On December 12, 2024, the Defence Ministry signed a contract worth ₹13,500 crore with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the procurement of 12 Su-30MKI aircraft. This deal is a significant boost to India’s defense capabilities and supports the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative, with 62.6% of the aircraft’s components being domestically produced.
The aircraft will be manufactured at HAL’s Nashik division, enhancing the operational capability of the Indian Air Force and strengthening the country’s defense preparedness. This contract is expected to stimulate the Indian economy by creating job opportunities and promoting technological advancements in the defense sector.
About Su-30MKI aircraft
The Su-30MKI (Sukhoi-30MKI) is a multirole combat fighter aircraft jointly developed by Russia’s Sukhoi Design Bureau and India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force (IAF). It is a variant of the Sukhoi Su-30, tailored to meet the specific requirements of the IAF.
Key features of the Su-30MKI:
- Role: Multirole fighter aircraft, air superiority fighter, and fighter-bomber.
- Manufacturer: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
- First Flight: July 1, 1997 (Su-30MK); November 2000 (Su-30MKI).
- Introduction Date: September 27, 2002.
- Primary User: Indian Air Force (IAF).
- Number Built: 272 as of March 2020.
- Maximum Speed: Mach 1.9.
- Range: 3,000 km (unrefueled); 8,000 km with in-flight refueling.
- Armament: Equipped with longer-range weapons, including the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.
- Avionics: State-of-the-art avionics developed by Russia, India, Israel, France, and South Africa.
- Indigenous Content: 62.6% of the aircraft’s components are domestically produced.
