The Sukhoi Su-30MKI [3] (NATO reporting name: Flanker-H) is a variant of the Sukhoi

Su-30 jointly-developed by Russia's Sukhoi Corporation and India's Hindustan

Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force (IAF). It is a heavy class, long-range
air superiority fighter which can also act as a multirole, strike fighter aircraft.

The development of the variant started after India signed a deal with Russia in 2000 to
manufacture 140 Su-30 fighter jets.[4] The first Russian-made Su-30MKI variant was
accepted into the IAF in 2002,[5] while the first indigenously assembled Su-30MKI
entered service with the IAF in 2004.[6] In 2007, the IAF ordered 40 additional MKIs.[7]
As of July 2010, the IAF has 124 MKIs under active service with plans to have an
operational fleet of 280 MKIs by 2015.[8] The Su-30MKI is expected to form the
backbone of the Indian Air Force's fighter fleet to 2020 and beyond.[9]

The aircraft is tailor-made for Indian specifications and integrates Indian systems and
avionics as well as[10] French and Israeli subsystems.[11] It has abilities similar to the
Sukhoi Su-35 with which it shares many features and components.[12][13]

The Su-30MKI was jointly designed by Russia's Sukhoi Corporation and India's
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The MKI's airframe evolved from that of the
Sukhoi Su-27 while most of the avionics were developed by India.[14]

The Su-30MKI is more advanced than the basic Su-30MK, the Chinese Su-30MKK, and
the Malaysian Su-30MKM .[15]. The aircraft features state of the art avionics developed by
Russia, India and Israel which includes display, navigation, targeting and electronic
warfare systems.[16] Other key avionics used in the aircraft were sourced from France and
South Africa.[17]

[edit] Upgrades

In 2004 India inked a deal with Russia to domestically produce the Novator K-100
missile for its Su-30MKI fighters. The Novator K-100 missile is designed to shoot down
AWACS and other C4ISTAR aircraft[18] whilst keeping the launch platform out of range
of any fighters that might be protecting the target.

Although not initially designed to carry nuclear or strategic weapons, the Indian Air
Force will receive 40 upgraded SU-30MKIs capable of carrying the BrahMos cruise
missile possibly by 2012.[19][20] In addition, there are also plans to integrate the nuclear-
capable Nirbhay missile with the aircraft as well.[21] In May 2010, India Today reported
that Russia had won a large contract to upgrade 40 Su-30MKI fighters with new radars,
onboard computers, electronic warfare systems and the ability to carry the BrahMos
missile. The first two prototypes with the 'Super-30' upgrade will be delivered to the
Indian Air Force in 2012, after which the same upgrades will be performed on the last
batch consisting of 40 production aircraft.[22] The exact value of the contract has yet to be
disclosed however.[23][24]
India is planning to fit its Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters with Russian Phazotron Zhuk-AE
Active Electronically Scanned Array AESA radars. The X-band radar can track 30 aerial
targets in the track-while-scan mode and engage six targets simultaneously in attack
mode. AESA technology offers improved performance and reliability compared with
traditional mechanically scanned array radars.[25]. Indian Defense Minister A.K Antony
proposed several upgrades for the Su-30MKI to the Indian Parliament, which included
fitting the fighters with Russian Phazotron Zhuk-AE AESA radars starting in 2012.[26]

[edit] Procurement

IAF Su-30MKI

In 1996, after 2 years of evaluation and negotiations, India decided to purchase Su-
30MKI aircraft. India signed a US$1.462 billion deal with the Sukhoi Corporation on 30
November 1996 for the delivery of 50 Su-30 aircraft. These aircraft were to be delivered
in five batches. The first batch were 8 Su-30MKs , the basic version of Su-30. The
second batch were to be 10 Su-30Ks with French and Israeli avionics. The third batch
were to be 10 Su-30MKIs featuring canard foreplanes. The fourth batch of 12 Su 30MKIs
and final batch of 10 Su-30MKIs aircraft all were to have the AL-31FP turbofans.

In October 2000, a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) was signed confirming the

license production of 140+ Su-30MKIs and in December 2000, the deal was sealed at
Russia's Irkutsk aircraft plant, with full technology transfer. The first Su-30MKIs from
Nasik are to be delivered from 2004, with the original plan of carrying production up to
2017-18. However in November 2002, it was decided that the delivery schedule would be
completed within ten years - by 2014 - by increasing the annual rate of production from
10 to 14 aircraft annually. An estimated 920 AL-31FP turbofans are to be manufactured
at HAL's Koraput Division, while the mainframe and other accessories are to be
manufactured at HAL's Divisions in Lucknow and Hyderabad. Final integration of the
aircraft and its test flight are to be carried out at HAL's Nasik Division.[27] The MKI
production was planned to be done in four phases: Phase I, II, III and IV respectively.

In 2007 another order of 40 Su-30MKIs have been made. In 2009, India planned to
acquire 230 Su-30-MKIs.[28] HAL has been directed to end the production of 140 of the
original 230 jets under transfer of technology by 2015, instead of the originally scheduled
2017-2018.[29] In 2008, Samtel HAL Display Systems (SHDS), a joint venture between
Samtel Display Systems and HAL won a contract to develop and manufacture multi-
function avionics displays for the MKI.[30]. A Helmet Mounted Sight & Display system -
Topsight-I, based on technology from Thales and developed by SHDS will be integrated
on the Su-30MKI in the next upgrade.

As of March 2010, sources in the Indian Defense Ministry announced that a contract for
42 more Su-30MKI was in the final phases.[29][31] In June 2010, it was reported that the
Cabinet Committee on Security had cleared the 15,000 crore (US$ 3.41 billion) deal and
that the 42 aircraft would be in service by 2018.[32] By August 2010 the number of aircraft
had shrunk to 40 and the cost increased to $4.3 billion or $102 million each, comparable
in cost to the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, but lacking in features such as AESA
radar or stealth.[33]

HAL also expects that total indigenisation of the SU-30MKI program will be in 2010. V.
Balakrishnan, general manager of the Aircraft Manufacturing Division stated that “HAL
will achieve 100 per cent indigenisation of the Sukhoi aircraft — from the production of
raw materials to the final plane assembly,”.[34]

The Su-30MKI was jointly designed by Russia's Sukhoi Corporation and India's
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The MKI's airframe evolved from that of the
Sukhoi Su-27 while most of the avionics were developed by India.[14]

The Su-30MKI is more advanced than the basic Su-30MK, the Chinese Su-30MKK, and
the Malaysian Su-30MKM .[15]. The aircraft features state of the art avionics developed by
Russia, India and Israel which includes display, navigation, targeting and electronic
warfare systems.[16] Other key avionics used in the aircraft were sourced from France and
South Africa.[17]

[edit] Upgrades

In 2004 India inked a deal with Russia to domestically produce the Novator K-100
missile for its Su-30MKI fighters. The Novator K-100 missile is designed to shoot down
AWACS and other C4ISTAR aircraft[18] whilst keeping the launch platform out of range
of any fighters that might be protecting the target.

Although not initially designed to carry nuclear or strategic weapons, the Indian Air
Force will receive 40 upgraded SU-30MKIs capable of carrying the BrahMos cruise
missile possibly by 2012.[19][20] In addition, there are also plans to integrate the nuclear-
capable Nirbhay missile with the aircraft as well.[21] In May 2010, India Today reported
that Russia had won a large contract to upgrade 40 Su-30MKI fighters with new radars,
onboard computers, electronic warfare systems and the ability to carry the BrahMos
missile. The first two prototypes with the 'Super-30' upgrade will be delivered to the
Indian Air Force in 2012, after which the same upgrades will be performed on the last
batch consisting of 40 production aircraft.[22] The exact value of the contract has yet to be
disclosed however.[23][24]
India is planning to fit its Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters with Russian Phazotron Zhuk-AE
Active Electronically Scanned Array AESA radars. The X-band radar can track 30 aerial
targets in the track-while-scan mode and engage six targets simultaneously in attack
mode. AESA technology offers improved performance and reliability compared with
traditional mechanically scanned array radars.[25]. Indian Defense Minister A.K Antony
proposed several upgrades for the Su-30MKI to the Indian Parliament, which included
fitting the fighters with Russian Phazotron Zhuk-AE AESA radars starting in 2012.[26]

[edit] Procurement

IAF Su-30MKI

In 1996, after 2 years of evaluation and negotiations, India decided to purchase Su-
30MKI aircraft. India signed a US$1.462 billion deal with the Sukhoi Corporation on 30
November 1996 for the delivery of 50 Su-30 aircraft. These aircraft were to be delivered
in five batches. The first batch were 8 Su-30MKs , the basic version of Su-30. The
second batch were to be 10 Su-30Ks with French and Israeli avionics. The third batch
were to be 10 Su-30MKIs featuring canard foreplanes. The fourth batch of 12 Su 30MKIs
and final batch of 10 Su-30MKIs aircraft all were to have the AL-31FP turbofans.

In October 2000, a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) was signed confirming the

license production of 140+ Su-30MKIs and in December 2000, the deal was sealed at
Russia's Irkutsk aircraft plant, with full technology transfer. The first Su-30MKIs from
Nasik are to be delivered from 2004, with the original plan of carrying production up to
2017-18. However in November 2002, it was decided that the delivery schedule would be
completed within ten years - by 2014 - by increasing the annual rate of production from
10 to 14 aircraft annually. An estimated 920 AL-31FP turbofans are to be manufactured
at HAL's Koraput Division, while the mainframe and other accessories are to be
manufactured at HAL's Divisions in Lucknow and Hyderabad. Final integration of the
aircraft and its test flight are to be carried out at HAL's Nasik Division.[27] The MKI
production was planned to be done in four phases: Phase I, II, III and IV respectively.

In 2007 another order of 40 Su-30MKIs have been made. In 2009, India planned to
acquire 230 Su-30-MKIs.[28] HAL has been directed to end the production of 140 of the
original 230 jets under transfer of technology by 2015, instead of the originally scheduled
2017-2018.[29] In 2008, Samtel HAL Display Systems (SHDS), a joint venture between
Samtel Display Systems and HAL won a contract to develop and manufacture multi-
function avionics displays for the MKI.[30]. A Helmet Mounted Sight & Display system -
Topsight-I, based on technology from Thales and developed by SHDS will be integrated
on the Su-30MKI in the next upgrade.

As of March 2010, sources in the Indian Defense Ministry announced that a contract for
42 more Su-30MKI was in the final phases.[29][31] In June 2010, it was reported that the
Cabinet Committee on Security had cleared the 15,000 crore (US$ 3.41 billion) deal and
that the 42 aircraft would be in service by 2018.[32] By August 2010 the number of aircraft
had shrunk to 40 and the cost increased to $4.3 billion or $102 million each, comparable
in cost to the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, but lacking in features such as AESA
radar or stealth.[33]

HAL also expects that total indigenisation of the SU-30MKI program will be in 2010. V.
Balakrishnan, general manager of the Aircraft Manufacturing Division stated that “HAL
will achieve 100 per cent indigenisation of the Sukhoi aircraft — from the production of
raw materials to the final plane assembly,”.[34]