Sukhoi Su 30MKI

LurkerBaba

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Sukhoi 30 MKI is a long-range, high-endurance, heavy-class Air Dominance Fighter with multi mission capabilities. It is currently the most advanced version of Flanker series anywhere in the world.

Su-30 series were a logical upgrade over the Su-27 produced in the USSR

It gives its operator, the Indian Air Force, a capability that will remain unmatched by all rivals for the forseeable future.

Summary from Vayusena
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Indian Air Force will raise four more squadrons of Su-30 MKI fighter Codenamed 'Flying Lancers' in Punjab along the Pakistan border.

A new $3.5-billion deal for 40 Super Sukhoi fighter aircraft will be signed between India and Russia. The fighters will be delivered by 2014-2015




Summary of recent news


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Link to older thread http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/indian-air-force/1363-su-30-mki-116.html
 

cloud_9

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Negotiations for upgrading Sukhoi Su-30 fighters are at an advanced stage, according to Indian defence sources.

Even as a $3.77 billion Super Sukhois deal is likely to be signed between India and Russia during Russian President Vladimir Putin's much-awaited visit to New Delhi next month, India is at an advanced stage of negotiations with Russia for clinching another deal for upgrading its fleet of Sukhoi Su-30 fighter planes. This deal may be worth $1 billion, depending on the negotiations, defence sources here said.

The Russians would obviously like to see this deal coming to fruition but are not acting desperately. The Indians, on the other hand, are weighing their options closely and are cleverly using a newly acquired card: there are other players as well in the market. The negotiations are currently believed to be very delicately poised and neither of the two sides is giving it up just yet despite the complexities and intricacies.

The ongoing negotiations are significant as India is scheduled to raise its eighth Sukhoi SU-30 squadron by December 2012. The squadron will be based in Sirsa in Haryana, close to the Pakistan border and will be the IAF's third Su-30 squadron to be deployed close to the Pakistan border in 14 months. The previous two newly raised squadrons are located in Jodhpur in Rajasthan and Halwara in Punjab.

The plan envisages upgrading the Indian Air Force's fleet of Sukhoi Su-30s with a new radar and avionics to make the fighters more lethal. It will cover the initial batch of Su-30s that Russia delivered to India from 1997 to 2004. Some 40-odd aircraft will be upgraded once the deal is signed. The upgradation work is likely to begin in 2015.

The two countries may also decide to upgrade MKI-series of Su-30s with new avionics. These aircraft are comparatively newer acquisitions for India. Though the MKI-series aircraft are already upgraded, fitting these with new avionics would increase their lethal power. The entire deal for the upgrades, if the MKI-series is also roped in, may cost India one billion dollars. The Su-30MKI sports a Russian radar and optic locator, French navigation and heads-up display systems, Israeli EW and weapon-guidance systems, and Indian computers.

The Indian Take-Away

Should the ongoing negotiations fructify, an important take-away from the Indian point of view would mean India getting full access to all software and equipment design of the new systems that will be integrated on the upgraded planes. Once new radars and avionics are fitted on the Su-30s the planes will get a new lease of life and their strike power would be enhanced substantively.

The Su-30 system is meant to be a fighter aircraft family system outside of Russia, tailor-made for Indian requirements. Though almost two decades old, several squadrons of this Russian aircraft form an integral part of the contemporary India's air defence. As a basic platform for the multirole heavy fighter aircraft, the Su-30MKI is remarkable primarily for its universality, the IAF has officially acknowledged. It boasts a so-called "open architecture", making it relatively easy to add new systems in the basic electronic equipment and to use advanced guided weapons (supplied by different manufacturers).

'Su' stands for a production fighter designed by the USSR/Russia's famed Sukhoi Experimental Designed Bureau. Su-30 derived from the Su-27UB, which is the twin-seat trainer-combat version of the Su-27. Therefore all Su-30 versions are twin seaters (except for Su-30KI). 'MK' is a Russian acronym for Mordernised-Commercial (not 'Multirole') while 'I' stands for Indiski(India) in the Su-30MKI, while 'K' stands for Kitei(China) in the Su-30MKK. Names apart, there are many central differences between the Su-30MKK and Su-30MKI.

According to the data released by the Indian Air Force, the sheer number of Su-27 variants is bewildering. Many developments have been made in 'parallel' over the decades, and hence there is no single timeline for the MKI. The first Su-27 variant with TVC was a Su-27UB designated "T-10-16" or the "LL-PS" (flying test bed - flat nozzle), built by Sukhoi in 1989.

The Chief Designer for the export Su-30MK is Alexcy Knyshev. According to Knyshev, the Su-30MK is capable of performing all tactical tasks of the Su-24 Fencer deep interdiction tactical bomber and the Su-27 Flanker A/B/C air superiority fighter while having around twice the combat range and 2.5 times the combat effectiveness (Sukhoi numbers).

More about Su-30s

Russia vigorously promoted the Su-30. It has made regular air show appearances after its debut at Paris AirShow 1999. However, initially the displayed aircraft was a Su-27UB which only carried a wide variety of air to ground missiles (which it could not launch). The weapons were KAB-500KR TV guided bomb, Kh-29T and Kh-59M. At that moment, there was no Su-30M or Su-30MK, only the Su-27PUs were renamed as Su-30 (probably for marketing purposes).

The SU-30MKI is the first Russian aircraft designed in collaboration with a foreign customer. It was born when the IAF decided to acquire the Su-30MK and include modifications according to its needs. Its competitor was the Mirage-2000-5, an excellent multirole aircraft in its own right. It had the advantage over the Su-30 given that the IAF was extremely satisfied with the results from the Mirage-2000H. However, the SU-30MKI was found to be a lot cheaper than the Mirage-2000-5, which ultimately proved to be the deciding factor.

The induction of the Su-30 into the IAF is a bit confusing for some. This is due to the fact that three different deals where signed, delays in the program and also due the fact that IAF has been operating Su-30s (since 1997) which are not Su-30MKIs but Su-30MKs. However, since they are being operated by the IAF, they are referred to as Su-30MKIs by some. Here Su-30MKI refers to the final version of the aircraft, and not those which saw service with the IAF since 1997.

The Final Negotiations

The last word is yet to be out on the outcome of the ongoing negotiations. Perhaps it should before December 24 when Putin is now scheduled to arrive in New Delhi.

The Indians have learnt over the decades that the Russians are very hard bargainers. India's master card is that the Russians are no longer the solitary suppliers of defence equipment to India. At the same time, the Indians are mindful of the fact that the deal perhaps needs to be sweetened further to ensure that Putin's proposed India visit is productive from Moscow's point of view as well.
 

sathya

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Indian Air Force To Upgrade 80 Su-30MKI Aircraft To Super Sukhoi Level

The Indian Air Force is all set to upgrade a fleet of 80 Su-30MKI fighters to the Super Sukhoi level allowing them to carry missiles with a strike range of around 300 kilometres.

Su-30 MKIs have been inducted into IAF in four phases. The ones to be upgraded are from the first phase and the project is likely to be completed in the next three to four years, according to reports.

The IAF has already issued a request for information (ROI) to global vendors for the purchase of a weapon system that will allow the aircraft to launch long-range stand-off missiles.

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will upgrade the aircraft which will also have the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar along with the latest avionics system.

At present, the IAF flies a fleet of 170 Su-30MKIs with plans to procure an additional 272 aircraft in the future.

India, has already placed an order for 230 aircraft, and will sign a deal for 42 aircraft during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to New Delhi next month

http://www.defenseworld.net/go/defensenews.jsp?id=7897&h=Indian%20Air%20Force%20To%20Upgrade%2080%20Su-30MKI%20Aircraft%20To%20Super%20Sukhoi%20Level
 

cloud_9

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NEW DELHI: The prowess of IAF's frontline fighter aircraft Su-30MKI is set to get a boost with plans to equip them with missiles having a strike range of around 300 kilometres.

The plan is to upgrade the first 80 Su-30MKIs to the level 'Super Sukhois' which will have highly advanced radars and weapon systems, IAF sources said here.

Su-30 MKIs have been inducted into IAF in four phases. The ones to be upgraded are from the first phase and the project is likely to be completed in the next three to four years, they said.

The sources said the plan involves equipping the aircraft with long-range stand-off missiles upto the range of 300 km and a request for information (ROI) was issued recently for procuring such a weapon system from global vendors.

The missiles with a range around 300 kms would be in addition to the 290-km range BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles which would be carried by around 50 aircraft of the force.

The aircraft would also have the highly-advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar along with the latest avionics systems, they said.

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will work with the Russian help under a project expected to cost around Rs 10,900 crore for upgrading the Su-30 MKIs.

IAF has a fleet of around 170 Su-30MKIs and it has plans to procure around 272 of them.
 

p2prada

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So, that confirms. This will be a fleet wide upgrade, obviously. First 80 aircraft, along with the upgrade of 40 aircraft during production. Then we buy another 42 aircraft from Russia in the Super 30 configuration, and will most probably be more advanced. The final 40 to be produced may see similar levels of technology unlike the mid life upgrades of the 80.

So, that would be 80+40+42(+1) = 162 to Super MKI levels. With 82 or 83 of them in their most advanced forms. The most recently produced MKIs may come in for upgrades in a decades time too.
 

gokussj9

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I sometimes wonder that how can just the up gradation cost of Sukhoi, is the same as the cost of a Chinese 4th Gen. like jf-17 and j-10 :shocked:
 

p2prada

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I sometimes wonder that how can just the up gradation cost of Sukhoi, is the same as the cost of a Chinese 4th Gen. like jf-17 and j-10 :shocked:
Upgradation of a F-15 to modern level costs $97Million a piece. MKI upgrade at the same level is one-third the cost. It fits with Russian and Indian cost structure.

Different class of aircraft after all. Things don't always come for cheap.
 

sesha_maruthi27

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Why don't we mass produce Su-30 MKI like what the chinese do, to increase the numbers?

How and why are the chinese mass producing jet fighters?
 

Kunal Biswas

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SU-30MKI are manufacture in HAL...

HAL need more production lines for almost all major projects..
 

Armand2REP

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Why don't we mass produce Su-30 MKI like what the chinese do, to increase the numbers?

How and why are the chinese mass producing jet fighters?
China has a vast fleet of obsolete aircraft. Without mass production of last gen fighters, they would fall even further behind the West than the current two gen gap.
 

sesha_maruthi27

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Why don't we setup more facilities to manufacture Su-30 MKI in a faster manner to gain advantage?
 

Agnostic_Indian

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Scientists develop stealth tech - Times Of India



Prithvijit Mitra, Mar 26, 2006,
10.51am IST
KOLKATA: India could soon be the third
country in the world, after the US and
France, to have a stealth bomber fighter
aircraft in its armoury.
The Kolkata-based Indian Association for
Cultivation of Science (IACS) has
developed a technology to convert
ordinary light combat aircraft into stealth
jets that would go undetected on radar.
The first stage of the experiment, which
commenced in 1999, has been
successfully concluded. The defence
ministry has approved the technology
and has given the go-ahead for "full-
scale production" to begin. It is expected
to start in about six months' time.
According to IACS scientists associated
with the project, the technology uses a
special material to construct a shield on
the plexi-glass canopies. It is the glass
cover of the cockpit that usually betrays
the presence of an aircraft as it reflects
the laser beam that is emitted to catch
them on the radar. The shield will cover
the cockpit and deflect the laser beam on
the shield in all directions.
"This will make sure the aircraft remains
undetected on the radar. We are not
sure if the same technology is used in
France and the US. It has been
developed in our own way and using our
own techniques. If it works out well, this
would be a big step for defence
technology in India," said a scientist.
Defence officials said the advanced
combat aircraft made in the US and
France have a similar shield on the plexi-
glass canopies. "This shield gives the
canopies a golden tinge. This special
layer scatters the laser beams emitted
from a radar site either on the ground or
in the air (AWACS). We've been trying to
develop this technology for some time.
The shield developed by IACS will boost
our indigenisation efforts," an official
said.
During the exercises at Kalaikunda where
US F-16s took part, IAF officials got a
closer look at the gold-tinted canopies.
They also got a chance to test the
technique by using ground-based radar.
Interestingly, the F-16s from Singapore
did not have the shield as the technology
has not been transferred.
The defence authorities were so
impressed with the new technology that
they decided to fast-track the process
and start full-scale production of the
canopy following a test at Jodhpur
recently.
"They had the option of going for a pilot
project initially but they chose to skip it,"
said an IACS official. Fighter jets like
Jaguars, MiGs, Mirages and Sukhois will
now be fitted with this special canopy to
enhance their stealth capabilities.

* so my question is - is it canopy which is fitted with mki ?
 

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