Su-30MKIs to Soar Until 2050: IAF's Indigenization Plan Emphasizes Longevity

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has bold, long-term plans for its backbone fighter, the Su-30MKI.

Aiming to keep the fleet operationally relevant well into the mid-2050s, the IAF is embarking on a major integration and upgrade program driven by a dramatic increase in domestic capabilities.

Indigenization at the Core​

The IAF's ambitious longevity plan for the Su-30MKI rests on a staggering 78% indigenization rate.

This would substantially transform the Su-30MKI, moving it away from its Russian origins and into the realm of a largely Indian-built and maintained fighter platform.

Extending Service Life​

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is at the forefront of the IAF's extended service goal.

The task is to find ways to stretch the current lifespan of each Su-30MKI, which sits at approximately 6,000 flying hours (translating to 30-40 years). The aim is to add an additional 1,500 hours, potentially granting each aircraft another 10-15 years of operational service.

Indigenous Engine Upgrades​

Key to this effort is a partnership with the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) to develop homegrown upgrades for the Su-30MKI's AL-31F engines.

This is strategic, as HAL already manufactures a significant 87.7% of engine components domestically. Upgrading within India will not only extend engine life but opens potential for performance enhancements.

Continued Production​

The IAF's faith in the Su-30MKI is further reflected in recent procurement decisions. In 2021, the last two Su-30MKIs under a previous order were delivered.

To maintain fleet strength, HAL received approval to produce 12 additional aircraft, replacing losses due to accidents since 2001.

The Path to Self-Reliance​

Proposed Indian upgrades encompass a wide range of indigenization: from new avionics and AESA radar to replacing mission computers, IRST systems, and other key Russian sensors with Indian-built equivalents.

This dramatic transformation points towards a future where the aircraft requires minimal support from Russia.

The Su-30MKI's inherent robust build quality opens the possibility of life extension even without direct OEM support.

Looking Ahead​

The IAF's vision for its Su-30MKI fleet signals a shift towards greater self-reliance in defense capability.

This move has implications not only for fleet maintenance and longevity but also for the growth of India's aerospace industry.

 

[shivkumar sinha]

Good news . With RAM coatings,Su-30 mki can also reduce its huge RCS to stay relevant in next generation aerial warfare.

 

[bonito]

The days where Gen 6 will be ruling the skies a gen 4 will be the mainstay for India. Before that we will definitely see wars and all these plans will go for a toss.

 

[sanket]

Most important thing is GaN based AESA Radar For Super Sukhoi upgrade with 1800 to 2400 TRM., with Indigenous E/W Suite.78% Indigenization of upgrade process This is were DRDO & HAL are handy .Another thing AL-31F Engine HAL manufactures substantial 87.7% Engine components From India . that what i was saying in past tooo . India Respect IPR Some people were saying its Screw Drive Job HAL made some changes according to feedback From IAF(with help of GTRE) thats why they want to stick to AL-31F Instead of AL-41F which Russia is pushing for upgrade .

 

[The_rED_dEVIL]

What next? IAF is already operating 2nd Gen MiG 21 when world is shifting to 5th Gen. And now plans to keep 4.5 Gen aircrafts till 2050s when World will move on to 6th Gen and will be developing 7th Gen...

Like, Come on!

 

[Anant]

What next? IAF is already operating 2nd Gen MiG 21 when world is shifting to 5th Gen. And now plans to keep 4.5 Gen aircrafts till 2050s when World will move on to 6th Gen and will be developing 7th Gen...

Like, Come on!

Well, by the 2050s, India will also have be flying fifth generation aircraft for over a decade, and some form of 6th or 7th generation aircraft may also be in service or in the works.

The MiG-21 isn't the mainstay of the IAF today, is it? Similarly, the Su-30MKI will cease to be the IAF's mainstay by the early 2040s.

 

[Anant]

The days where Gen 6 will be ruling the skies a gen 4 will be the mainstay for India. Before that we will definitely see wars and all these plans will go for a toss.

In case of a war, these plans are gone anyways. That said, who said the Su-30MKI will the IAF's mainstay into the 2050s? No, the Su-30MKI will become more or a second line fighter in the 2040s.

 

[Deepak Hegde]

Well, by the 2050s, India will also have be flying fifth generation aircraft for over a decade, and some form of 6th or 7th generation aircraft may also be in service or in the works.

The MiG-21 isn't the mainstay of the IAF today, is it? Similarly, the Su-30MKI will cease to be the IAF's mainstay by the early 2040s.

Don't bet on India having a 5th or any future generation of aircraft flying by 2050, the way things are going !!

 

[nakul1307]

The days where Gen 6 will be ruling the skies a gen 4 will be the mainstay for India. Before that we will definitely see wars and all these plans will go for a toss.

With better radars, 5th gen might loose sheen actually. Even US has 70% 4th and 4.5 gen.

 

[NSR]

Speaking technically, India can keep manufacturing and utilizing them forever as they mastered how to make SU-30MKIs from raw materials from Russia.
Russia moved away from SU-30 to SU-35 & SU-57 and no one is ordering any SU-30s anymore.
India already mastered AL-31F engine manufacturing.

Lastly, India coming up with its own AESA radar and avionics and even missiles and bombs.

So Russia can be persuaded to share the designs and codes needed to build its own Super Sukhois forever at some lump some and one time compensation.
Even Mi-29 with RD-33MK would be a superior aerodynamic fighter for our Himalyan terrain.

Food for thought.

 

[nakul1307]

You always need a missile truck

 

[Sandeep]

This seems like it's a well thought out plan by using indigenous solutions to improving the technology and combat capabilities of an old Russian developed jets. One key priority is now implementing the Super Sukhoi program which will upgrade and improve the jets flying and combat capability along with extending its life expiry date. We will need to keep these jets flying for a long time until our indigenous AMCA jet slowly becomes the backbone and replace the Sukhoi jets.

In the meantime we do need to increase our fighter squadrons and we should focus on manufacturing the Tejas MK1A and MK2 jets so that we can replace the large number of Jaguar, Mig 29, Mig 21 and Mirage 2000 jets that we have. Most have had to go through several life upgrades already just to keep them flying but we can't upgrade or improve the technology and combat performance that's now needed in modern warfare.

Anotherl quick solution to increase our squadron strength very quickly is to either buy some older versions of the Mig 29 and Mirage 2000 which still has a good number of service life years still available and we can buy and upgrade them to modern standards which will help a lot on a short term basis. Also we can always manufacture brand new Mig 29 and Sukhoi 30 jets in India which shouldn’t take too long as we have a lot of knowledge and experience in manufacturing and installing new parts, equipment or technology in India so there is a lot of opportunities that work to our favour as well.

The only way to increase our manufacturing capabilities and speed then we should give a license to several private sector companies who are interested and ask them to manufacture the jets using their existing facilities, equipment, machinery and infrastructure. India needs to manufacture 87 Tejas MK1A jets and after that quickly start manufacturing the Tejas MK2 jets as soon as it's ready for production. If there is any major delay with the Tejas MK2 program or it's having problems then we have no choice but to manufacture more Tejas MK1A jets and manufacture another 1-4 squadrons until Tejas MK2 is ready to start production but we need to increase manufacturing more Tejas MK2 jets than we originally intended. By then our threat level will keep increasing against Pakistan and China so we should keep production running until our AMCA jet is ready and we have several squadrons in service on the frontline. Throughout manufacturing all of the Tejas MK1A, MK2 and the AMCA we should keep increasing the amount of indigenous content, equipment and technology we use until we achieve at least 90% or above.

While we increase the number of fighter jets we make we also have to make more SAM which are ideal to use against any incoming attack and while using it along with our fighter jets it allows us to defend our air space very well and gives us the advantage over any attack. Currently we are developing a integrated air defence network of installing key radars and SAM system. Our air defence shield is made up of the Ballistic Missile Defence/BMD, S400, MR-SAM, Akash, Spyder, Samar 1&2 and L70 guns and we have already placed more indigenous orders to strengthen our air defence shield. At the same time we are also developing new SAM or variants like the Akash and Akash NG, QRSAM, Project Kusha to eventually replace the S400 system.

 

[Sandeep]

The days where Gen 6 will be ruling the skies a gen 4 will be the mainstay for India. Before that we will definitely see wars and all these plans will go for a toss.

In any war India will use it's nuclear missiles against the enemy like China and Pakistan so we can rule our own skies with jets and SAM.

 

[Superpower Bharat]

Sooner or later IAF has to join in ORCA program for replacement of SU-30MKI fleet.. Sooner they join will be good for our country... With 120KN jet engine ORCA will be same category aircraft as SU-30

 

[Sandeep]

Speaking technically, India can keep manufacturing and utilizing them forever as they mastered how to make SU-30MKIs from raw materials from Russia.
Russia moved away from SU-30 to SU-35 & SU-57 and no one is ordering any SU-30s anymore.
India already mastered AL-31F engine manufacturing.

Lastly, India coming up with its own AESA radar and avionics and even missiles and bombs.

So Russia can be persuaded to share the designs and codes needed to build its own Super Sukhois forever at some lump some and one time compensation.
Even Mi-29 with RD-33MK would be a superior aerodynamic fighter for our Himalyan terrain.

Food for thought.

India is going to replace the jets computer entirely which has the usual software, line codes, software encryption installed which controls what type of weapons can be used which will naturally restrict us to using Russian weapons only.

Also we have made a lot of the Sukhoi jets and have been increasing the amount, number and type of indigenous content we use or going to use. So we will only have to rely on Russia for some parts or technology but we have to use that until we replace it with our own indigenous version.

 

[NSR]

India is going to replace the jets computer entirely which has the usual software, line codes, software encryption installed which controls what type of weapons can be used which will naturally restrict us to using Russian weapons only.

Also we have made a lot of the Sukhoi jets and have been increasing the amount, number and type of indigenous content we use or going to use. So we will only have to rely on Russia for some parts or technology but we have to use that until we replace it with our own indigenous version.

You gotta read and understand what I wrote.
Precisely replacing flight control computer by India and loading ENCRYPTED Russian flight control software does not get it any access actual flight control laws or aerodynamic data to fine tune future controls software after all the improvements are made.

India gotta pay hard cash to get access to the aerodynamic models and flight control laws, if at all Russia wants to sell.

 

[CCPSmasher]

LMAO

Yeah, right. When China fielded 6th gen and pakistan with their knock off hand me down 6th gens we'll be flying proudly our 4th gen junks

 

[Anant]

In any war India will use it's nuclear missiles against the enemy like China and Pakistan so we can rule our own skies with jets and SAM.

Uh, we won't be using nukes as a first resort in a war. Conventional forces will still be the major participants.

 

[Pramkumar]

IAF should look for ORCA as replacement for the SU30mki and if HAL achieved 87.5% of indigenisation of AF31 hope they will make their own engine of the similar capacity

 

[Sandeep]

Uh, we won't be using nukes as a first resort in a war. Conventional forces will still be the major participants.

Yes of course we will use conventional forces as much as possible but declaring our current nuclear policy of no first use immediately ties our hands and makes the enemy think that we won't use it. By removing that policy it automatically makes our enemy more wary and think very hard if they believe that India is more than prepared to use it regardless of how big or small the war might be which would give us a advantage in psych/info war ops.