#DefenseDiaries: Why the Su-30MKI is the backbone of the IAF
What's the story
Recently, a modified Indian Air Force (IAF) Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet test-fired a supersonic BrahMos-A Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM).
The BrahMos-A test is a clear demonstrator of the jet's lethal versatility and ever-expanding capability.
The Su-30MKI, first ordered in the 1990s, now forms the backbone of the IAF's fighter fleet.
In this timeline, we track India's tryst with the legendary Su-30MKI.
History
Su-30 is an upgraded version of the famed Su-27 warplane
The Su-30MKI is born out the erstwhile Soviet Union's upgradation of the famed Su-27 warplane into the Su-30 variant in the late 1980s.
After the fall of the Soviet Union, a cash crunch pushed Sukhoi to offer advanced variants of the Su-30 to various countries.
In an unprecedented move, it allowed buyers to customize the jet with non-Russian equipment, an offer India happily accepted.
Explained
How India came to commission the Su-30MKI?
In 1996, India signed a contract to buy eight Su-30K and 32 Su-30MK warplanes.
The contract envisaged the development of the Su-30MKI fighter jet which integrated the latest western, Russian and Indian avionics.
In 2000, India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed an agreement with Russia's Rosoboronexport to license manufacture 140 Su-30MKI domestically.
In later years, India placed orders for 82 additional Su-30MKIs.
Specifications
Su-30MKI is among world's most manoeuvrable aircraft
The Su-30MKI is a twin-seater, twin-engine heavy multi-role fighter jet.
It features the capable Russian N011M PESA radar that can track fighter jets up to 150-km away.
It's powered by two Al-31FP engines giving it a maximum speed of Mach 1.9.
The engines come with thrust-vectoring nozzles, making the Su-30MKI among the world's most maneuverable.
The aircraft has a phenomenal range of 3,000km.
Open architecture
Su-30MKI's open architecture allows for integration and upgradation of avionics
The Su-30MKI's biggest advantage is its open architecture allowing it to integrate sensors and avionics from India, Israel, Russia, and France.
The warplane has 12 hardpoints to carry weapons and external fuel tanks weighing up to 3.8-tonnes.
Its ability to haul heavy payloads, high range and open architecture made it the perfect candidate to launch the supersonic BrahMos-A missiles for India.
Information
Weapons arsenal
The Su-30MKI carries a wide arsenal of ground-attack precision and non-precision bombs. It can also launch air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles such as R-77, R-73, Kh-31, Kh-59, R-27 etc. It will also launch India's indigenous Astra air-to-air missile.
Details
Impressed Russia made its own Su-30MKI version
The Russian Air Force was so impressed with the Su-30MKI's performance that it developed and ordered 60 Su-30SM, its own version of the Indian aircraft.
The Su-30MKI also boosted the Sukhoi's fortunes by helping it receive orders for hundreds of Su-30 variants from China, Venezuela, Algeria, Malaysia, Uganda, and Indonesia.
The Su-30MKI is still more advanced than the Chinese Su-30s and its reverse-engineered variants.
Upgrades
Planned upgrades to give birth to Super Sukhoi
India is looking to upgrade the Su-30MKI further with a slew of advanced avionics and sensors to make it geared for future warfare.
This comprises of a modernized cockpit with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.
Russia's United Engine Corporation has offered the AL-41F-1S turbofan which currently powers the next generation Su-35 aircraft.
The upgrades would turn the Su-30MKI into a Super Sukhoi.