Sukhoi Su 30MKI

Dark Sorrow

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Any news of DRDO developing towed decoys for AMCA?
No plans as of yet.
We are yet to operationalize DRDO/DARE Unified EW Suite. Any new development in EW Suite domain is only after Unified EW Suite is operationalized.

DRDO starts development/indigenisation of new technology only after its has been selected and assimilated by IAF. It will take 5-10 years after assimilation by IAF for DRDO to come up with this technology.

Most of DRDO projects in this domain are inspired from similar Israeli technology/product.
 

WolfPack86

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With depleting fighter strength, Indian Air Force looks to speed up Su-30 fleet modernisation
Having taken delivery of all Su-30MKI fighter aircraft and the deal for contracting 12 more Su-30s meant to replace those lost over the years deferred in the back drop of the war in Ukraine, Indian Air Force (IAF) is working to speed up the long-delayed upgrade of these frontline fighters.

“The Air Service Quality Requirements for the first upgrade are being finalised. Lot of work is under way on that front,” a defence official said. “We are trying to do as much of the upgrade as possible within the country involving the private industry,” the official stated.

The upgrade process is as much as procuring an aircraft, the official said while explaining that the upgrade is a complex exercise and is being planned in phases. During the early stage of the deliberations, which have been going on for several years now, Russian side had pitched for the entire upgrade to be done in Russia but given the long timelines, India was inclined to do it in phases with a major part of it in the country. The Make in India effort and the war in Ukraine have accelerated that effort.

Effort is on to do basic mission capabilities, fly by wire and flight controls among others within the country, the official stated. The IAF is looking to add new weapons, avionics and sensors and engines on the Su-30MKIs to keep them contemporary for the next few decades.

India had procured 272 Su-30s from Russia, majority of which were assembled in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and around 11 jets were lost over the years. The IAF has 12 Su-30 squadrons in service, and anywhere between 40-50 aircraft are at HAL for overhaul repairs at any given time, officials said.

A plan to procure 12 additional SU-30MKIs and 21 MIG-29s from Russia has been stuck and with the war in Ukraine and indigenous push, it’s been deferred. Even though the Su-30s are only to replace the lost ones, with the ongoing war in Ukraine, the government does not want to be seen as approving major defence deals with Russia, the official said, echoing the views of another senior official. The deal is unlikely to happen anytime soon, both the officials noted.

The IAF has an authorised strength of 42 fighter squadrons which currently stands at 32 including two squadrons each of the Rafale and indigenous Light Combat Aircraft. For instance, the IAF has four MIG-21 squadrons in service with one squadron to be phased out per year. As part of it, the No. 51 ‘Sword Arms’ Squadron based in Srinagar of which Gp Capt (then Wg Cdr) Abhinandan Varthaman was part of and saw action in February 2019 during the Balakot air strike is set to be phased out later this month.

With the drawdown plan accelerating as older jets complete total technical life and delays in newer inductions, upgrading the Su-30s has become a priority. It is not possible for the IAF to reach the sanctioned strength of 42 fighter squadrons in the next 10-15 years and the force will remain at 35 squadrons given the current phase outs and inductions, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal (ACM) V. R. Chaudhari had said earlier.

In addition, IAF is confident that increasing the low availability rates of Su-30 and other fighters in service will offset some of the shortfall in the interim, as an IAF representative informed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on defence as per a report tabled in March this year. “That is one way Air Force fills that. Serviceability state, you are aware of it, has been low. Once we get that, the existing strength itself we can ramp up before the new aircraft come in. That is the best we are looking at as of now,” the representative added.

In the last seven to eight years, several steps have been taken to increase the serviceability rates of the Russian equipment in use, especially the Su-30MKI fleet which constitutes a significant number in the IAF inventory. Part of the measures are long term spares and support agreements as well as Joint Ventures in India with Russian original equipment manufacturers for faster turnaround.
 

johnj

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With depleting fighter strength, Indian Air Force looks to speed up Su-30 fleet modernisation
Having taken delivery of all Su-30MKI fighter aircraft and the deal for contracting 12 more Su-30s meant to replace those lost over the years deferred in the back drop of the war in Ukraine, Indian Air Force (IAF) is working to speed up the long-delayed upgrade of these frontline fighters.

“The Air Service Quality Requirements for the first upgrade are being finalised. Lot of work is under way on that front,” a defence official said. “We are trying to do as much of the upgrade as possible within the country involving the private industry,” the official stated.

The upgrade process is as much as procuring an aircraft, the official said while explaining that the upgrade is a complex exercise and is being planned in phases. During the early stage of the deliberations, which have been going on for several years now, Russian side had pitched for the entire upgrade to be done in Russia but given the long timelines, India was inclined to do it in phases with a major part of it in the country. The Make in India effort and the war in Ukraine have accelerated that effort.

Effort is on to do basic mission capabilities, fly by wire and flight controls among others within the country, the official stated. The IAF is looking to add new weapons, avionics and sensors and engines on the Su-30MKIs to keep them contemporary for the next few decades.

India had procured 272 Su-30s from Russia, majority of which were assembled in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and around 11 jets were lost over the years. The IAF has 12 Su-30 squadrons in service, and anywhere between 40-50 aircraft are at HAL for overhaul repairs at any given time, officials said.

A plan to procure 12 additional SU-30MKIs and 21 MIG-29s from Russia has been stuck and with the war in Ukraine and indigenous push, it’s been deferred. Even though the Su-30s are only to replace the lost ones, with the ongoing war in Ukraine, the government does not want to be seen as approving major defence deals with Russia, the official said, echoing the views of another senior official. The deal is unlikely to happen anytime soon, both the officials noted.

The IAF has an authorised strength of 42 fighter squadrons which currently stands at 32 including two squadrons each of the Rafale and indigenous Light Combat Aircraft. For instance, the IAF has four MIG-21 squadrons in service with one squadron to be phased out per year. As part of it, the No. 51 ‘Sword Arms’ Squadron based in Srinagar of which Gp Capt (then Wg Cdr) Abhinandan Varthaman was part of and saw action in February 2019 during the Balakot air strike is set to be phased out later this month.

With the drawdown plan accelerating as older jets complete total technical life and delays in newer inductions, upgrading the Su-30s has become a priority. It is not possible for the IAF to reach the sanctioned strength of 42 fighter squadrons in the next 10-15 years and the force will remain at 35 squadrons given the current phase outs and inductions, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal (ACM) V. R. Chaudhari had said earlier.

In addition, IAF is confident that increasing the low availability rates of Su-30 and other fighters in service will offset some of the shortfall in the interim, as an IAF representative informed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on defence as per a report tabled in March this year. “That is one way Air Force fills that. Serviceability state, you are aware of it, has been low. Once we get that, the existing strength itself we can ramp up before the new aircraft come in. That is the best we are looking at as of now,” the representative added.

In the last seven to eight years, several steps have been taken to increase the serviceability rates of the Russian equipment in use, especially the Su-30MKI fleet which constitutes a significant number in the IAF inventory. Part of the measures are long term spares and support agreements as well as Joint Ventures in India with Russian original equipment manufacturers for faster turnaround.
/<IAF is confident that increasing the low availability rates of Su-30 and other fighters in service.>/

Order 1 more sqn of lca mk1. Increase lca [mk1/mk2] to 15/18 sqn.

Effort is on to do basic mission capabilities, fly by wire and flight controls among others within the country - with out russian support ?
IAF is looking to add new weapons, avionics and sensors and engines on the Su-30MKIs - new engines ?
 

WolfPack86

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India’s ‘Sukhoi’ Masterstroke! IAF To Indigenously Modernize Its Su-30 MKI Fighters With Under-The-Radar Russian Assistance
The IAF’s decision to indigenously modernize the Su-30 MKI fighters is a bold and brilliant decision. It’s a masterstroke of creative thinking that elegantly promotes self-reliance in defense, circumvents possible US sanctions, and yet continues to nurture close defense cooperation with Russia.

The 262-aircraft Su-30MKI fleet is and will likely remain the backbone of the Indian Air Force (IAF) for many decades.

The large size of the aircraft not only facilitates upgrades but also leaves room for metamorphoses to futuristic roles such as a weapons truck operating with a penetrating sensor & attack platform such as the AMCA, or a mothership controlling LO loyal wingman UCAVs in a system of system approach similar to the US Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD).

The IAF is the largest operator of the Su-30 variant. Over the past 20 years, India has made significant IPR & infrastructure investments in assembling, operating, servicing (overhaul, spares manufacture), and spiral upgrading (Brahmos-A, Astra, Rudram) the Su-30MKI.

It’s time to embark on a comprehensive version upgrade.

According to the IAF chief Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari, the technical parameters for the major Sukhoi upgrade are being refined.

“We have decided this upgrade will be done indigenously with many indigenously-designed weapons, electronic warfare systems, and the like. We are looking at upgrading 84 Sukhois in the first tranche,” Chaudhari noted.

According to the IAF, modernization will kick off after 4-5 years of design and development.


Besides the ability to carry advanced indigenously developed weapons, the finalized technical parameters would likely include an improved Infrared Imaging Search and Track System (IRST), AESA radar & a more powerful engine.

Su-30 MKI – Improved IRST
The DRDO is already working on the design & development of a Long Range Dual Band IRST for Su-30 MKI aircraft under the ‘Make II’ sub-category. The DAC approved the project in May 2018.

On April 26, 2022, HAL and BEL reportedly signed a contract for the co-development and co-production of Long Range Dual Band IRST.

“The proposed IRST system will be a high-end strategic technology product in the field of defense avionics and technically competitive to existing IRST system in the global market with features of Television Day Camera, Infrared & Laser sensors in a single window for air-to-air and air-to-ground target tracking and localization,” HAL said in a release.

AESA Radar
The modernized Su-30MKI will likely feature an AESA radar to replace its N011M BARS Radar.

DRDO, which has already developed the Uttam AESA for the LCA, is reportedly working with HAL & Russian OEM to develop an AESA for the Su-30MKI. Considering the size of the nose cross-section of the Sukhoi, the radar could be the most potent airborne AESA equipping a fighter aircraft.

Engine Upgrade
India will likely procure the engine for the modernized fighter from Russia.

Russia is developing an AL-41F-1S (Product 117S) engine variant that could be fitted on Su-30MKI fighters without any airframe modification.

As of January 2022, flight tests of Su-30SM (Russian Su-30MKI analog) with the AL-41F-1S engine were underway, with completion scheduled for December 2023.

Compared to the existing power plant of the Su-30MKI, the AL-41F-1S has 16% more (14,500 kgf) thrust, better Specific Fuel Consumption, improved endurance, and an overhaul life of 4,000 flight hours.

Under-The-Radar Russian Participation
In view of the geopolitical trip wires India has to deal with over the Russian Special Military Operation in Ukraine, it appears that Russia will help India with the modernization without directly participating in it.

On July 4, 2022, TASS reported quoting a Rostec press statement that Russia will assist India in the assembly and modernization of Su-30MKI as part of the “Make in India” program.

The help will include the supply of additional technical kits for the assembly of the Su-30MKI and joint work on the modernization, including the integration of the latest aviation weapons and avionics.

While vigorously encouraging Indian advances in weapon systems and sensor development by incorporating them in the Su-30MKI, IAF plans deftly avoid antagonizing the West by toning down Russian participation in modernization.

For example, engine procurement from Russia would start after several years and be phased over a long period. The deal’s total amount would be insignificant compared to India’s other imports from Russia. As such, the crucial engine upgrade tie-up with Russia is unlikely to cause consternation in the West.

Russia’s participation in the AESA development, too, would not provoke Western concerns. Russian willingness to accommodate the geopolitical realities faced by India is noteworthy.
 

ezsasa

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incase anyone wants to clarify any doubts our japanese friends have on SU-30 MKI, in the comments section.
======
インド空軍のスホイ30が茨城・百里基地に到着 日印が初の戦闘機共同訓練へ
Indian Air Force Sukhoi 30 arrives at Hyakuri Air Base in Ibaraki Japan and India for first joint fighter training


 

Haldilal

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Ya'll Nibbiars The MoD inks Rs 3,700 crore contracts with BEL for Medium Power Radars Arudhra and 129 DR-118 Radar Warning Receivers for Su-30MKI. The projects to enhance surveillance, detection, tracking & Electronic Warfare capabilities of Indian Air Force.

Fr564m-WIAIb1MK.jpeg
 

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