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Front-line fighter Su-30 MKI flies with flaws

Windjammer

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India’s front-line fighter aircraft Su-30MKI flies with deficient radar warning receiver, which increases its vulnerability and a flawed fly-by-wire system affecting the flight control and safety parameters of the agile aircraft.

Moreover, Su-30MKI has poor serviceability record, because of which the Indian Air Force squadrons flying the aircraft could not complete half of its scheduled tasks, the Comptroller and Auditor General pointed out in a report tabled in Parliament this week.

In five years between 2004-05 and 2008-09, the Su-30MKI fleet could not achieve even 50 per cent of its task. In one year (2005-06), only 31 per cent of the tasks was completed whereas in other years only 40 per cent of the jobs were achieved. The defence ministry accepted low “operational utilisation” and “low serviceability” of the aircraft that is the mainstay of the IAF.

Large numbers of Su-30MKI are flying with a deficient radar warning receiver, compromising the survivability of the aircraft. In addition, the fly-by-wire system has poor “reliability index” adversely affecting the stability, controllability, flight safety and flight control of these jets.

To have fully-fit Su-30MKI squadrons, the CAG report points out that the first service centre for Su-30 MKI was set up eight years behind the schedule, even though supplying spares and maintenance always posed a big challenge. The planned second and third service centres are nowhere on the horizon.

Almost 19 years after the induction of Su-30MKI, the defence ministry is yet to approve the requisite human resources needed to have 11 squadrons of these fighter jets, straining the aircraft's performance.

Out of 272 aircraft purchased from Russia, 204 jets were delivered to the IAF, which is flying 7 Su-30 MKI squadrons at the moment, based out of Pune, Bareilly, Tezpur, Chabua and Jodhpur. IAF plans to have Su-30 squadrons in Halwara and Sirsa as well.

The Su-30 MKI, however, is not the only example of shoddy aircraft management at the IAF. One of India’s prized possession, Phalcon AWACS, could not carry out almost 60 per cent of its planned tasks because of poor serviceability and delay in setting up the ground station.

Non-availability of air-to-air refuelling system and restriction in operation due to shortage in runway length at the Phalcon's base in Agra are other crucial reasons that crippled performance of these surveillance aircraft, which India purchased from Israel ignoring noisy protests made by Pakistan.

Front-line fighter Su-30 MKI flies with flaws

http://www.deccanherald.com//content/518727/front-line-fighter-su-30.html

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/518727/front-line-fighter-su-30.html#
 
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Moreover, Su-30MKI has poor serviceability record, because of which the Indian Air Force squadrons flying the aircraft could not complete half of its scheduled tasks
That is really serious that translates into 50% less numbers when facing the enemy and still believing that they superior in numbers.
 
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what a coincidence I was reading CAG repot-38 of 2015 just few minutes before & here a thread is already open at this topic ....
Great minds think a like :cheers:

Can you post a link to CAG report-38 of 2015?
 
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Is this an issue of IAF aircraft management/maintenance, or does this also reflect on Su-30s in use elsewhere (including, but not limited to Russia)?
i think this just india specific as other users such as indoneasia and algeria have not had problems. and malaysia also hasnt too, the malaysian mkm's are the same as the mki's, minus the french and israeli tech. even algeria is getting a variant similar to that of the mkm. if they were having such issues would'nt you think they would have chosen a western fighter.

@Khafee i hope that answered your question.
 
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Is this an issue of IAF aircraft management/maintenance, or does this also reflect on Su-30s in use elsewhere (including, but not limited to Russia)?
I believe the answer lies within the article.

The Su-30 MKI, however, is not the only example of shoddy aircraft management at the IAF. One of India’s prized possession, Phalcon AWACS, could not carry out almost 60 per cent of its planned tasks because of poor serviceability and delay in setting up the ground station.
 
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Is this an issue of IAF aircraft management/maintenance, or does this also reflect on Su-30s in use elsewhere (including, but not limited to Russia)?
Seems like it's an India only issue.
The Russians seem to be maintaining a high sortie rate with their deployed units in Syria.
@vostok do you know the Su-30 sortie rate in Syria?
 
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