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India Weighs Major Deal With Russia to Upgrade 175 Su-30MKI Fighters
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India is evaluating a major contract with Russia to modernize around 175 Su-30MKI fighter jets, as New Delhi reassesses the pace and scope of its domestic upgrade program.
The potential deal emerges amid delays in India’s indigenous modernization effort, which so far covers only a limited portion of the fleet, according to the New Indian Express on February 25.
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The potential contract involves upgrading about 65% of India’s total Su-30MKI fleet. This move is largely driven by the limitations of India’s national “Super Sukhoi” program, which currently aims to modernize only 84 fighters.
Estimates suggest the domestic program could take between 10 and 15 years to complete. The Indian Ministry of Defense reportedly believes that splitting the modernization workload between domestic and Russian facilities could help maintain the high combat readiness of the air force.
The Russian proposal includes replacing the existing AL-31 engines with the more advanced AL-41, along with updates to electronic warfare systems and radar.
In contrast, the Indian-led “Super Sukhoi” initiative focuses on integrating the indigenous Virupaksha AESA radar, a complete overhaul of onboard electronics, and the integration of new weaponry, while opting to modernize rather than replace the current engines.
This potential agreement is also being viewed in the context of Russia’s long-standing efforts to sell the Su-57 fighter to India. Moscow has spent over 15 years attempting to secure a deal for the fifth-generation aircraft.
Although a joint production agreement was signed in 2010, India withdrew from the partnership in 2018, stating at the time that the Su-57 did not meet the required performance specifications.
Earlier, Russia had proposed an unprecedented defense deal to India, offering full source code access to its fifth-generation Su-57E stealth fighter. This move by the United Aircraft Corporation was seen as a direct challenge to Washington’s competing bid to sell India the F-35A.
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