Su-30MKI: News and Discussion - 24 July 2021

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 08 Apr 2023 20:45

https://twitter.com/ReviewVayu/status/1 ... 50210?s=20 ---> Today, India's President flew in the Su-30MKI. Twitter is awash with the fabulous images BUT do you know who took all these images? No one better than Saurav Chordia, the great photographer...also known as Patch Man. Thanks again Saurav.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 10 Apr 2023 18:00

https://twitter.com/VivekSi85847001/sta ... 21729?s=20 ---> With 100th Repaired & Overhaul Su-30MKI delivered to IAF by HAL out of 260 active in IAF, HAL has mastered itself into this. This year alone they ROH 20 Su-30 at Nashik Facility. Mid life Upgrade of Su-30 with mostly Indian Parts & system proposals is being readied by HAL & IAF for first 80-100 jets at huge cost of US $4 - 5 billion. But it's seems to be under slow and holding phase, seeing Russia & Ukraine war. Still some import parts & sub-systems come from Russia. IAF urgently needs upgrading of it's main backbone.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 29 May 2023 06:40

HAL is still keeping their hopes alive for 12 more Rambhas...

https://twitter.com/ang3lkenny/status/1 ... 30754?s=20 ---> They have been projecting the 12 Su-30MKI in the last 2 calls, but can anyone really see it happen now? New order pipeline projection given as:

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 29 May 2023 11:28

Dont how Russia will supply key components, unless HAL can use its own Uttam AESA variant has the required Titanium for various components , Al-31 FP engines etc and use these to kick off SU-30MKI upgrade.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 12 Jun 2023 19:41

Sukhois carry out long-range precision-strike drill in Indian Ocean Region
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ind ... 888104.cms
10 June 2023

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 18 Jun 2023 06:53

Rambha driver who is an EW specialist

https://twitter.com/LevinaNeythiri/stat ... 52224?s=20 ---> AWESOME! 500 hours+ on Su-30MKI! Indian Air Force's Sukhoi pilot shows off his patch.

vikassh · Post by **vikassh** » 20 Jun 2023 21:37

Su-30 has used Khibiny EW system, while intercepting the F-35.

The Age Of The Pod Wars Is Here; Is India Ready?
https://swarajyamag.com/technology/the- ... ndia-ready
20 June 2023

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 25 Jun 2023 20:23

See the pod (under the belly of the Rambha) that made her a force to reckon with on 27 Feb 2019.

https://twitter.com/CAC_CPRO/status/167 ... 30784?s=20 ---> Exercise Ranvijay was conducted in UB Hills and CAC AoR from 16-23 Jun 23, wherein full spectrum operations by all combat assets by day & night were carried out. The focus was on Integrated Operations while optimally exploiting EW capabilities of IAF.

Kersi · Post by **Kersi** » 26 Jun 2023 15:16

Rakesh wrote:See the pod (under the belly of the Rambha) that made her a force to reckon with on 27 Feb 2019.

https://twitter.com/CAC_CPRO/status/167 ... 30784?s=20 ---> Exercise Ranvijay was conducted in UB Hills and CAC AoR from 16-23 Jun 23, wherein full spectrum operations by all combat assets by day & night were carried out. The focus was on Integrated Operations while optimally exploiting EW capabilities of IAF.

What is UB hills and CAC AoR ?

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 26 Jun 2023 18:58

Kersi wrote:What is UB hills and CAC AoR ?

UB Hills ---> https://www.google.com/search?q=UB+Hill ... e&ie=UTF-8

CAC ---> Central Air Command

AoR ---> Area of Responsibility

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 04 Sep 2023 20:34

VIDEO: https://twitter.com/krushty29/status/16 ... 18711?s=20 ---> Sukhoi Sunday!

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 04 Sep 2023 20:35

https://twitter.com/ReviewVayu/status/1 ... 94358?s=20 ---> Of Su-30MKI's and Astra's.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 05 Sep 2023 20:47

https://twitter.com/AdithyaKM_/status/1 ... 39220?s=20 ---> HAL AURDC brochure on life extension & integration of new systems & stores on various aircraft.

Hriday · Post by **Hriday** » 09 Sep 2023 06:01

Rakesh wrote: ↑25 Jun 2023 20:23 See the pod (under the belly of the Rambha) that made her a force to reckon with on 27 Feb 2019.

https://twitter.com/CAC_CPRO/status/167 ... 30784?s=20 ---> Exercise Ranvijay was conducted in UB Hills and CAC AoR from 16-23 Jun 23, wherein full spectrum operations by all combat assets by day & night were carried out. The focus was on Integrated Operations while optimally exploiting EW capabilities of IAF.

Sorry for asking a general question. Is SU-30 MKI with the the SAP-14 wideband jammer capable of surviving in a modern battlefield? I am assuming that Pakistani ground based air defence was not in the war time mode during the Balakot strike.

Also in the Ukraine war Russia is avoiding the use of fighter jets in Ukrainian territory for ground attack using the tv, laser guided missiles. Instead they now relies on cheap suicidal drones, stand off long range missiles from fighter jets. Am I correct?

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 09 Sep 2023 08:27

Irrelevant to this but, NATO AWACS, satellites, Drones combined with Patriots, SAMP, IRIS T, Nasams. It would be foolish to go in such a scenario. At so.e point these stocks will reduce. US will never send F22, F35 in properly defended airspace, they went against Libya, Iraq, they were unable to harm Serbian defense forces inspite of surrounding and sanctioning them for years.

Tim to get out propaganda and reading actual facts.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 15 Sep 2023 17:25

The 12 additional Su-30MKIs have finally been approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC). See the news release below...last line.

Next stop, CCS (Cabinet Committee on Security) clearance. Finally!

https://x.com/BharatShaktiBSI/status/17 ... 65934?s=20

VinodTK · Post by **VinodTK** » 15 Sep 2023 18:11

^^^
Centre gives preliminary nod to projects worth Rs 45,000 crore, including 12 Sukhoi-30MKI fighters

NEW DELHI: The defence ministry on Friday approved the proposal for the procurement of 12 Su-30MKIs for the Indian Air Force which would be manufactured in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

The Rs 11,000 crore project would include the aircraft and related ground systems.

According to defence officials, these would be the most modern Su-30 MKI aircraft of the Indian Air Force equipped with multiple Indian weapons and sensors. The aircraft would include more than 60 per cent indigenous content as per the requirement.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 15 Sep 2023 18:40

^^^ So these Rambhas will be of the Super Sukhoi variety and a sizeable portion of the fleet will be brought up to this standard.

fanne · Post by **fanne** » 15 Sep 2023 20:31

I believe they will be special, may or may not be super sukhoi - growlerski?
We always had dedicated EW squadrons - Mig 23 of yesteryears. Maybe that kind of option is being resurrected. 12 of these would be more valuable than 12 Super Sukhois.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 15 Sep 2023 20:46

fanne wrote: ↑15 Sep 2023 20:31 I believe they will be special, may or may not be super sukhoi - growlerski?
We always had dedicated EW squadrons - Mig 23 of yesteryears. Maybe that kind of option is being resurrected. 12 of these would be more valuable than 12 Super Sukhois.

I believe the first 12 will be like this spec ---> viewtopic.php?p=2576636#p2576636

Obviously the IAF will never say (and neither should they). So aviation watchers can only speculate.

These latest 12 aircraft could be the first batch, on which a significant portion of the current fleet will be upgraded to. The Rambha fleet will be always in some upgrade phase and that is a good thing, because it keeps the fleet up to date. For 2+ decades, the fleet remained stagnant and that was felt at Balakot. Long overdue for the Rambha.

prashantsharma · Post by **prashantsharma** » 15 Sep 2023 22:59

The floggers were not used for EW. The dedicated EW sqn was 35 Sqn which had mig21s and for a while a mix of 21s and canberras

fanne wrote: ↑15 Sep 2023 20:31 I believe they will be special, may or may not be super sukhoi - growlerski?
We always had dedicated EW squadrons - Mig 23 of yesteryears. Maybe that kind of option is being resurrected. 12 of these would be more valuable than 12 Super Sukhois.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 20 Sep 2023 20:47

Ready to supply 12 Su-30MKI kit to India: Russia
https://www.defencenews.in/2023/09/read ... ia-russia/
20 September 2023

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 28 Sep 2023 18:34

https://x.com/Kuntal__biswas/status/170 ... 97001?s=20 ---> If packaging density remains the same as Uttam Mk2, the AESA radar being developed for the Su-30 MKI will have at least 1912 TRM (max ~2048) in its 980mm antenna.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 04 Oct 2023 02:56

Most of the article is behind a paywall...

IAF mainstay Su 30MKI fighter jet fleet to be upgraded under ₹60,000-crore plan
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ne ... 113223.cms
02 Oct 2023

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 04 Oct 2023 18:56

https://x.com/sriramthg/status/1709135813815247085?s=20 ---> India has indicated to Russia that India aims to increase indigenous content in the AL-31FP engines that power the Su-30 MKI according to IAF sources. India already has the capability to manufacture these engines from raw material stage.

https://x.com/sriramthg/status/1709163716363878855?s=20 ---> Many of these must have been contractual obligations but GTRE, DMRL, HAL Koraput, RCMA all have done a lot of work to make the engines work for the IAF. Right from yield improvements in the SC casting process to sensors to what-not. Why not more? Must be GoI.

https://x.com/sriramthg/status/1709163923612848597?s=20 ---> Point to note - Kaveri has a higher TeT than the Al-31FP. Why didn't we have an engine upgrade program using our own tech? Beats me.

https://x.com/PrasadSatya10/status/1709 ... 64916?s=20 ----> Progress on localisation of RM and bought out aggregates /parts ?

https://x.com/sriramthg/status/1709142713185247390?s=20 ----> A lot of it was contractual obligations. Now I think we're moving past that (all my conjecture only). No official data on this AFAIK.

https://x.com/ang3lkenny/status/1709145 ... 66674?s=20 ---> The LRU indigenisation list is a good hint.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 05 Oct 2023 09:51

Russia is in no place to enforce its contract stipulations with the Ukraine war stretching. In fact, they may need a second source for the Al-31F engines.
BTW this constant berating of GOI doesn't do any good.
They signed the contracts under certain circumstances and are following them.
India is not a klepto state like China.

Yagnasri · Post by **Yagnasri** » 05 Oct 2023 10:33

We need to ensure our obligations under contracts with friendly nations are met in all situations. It is the best way to ensure long-term national interest is protected.

titash · Post by **titash** » 05 Oct 2023 20:59

Yagnasri wrote: ↑05 Oct 2023 10:33 We need to ensure our obligations under contracts with friendly nations are met in all situations. It is the best way to ensure long-term national interest is protected.

Agree - your reputation and your perception of dependability is directly correlated to your willingness to follow signed contracts.

It's the same with the Indus Water Treaty - either withdraw from it, or fulfill your obligations in letter and spirit (as long as the other party meets obligations)

Likewise on the Su-30 and BrahMos - if the contract obligations call for import of certain items over a 30 year period, we have committed to it irrespective of indigenous developments. In fact the BrahMos CEO said as much.

OTOH - if the Russians are unable to supply components on time and our timelines are slipping, then we should be able to resort to import substitution if Moscow is unable to meet its timeline obligations

Likewise - the Russians are also aware of our indigenous developments, and signing a change order to their original contract every 10 years or so, to incorporate indigenous parts, is in their best interests. Simply because this flexibility it ensures our willingness to make future purchases

bala · Post by **bala** » 05 Oct 2023 22:03

Russia can perhaps rethink its strategy on contracts with India. It certainly helps to have a second source for high tech offerings especially during crisis periods like wars. Russia is going to be embroiled in a tussle with the Western interests for decades, it is not going to disappear and rapprochement with US seems like a distant dream. Now, India is a highly reliable partner and is quite tech savvy. Having a 2nd source in India makes eminent sense for Russia. Russia can benefit from India's adaptation of many components which is highly relevant for their export market.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 13 Oct 2023 20:16

Two mega proposals for aircraft carrier, LCA-MK1A jets lined up for DAC approval
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ ... 3.ece/amp/
13 October 2023

Another proposal for major upgrade of 84 SU-30MKI fighter jets at a cost of just over ₹6,000 crore in service with the IAF is set to be taken up by the Defence Procurement Board (DPB), which is scheduled to meet on Friday.

Sukhoi Upgrade

The long-pending Su-30MKI upgrade will be initially rolled out with 84 jets and will largely be an indigenous effort, sources said. ACM Chaudhari has said that the 84 jets will see the upgradation of 51 systems with an indigenous content of 78%.

A source said that the original equipment manufacturer Russia would be involved in upgrading the fly-by-wire system, integration of systems among others and majority of the upgrades, including radar and avionics, will be indigenous. As part of this, the indigenous Uttam Advanced Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is expected to be integrated on the jets, sources said.

LakshmanPST · Post by **LakshmanPST** » 13 Oct 2023 20:28

Noob question--->
After DAC Approval, next stage is CCS approval, which will take atleast a year... What is the gap between DAC and CCS so long...? Can't they do it in say 2 months or so...?

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 13 Oct 2023 20:34

Not sure why, but below is the process AFAIK...

* Defence Procurement Board (consisting of Vice Chiefs + Defence Secretary)

Then --->

* Defence Acquisition Council (consisting of CDS + Service Chiefs + Defence Minister + Others)

Then --->

* Cabinet Committee on Security* (consisting of the CDS + Defence Minister + Home Minister + Finance Minister + External Affairs Minister)
*The National Security Adviser and the Cabinet Secretary have also attended some CCS meetings as well.

Then --->

* Contract Signing

bala · Post by **bala** » 13 Oct 2023 21:31

^^^^^^
This serial processing of steps is very ancient and backward. In the day and age of zoom/webex/teams etc this can be accomplished in one go. The players are overlapping and everyone either nods their heads or gives the thumbs down. Tis simple process. Bureaucracy tends to load up with process after process just to throw their weight around. All of this is a time wasting tactic and not at all conducive in the modern age where speed of decision is equally important as speed of execution.

Adrija · Post by **Adrija** » 14 Oct 2023 11:12

After DAC it goes to the FinMin which looks at the business case, budgetary allocations, etc before it goes to CCS

Hence the time period required between DAC and CCS approvals

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 14 Oct 2023 22:46

Thank you Adrija-ji for that clarification.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 14 Oct 2023 22:47

https://x.com/AdithyaKM_/status/1713016 ... 51790?s=20 ---> Maximum loadout of Gaurav LRGBs on Su-30MKI. The 1000kg bombs are 4m long with diameter of 620mm & wingspan of 3.4m. Maximum range of about 80km.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 18 Oct 2023 20:59

IAF carries out successful firing of longer range air-launched BrahMos cruise missile
https://aninews.in/news/national/genera ... 018202832/
18 Oct 2023

https://x.com/alpha_defense/status/1714 ... 55755?s=20 ---> The Indian Air Force impeccably executed a triumphant launch of the extended-range air-deployed BrahMos cruise missile, marking a momentous technological stride.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 19 Oct 2023 18:48

VIDEO: https://x.com/Duorope/status/1658522612614725632?s=20 ---> @IAF_MCC Su-30MKI firing Brahmos ALCM.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 19 Oct 2023 19:28

India plans to equip Russian-origin Su-30MKIs with indigenous 'Virupaaksha' radar
https://aninews.in/news/national/genera ... 019183703/
19 Oct 2023

Prem Kumar · Post by **Prem Kumar** » 20 Oct 2023 08:26

Nice to see new names being given to these vital systems: Angad EW suite & Virupaksha radar

With Angad, Virpukasha & Astra, the Su-30 MKI fleet will be a beast!

Like it mentions in the report, we can aggressively go after the export market. Offer several packages: light/medium/deep upgrades, depending on their budget and needs. And once we upgrade someone's avionics, we can continue to upsell as & when we develop new systems - like Brahmos-NG, new Astra variants, SAAW etc

We have truly made this aircraft our own

P.S. One silver lining in having a kichdi of foreign aircraft in our fleet is the sheer amount of experience we have gained in integrating Russian/Israeli/Western/Indian systems onto Russian/Western/Indian aircraft. Tomorrow, we can go after a Rafale customer & sell them Astra-1/2/3 as cost-effective, lethal options compared to the expensive French missiles