraft in production.

Finally, the fighter power of the Indian Air Force will be greatly enhanced by the French-made Rafale fighters, which will begin to operate together with the Su-30MKI. Military experts believe that such a combination will be deadly for opponents of the Indian state and will ensure the unambiguous safety of Indian airspace.

Comments

[The leader of the Redskins]

260 aircraft is a serious argument. Well done Indians, no longer want to be considered someone else's colony.

[Tusv]

Quote: Leader of the Redskins

Well done Indians, no longer want to be considered someone else's colony.

Come on. But just in case, Her Majesty, the Queen of England swore an oath, joining the "commonwealth"
And so everything is simple. HAL without SU-30 is bent, and Rafali Sars-2 killed. And here is the real threat from China. Dances already help a little

[Uncle Izya]

Well, what a little thing can radar squirrel put from su 57 stroking and mass production begin

[Vlad.by]

It would be possible to refine the machine translation of the article. Some phrases cut straight!

It is also planned to deploy air-to-air missiles K-77 with a short range of 200 km, but with a missile radar that can detect enemy fighters.

[Marxal2020]

Hindus first need to learn to fly well. And that means you need a good school and preparation, and of course winding up a watch, or something just that, they shout a bad airplane.

[Irokez]

Why not make Rafale the main ones?
After all, it is better according to the Indians, but you do not hope for Russian weapons, well, then buy a MIG 35, it is cheaper and no worse than Rafale.

[Insurgent]

Quote: Irokez

Why not make Rafale the main ones?

Tell me, do you have any idea about ritual Indian dances?
Most likely, just like me - don't understand anything...

All of us are exactly in the same ignorance, from the leaps and antics of "Indian dancers" around "Raphael", "Grippen", various American "F" ...

But, apparently, "dancing with tambourines" is only an element of bargaining ...

[Irokez]

Quote: Insurgent

Most likely, just like me, you understand nothing.

The Indians of the tode have a tambourine and in this they understand something a little. )))

[Insurgent]

Quote: Irokez

The Indians of the tode have a tambourine and in this they understand something a little.

Indians, you probably wanted to write?
Yes, in fact, it’s stupid to deny the indigenous tendency of the Indians to trade (bargaining), honed by thousands of years of experience ...

[Bar1]

Quote: Irokez

then buy MIG 35 it is cheaper and no worse than Rafale.

Well, yes, it is, if not better.

[Tusv]

Quote: Irokez

He’s better, according to the Hindus,

Ash stump. There is no UHT, maximum overloads are in the region of 6 te. The heavy armament is higher, but everything eats up three PTBs. But with a real French AFAR. It’s easier to manage. You don’t need a super suit. And here the Monster is a killer with missiles instead of PTB and with overloads of 9 je. Here you understand the pilot is needed, not the disco dancer

[Ratmir_Ryazan]

Why not make Rafale the main ones?

Everything rests on money. Rafal is 2 times more expensive than the Su-30.

India already has a large number of Su-30s and the infrastructure for them, the most logical and cheapest way to develop is in the direction of modernizing the existing Su-30s, and assembling new Su-30s with a more powerful and advanced avionics, rather than remodeling everything on Rafali and not retraining pilots.

Rafal is a very expensive plane and no one takes him to NATO except France. And France itself does not have many, the series is small, the parts are expensive.

Although Rafal is a very good generation 4 ++ fighter. It has a lot of composites, its small size makes it an inconspicuous fighter with decent range and maneuverability.

And the MiG-35 was shown to the Indians, but to see something did not satisfy them.

It would not hurt us to unify the Su-30 and Su-35 as much as possible, both in terms of engines and avionics, and ultimately get an excellent fighter in the face of Su-35 and a fighter-bomber in the face of Su-30.

Judging by the latest information, everything goes to this.

[Sky strike fighter]

So it seems they have already taken up unification. They want to put engines and airborne radar from the Su -30C on the Su -1CM35.

[Tusv]

Quote: Ratmir_Ryazan

the small size all this makes it also an inconspicuous fighter with a decent range and maneuverability

Nothing that decent range with only three PTBs. Yes, Rafal is a decent machine., The latter, even with a super cruise, but comparing the front-line soldier with the Su-30 is not at all correct. According to the spectrum of tasks, as a multifunctional complex, perhaps the best in the world

[Ratmir_Ryazan]

On Rafale is a more modern avionics, radar with AFAR, he himself is smaller and for the most part made of composites.

If there is a confrontation head-on against Rafal against the Su-30, I think Rafal will kick our Su-30. He will detect and hit him before.

[Doccor18]

India is going to upgrade the SU-30MKI. Do they have a choice? Rafal will never be the main fighter. The Hindus do not have enough money even for 100 of these machines. So Sukhoi for India will for a long time be the basis of the Air Force.

[newcomer]

Well, if they want our "Irbis E", then one can hope that all the "stuffing" will be domestic. And what about their famous version of the Super Su 30 upgrade?

[steelmaker]

"Do not renounce RUSSIA, RUSSIA is YOUR friend forever!"
But they bought a plane from the French. If only Russia could spoil it !?

[Bar1]

Quote: steel maker

Do not renounce RUSSIA, RUSSIA is YOUR friend forever! "
But they bought a plane from the French. If only Russia could spoil it !?

somewhere in the depths of Indian psychology lies the former slavish dependence on Britain, on the former metropolis. The British are those who made this Indian nation, who stood at the origins of Indian statehood. For THESE, the Indian elites did not themselves win their own independence, but RECEIVED this state for free with all wealth and hopeless poverty, and of course received for something. Anglitsky-second state, what does this mean? This means that Indians are most closely associated with the West with Britain.
Therefore, this state will NEVER be entirely for Russia, India will have this other way.

[knn54]

Hindus are really great. In such a difficult time, their own enterprises are loaded with work.

[Nikolaevich I]

Actually, the correct name for the missiles ... "BrahMos"! Not "Brahmos"! Author, turn on your erudition!

[Ros 56]

Seriously, what about Rafali? Well, Indians, well, gypsies, where are the Jews, along with Khokh lami.

[Okolotochny]

And no one counted the numbers?

Currently, the Air Force of India includes 32 Su-30MKI squadrons, while the Air Force command speaks of the need for 42 squadrons to counter double threats from both Pakistan and China. Each Indian Air Force squadron includes 18-20 fighters, all in all, there are currently 260 Su-30MKI aircraft in Indian aviation.

32 squadrons, we multiply the number of each (18-20 fighters), even by 18. A total of 576 vehicles. ???