Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is set to revive production of the Su-30MKI fighter aircraft at its Nashik facility, with 12 new aircraft planned for delivery to the Indian Air Force by 2029. The move comes as India seeks to strengthen its fighter fleet while increasing the domestic contribution to military aircraft manufacturing.
The Nashik facility has previously played a major role in India’s Su-30MKI programme, having produced the fighter under licence for the Indian Air Force. HAL is now preparing to use its existing infrastructure and manufacturing expertise to undertake production of the additional aircraft.
The new batch is part of India’s effort to maintain the strength of its Su-30MKI fleet. The aircraft remains one of the principal fighter platforms operated by the Indian Air Force and forms an important component of India’s air combat capability.
The 12 aircraft are being produced under the contract cleared by the government in December 2024. The programme places significant emphasis on indigenous content, with the new fighters expected to contain more than 50% Indian-made components. This is in line with India’s wider push to increase domestic value addition in defence manufacturing and reduce reliance on imported systems.
Production at Nashik will also help sustain the industrial ecosystem developed around the Su-30MKI programme. HAL has extensive experience in aircraft assembly, integration, overhaul and maintenance, allowing the company to leverage existing capabilities as it restarts production of the Russian-origin fighter.
Deliveries of the new aircraft are expected to begin during the next financial cycle, with the complete batch targeted for delivery by 2029. The programme is therefore expected to provide the Indian Air Force with additional operational aircraft while supporting HAL’s role in India’s combat-aircraft manufacturing sector.
The new production effort is also taking place against the backdrop of plans to modernise the existing Su-30MKI fleet. The broader upgrade programme is expected to introduce more advanced avionics, radar, electronic warfare systems and other capabilities, potentially extending the operational effectiveness of the fighter for the coming years.
The combination of new production and fleet modernisation is significant for the Indian Air Force as it manages the transition towards newer indigenous combat aircraft. While platforms such as the Tejas family are expanding India’s domestic fighter-manufacturing base, the Su-30MKI continues to provide a heavy multirole fighter capability.
With the Nashik production line being brought back into operation, HAL is expected to contribute to both the immediate requirement for additional Su-30MKIs and India’s longer-term objective of developing a stronger and more self-reliant defence aerospace industry.
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