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India May Expand Su-30MKI Order Beyond 272

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Going by the pace at which the Indian Air Force (IAF) is expanding bases for the Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, ordering more of these Russian-made aircraft looks a distinct possibility.
The expansion of the Su-30MKI fleet may happen irrespective of the progress in the MMRCA deal in which negotiations with the French manufacturer Dassault are on. India had in 2002 ordered 230 fighters and a further 42 had been ordered in 2012.

The Ministry of Defense has already announced plans to set up new bases to house the aircraft that are expected to be delivered up to 2018-19. The rapid expansion of bases housing the Sukhois while at the same time curtailing MiG-21 operations is a clear indication of the important role the Su-30MKI is playing for the IAF and the need for even more aircraft of this type in future.

Some 100 Sukhois will be spread out to bases such as Thanjavur in the deep south, Chabua in the northeast and Pune in western India, according to media reports.

"Thanjavur airbase is going to be another strategically important airbase of the Indian Air Force. By stationing our frontline fighter aircraft Sukhoi at Thanjavur, IAF can protect vast area of interest", India’s defence minister, AK Antony said after inaugurating the airbase on March 27, 2013.



Aside of the air dominance function for which the Sukhois had been originally procured, they are being utilized for interception and for reconnaissance. Recently, a Su-30 MKI had been scrambled to intercept an unidentified flying object entering Indian airspace form the western border. Some 4-8 Su-30MKIs are being tasked with strategic reconnaissance along the India-Pakistan borders with EL/M-2060P SAR pods, various reports said.



The fitment of the BrahMos cruise missile to the Su-30MKI will add another dimension to this vastly capable fighter. Reports say that some 40 Sukhois will be modified to carry this lethal armament which can function as an air-launched precision strike missile.

The induction of the Su-30MKIs seems to have increased the confidence and capability of the IAF as can be noted from this statement of the former IAF Chief NAK Browne, “right now we have 34 combat squadrons and in spite of these draw downs of the MIG-21s, we are supplementing them with the Su-30 squadrons”. The former chief had told a television network on October 5, 2012, “What’s going to happen is that at least in the 12th plan which finishes in 2017 we will continue to maintain 34 squadrons. They go up a little bit, up and down but they will remain at 34 squadrons but with far greater capability than even what we have today.”



As of March 2013, the IAF had a fleet of 194 Su-30MKI aircraft but this number will grow to 272 after India placed another order in December 2012 for 42 aircraft about 10 months after declaring Dassault winner of the MMRCA competition.

The licence-manufacturing program of the Su-30MKI is expected to conclude in 2018-19. “We hope to form 14 squadrons of Su-30MKI fighters by 2018. By this time we will have 272 such planes in service”, an unnamed HAL official was quoted as saying by Itar-Tass on February 24, 2014.



With the Su-30MKI getting increasingly entrenched into the IAF’s combat capability, provisions will have to be made for maintaining SU-30MKI utilization levels. As the number of sorties increase, so also will the requirement for maintenance and overhaul for which aircraft will have to be withdrawn from service.



The Su-30 MKI planes have not been without their share of problems. Three crashes, in 2009, 2011 and 2013 have forced the IAF, Irkut and HAL to sit down and find solutions to the problems which came to fore after the accident investigations. The good news is that the past year has been relatively problem-free despite increased sorties.

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Are they gonna be Super Sukhoi's ???? any way whats the update on super Sukhoi???????????????
 
Count will go around 400.
 
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It should be with low RCS and new high power fuel efficient engine. It must have top in the class top in class EW siult and air to air missile developed for PAKFA which will not only shoot enemy planes but missiles fired by enemy planes. It should have AESA radar. It should be equipped with mini brahmos and K100 to shoot enemy AWACS.
 
Are they gonna be Super Sukhoi's ???? any way whats the update on super Sukhoi???????????????
All new MKIs(beyond first 230) will be super sukhois while other mkis(first 230) will be upgraded to same level in long run.
PS: Key features will be Brahmos missiles and AESA radars while many small modifications like RAM coating to reduce rcs etc.
 
Count will around 400.
It will be costly to operate 400 mki's as we have future projects like Rafale, Amca and Pak fa which are 5 gen and will have huge flying cost plus we have plan to Induct almost 300 Lca's it will also increase are Operational flying cost on per aircraft.I think 300 Mki's are enough for fulfilling IAF Requirements in coming Decades
 
All new MKIs(beyond first 230) will be super sukhois while other mkis(first 230) will be upgraded to same level in long run.
PS: Key features will be Brahmos missiles and AESA radars while many small modifications like RAM coating to reduce rcs etc.

Nope.
272 are simple ones,not super.

Deal for additional 42 has already been signed and they ain't super
 
Nope.
272 are simple ones,not super.

Deal for additional 42 has already been signed and they ain't super
May be true but what really I meant to say that at the end of the day all will be upgraded to super sukhois.
I guess 2 aircrafts are being upgraded as we speak in Nashik and trials will be start from this year end.
 
It should be with low RCS and new high power fuel efficient engine. It must have top in the class top in class EW siult and air to air missile developed for PAKFA which will not only shoot enemy planes but missiles fired by enemy planes. It should have AESA radar. It should be equipped with mini brahmos and K100 to shoot enemy AWACS.


Forget about the Novator K 100,it's not worth it.Instead a much better choice would be to take them out while they are on the ground.
 
May be true but what really I meant to say that at the end of the day all will be upgraded to super sukhois.
I guess 2 aircrafts are being upgraded as we speak in Nashik and trials will be start from this year end.
Na,there is no aesa being selected as of now.

The only upgrade they will undergo in future is the ability to carry brahmos.

Nothing else has been selected and that fucking pisses me off:mad::mad::mad:
 
Why the Ahem? :-)
The Su-30 numbers (in all version) will cross 300. And will I be surprised if it hits 350?

I would rather select su-35 for the rcs and engine reasons rather than upgrading all the mki's.

The last 80 or so planes should have been su-35,172 mki and 100 su-35 would have been an awesome mix
 
Forget about the Novator K 100,it's not worth it.Instead a much better choice would be to take them out while they are on the ground.


Why not a good choice? It is pretty good for AWACS And AW&C.
 
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