The government is set to consider a proposal for the overhaul of 40 Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft as India seeks to maintain the availability of its frontline combat fleet amid an ongoing shortage of fighter squadrons in the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The proposal, put forward by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), is scheduled to come before the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), which is chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The proposed overhaul is aimed at sustaining the serviceability of the Su-30MKI fleet and ensuring that the aircraft can continue meeting the IAF’s operational requirements.
The Indian Air Force operates more than 260 Su-30MKIs, making the Russian-origin, Indian-built fighter one of the most significant components of its combat fleet. The aircraft performs a range of missions, including air superiority and long-range strike operations, and its continued availability remains important while India works to expand and modernise its fighter inventory.
The latest proposal represents an increase from an earlier plan involving 20 aircraft. Expanding the scope to 40 fighters would allow a larger number of Su-30MKIs to undergo comprehensive overhaul and life-extension work. Such maintenance is particularly significant for an aircraft fleet that has accumulated substantial operational usage over the years.
HAL has extensive experience with the Su-30MKI programme and is responsible for manufacturing and supporting a large part of India’s fleet. The company’s Nashik facility has been central to the aircraft’s production and maintenance ecosystem in India.
The proposed overhaul also comes against the backdrop of wider efforts to sustain the Su-30MKI fleet. Earlier this year, the DAC approved the overhaul of Su-30 aero-engine aggregates as part of a broader package of defence acquisition proposals. The government has also approved the procurement of additional Su-30MKIs from HAL, reinforcing the aircraft’s continuing importance to the IAF.
The overhaul proposal should, however, be distinguished from the much larger Su-30MKI modernisation programme. The modernisation effort is intended to introduce more advanced avionics, sensors, electronic warfare capabilities and indigenous systems into the aircraft. The proposal currently under consideration is primarily focused on keeping existing aircraft operational and extending their useful service life rather than delivering the complete modernised configuration.
If the DAC grants an Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), the proposal would move to subsequent stages of India’s defence procurement process. An AoN would not itself constitute a final contract, with the eventual cost, detailed scope, implementation schedule and contractual arrangements to be determined through the later stages of procurement.
The decision assumes significance as the IAF continues to manage a gap between its authorised fighter squadron strength and the number currently available. Until new-generation aircraft are inducted in sufficient numbers, maintaining the readiness of existing platforms such as the Su-30MKI will remain a key element of India’s air-power strategy.
For the IAF, an overhaul of 40 Su-30MKIs could therefore provide an important boost to fleet availability while India continues to pursue new fighter acquisitions and indigenous combat-aircraft programmes.
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