India set to buy 40 Super Sukhoi jets for $3.5 bn

[Sergi]

I guess these will be the firs batch, so after IAF gets to test the upgrade we could buy more.

Buying more is highly unlikely. At current production rate the existing MKI line will be up till mid 2017 - say 2018.( some people say HAL is going to boost up MKI production to 32 per year but I think we will accept it when they really did it. Not before that ) And upgrade to existing MKIs to Super Sukoi standard will begin locally after the delivery of these 42 SS so say 2015/16. Upgrading MKIs will take more than 3/4 years. So there isn't any point in Buying more Sukois when IAF will be inducting Rafale. And at the same time frame LCA MK2 will be on production if everything goes right plus FGFA will be in final testing phase.
So it will more practical to induct more LCA MK2 and wait for FGFA. And hopefully AMCA will too complete in that time frame

 

[arp2041]

no..........

230+40

I think IAF has brought the 40 a/c above 230mki's mark 3 times now

First i heard of deal of 40 above 230 mark in 2010, than in 2011 than again in 2012

Not to forget another question mark - EXACTLY HOW MANY SUPER SUKHOIS???

 

[lilaspr]

What is Super Sukhoi?
As i understood its nothing but upgraded MKI may be with AESA and some new missiles.
I never understood, if u want to replace Mig 27 .... whyn't do it with Mig 35?

 

[arp2041]

What is Super Sukhoi?
As i understood its nothing but upgraded MKI may be with AESA and some new missiles.
I never understood, if u want to replace Mig 27 .... whyn't do it with Mig 35?

Actually Indian media has always hyped things, & Super Sukhois are nothing new but a name given to the upgraded su-30mki's by Indian media (maybe Russian media as well). It will contain some features of 5th gen jets such as ram coatings, ZHUK AE AESA radars, reduced RCS etc.

Armed with 5G jet features, Super Sukhoi on the way... | Russia & India Report

As far as mig-35 is concerned, i think IAF is fed up of any more mig's in it's inventory, India has been largest operator of Mig's outside Russia (if we don't count the versions developed by China) over the previous decades but now it doesn't want to buy anymore as it has poor after sales support, spare problems, etc. So i don't think that now IAF will ever go for any MIG variant. Even Russian air force is refusing to induct mig-35 in it's inventory, so no future in sight for mig-35, the project may die in years to come, just the developments like AESA radar, engines etc. for the mig-35 can be used in other planes.

 

[IND151]

What is Super Sukhoi?
As i understood its nothing but upgraded MKI may be with AESA and some new missiles.
I never understood, if u want to replace Mig 27 .... whyn't do it with Mig 35?

some sources claim Super MKI will have new engine with 15,000 kg thrust and 6,000 hours life

and this is from idrw,org quoted sources

This latest version will have a new cockpit, state-of-the-art radar with stealth features and can carry heavier weapons including the air-launched version of the Brahmos cruise missile

 

[Paan Singh]

What is Super Sukhoi?
As i understood its nothing but upgraded MKI may be with AESA and some new missiles.
I never understood, if u want to replace Mig 27 .... whyn't do it with Mig 35?

AESA is not sure but with ram coating to reduce the rcs +
More powerful engines + avionics

 

[IND151]

IAF will ultimately have 311 of these ac.

NO

IAF will have 270 of these fighters according to idrw.org

 

[Paan Singh]

NO

IAF will have 270 of these fighters according to idrw.org

+ 2 who got crashed

 

[Abingdonboy]

What is Super Sukhoi?
As i understood its nothing but upgraded MKI may be with AESA and some new missiles.
I never understood, if u want to replace Mig 27 .... whyn't do it with Mig 35?

Have a littel read:

TRISHUL: Super Su-30MKI: From Air Dominance To Air Supremacy


In short:

ALCM capability
Improved avionics
Improved counter measures
AESA radar
Improved engines
Improved weapons suite
Improved Pilot-Plane interface (cockpit/HMDS)
RAM coatings
etc

 

[sudhir007]

What is Super Sukhoi?
As i understood its nothing but upgraded MKI may be with AESA and some new missiles.
I never understood, if u want to replace Mig 27 .... whyn't do it with Mig 35?

Why not order more Rafale direct from France so the 3sqn arrive at 2016

 

[T90TankGuy]

So, 4 squadrons of MiG 27s are to be replaced by 2 squadrons of Super Sukhois? The math doesn't add up....or is it a force multiplier thingie?

actually a single Su30 SUPER MKI can carry more ordnance than 2 mig 27 . hence 4 squadrons can be replaced by 2.

 

[janon]

actually a single Su30 SUPER MKI can carry more ordnance than 2 mig 27 . hence 4 squadrons can be replaced by 2.

It's not that straightforward. Although a single MKI can carry twice the ordnance of a mig 27, the MKI cannot be in two places at once. One MKI can give close air support only in one place, while 2 mig 27s can give CAS in two places. That's why numbers matter, and we still need 39-42 squadrons, despite each new squadron being twice or thrice as efficient as the older ones. Same goes for air defence - even if a heavy aircraft can carry twice as many missiles as a light one, you can't replace all the light ones with half the number of heavies. Because two LCAs with 6 missiles each can defend two different places, while an MKI with 12 missiles can only defend one place. That's why numbers are vital for such a large country like ours.

 

[KRAIT]

Two Super Su-30 MKI will act as mini AWE&S and can escort Rafale. Mirages for ground attack considering the capabilities of A2G role of them.

So, we don't need a dedicated AWE&Cs and two or one flanker to protect it if we can use Super Sukhois as one.

This approach is better as our major targets can be covered by our AWACs within the border while Super Su can do the intrusion and escorting work.

 

[Kyusuibu Honbu]

Where you guys get all these money on a military budget of $40 billion plus? A few billions here, a few billions there and now this plus personnel and maintenance. Talking about hiding the spending.

These deals happen over a period of a decade or less