+ 1.mody wrote:A lot depends on IAF experience with the Elta 2052 radar. If the 2052 performs really well on the Tejas, then there is every possibility of Israel proposing a joint venture like the LRSAM project for a 2052 derived AESA for the Su-30MKI. We have 270 of them and that's a good enough number to develop a new version of the 2052 for this. As a sweetener a jointly developed EW suite to work with the 2052-MKI can also be added. Russians will not be happy, but I guess won't be able to do much, if they don't have a system with a comparable performance.
As Karan mentioned more powerful engines would be required for almost any upgrade of the radar and EW suite and other electronics. The cockpit and MFDs can upgraded by us, without any help. The air to air missiles are anyways going the Astra - Astra-ER - SFDR route and I doubt IAF will be going for any more variants of the RVV missiles. A dual pulse Astra ER version is required as soon as possible and DRDO should start the process and MoD sanction the funds to take up the project on mission mode. A timeline of 36-40 months for IOC and start of LSP production should be set. Should be doable, as the dual pulse technology is ready and the baseline Astra RF seeker is also ready. Maybe they can also develop an Astra-IR version, with IIR seeker, like the MICA-IR.
That is the way forward. From Vishnu's tweets, it looks like the Russian lobby is aggressively trying to get the upgrade deal for the entire package. But honestly Elta 2052 in the interim, the Uttam in the longer term IMO is the way forward on radars. And Astra Mk1 and then variants of it, plus ASRAAM as far as AAMs are concerned. I think the RVV family should be phased out gradually. MBDAs refusal to integrate the Meteor on any non NATO/RBE2 radar is disappointing. As I understand they are willing to consider integration with the Uttam? All the more reason to develop the Uttam asap.
The Russian component of the SU-30 upgrade should be confined to engines........ AL-41s.....there is no other option.