The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a Rs 13,500 crore agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to procure 12 Su-30MKI fighter jets. These advanced aircraft will incorporate 62.6% indigenous content, with critical components manufactured by the Indian defence industry. This significant step strengthens India’s journey towards self-reliance in defence production while enhancing the operational capabilities of the armed forces.
“The supply of these aircraft would enhance the operational capability of the Indian Air Force and strengthen the defence preparedness of the country,” the Ministry said. The order amount is inclusive of taxes and duties, it added.
These aircraft would be manufactured at Nasik division of HAL. The supply of these aircraft would enhance operational capability of Indian Air Force and strengthen defence preparedness of the country.
MoD signed a ₹13,500 Cr deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (#HAL) to procure 12 Su-30MKI fighter jets. These aircraft will feature 62.6% domestic content, with key components to be manufactured by Indian #defenceindustry. This marks another milestone in India’s journey… pic.twitter.com/v2mjdiVueS
— Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) December 12, 2024
The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is a two-seater, twinjet, multirole air superiority fighter developed by Russian manufacturer Sukhoi and built under license by HAL for the Indian Air Force. A variant of the Sukhoi Su-30, the MKI is a heavy, all-weather, long-range fighter. The IAF currently operates 259 SU-30 MKI aircraft, most of which were licence-produced by HAL, which form the backbone of the IAF’s combat fleet.
On December 3, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for five capital acquisition proposals worth over Rs 21,772 crores. Among these is the procurement of an advanced electronic warfare suite (EWS) for the Su-30MKI fighter jets. The EWS will include external airborne self-protection jammer pods, next-generation radar warning receivers, and other associated equipment.
As of July, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had finalized a draft proposal for Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approval to upgrade the first batch of 84 Su-30MKIs at an estimated cost of Rs 63,000 crore. These upgraded jets, dubbed ‘Super Sukhois,’ will rival fifth-generation fighters in capability, excluding stealth. They will feature enhanced manned-unmanned teaming capabilities, enabling them to operate alongside advanced autonomous drones using artificial intelligence (AI) and secure data links. According to reports, the Indian Air Force (IAF) intends to operate these advanced jets until 2055.
Team BharatShakti
