Just checked some configs once again and it seems that a BVR missile can be carried at the external wingstation as well:
That would give a maximum load of 10 x BVR missiles + 2 x wingtip WVR missiles.
Here is a config with 8 x BVR and 4 x WVR missiles:
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u225/adux21/MKI-Armed-12AAMs.jpg
And to come back to the topic again, it will be interesting to see if the MKI will get ECM pods at the wingtips like some Chinese or Russian Flankers too:
Even among canard-equipped Flankers, only the Malaysian Su-30MKM carries wingtip
ECMs. MKI currently carries the SAP-14 pods on certerline or nacelle-mounted hardpoints
I think. In addition the new Su-30MKI squadrons on the Chinese border are now
equipped with a growing number of EL/M-2060P SAR pods for reconnaissance roles,
this pod has an effective range of upto 300km IMO.
Im interested in knowing if there shall be any upgrades on the recon-capabilities of
Super-MKI...about ECMs, don't you think they should be made internal? Is that
possible with the Flanker airframe?
Its still a big mystery about what shall be the AESA radar onboard...I hope not something
derived from the Zhuk-AE which is still an immature radar and not suited for the kind
of mini-AWACS roles our MKIs will need to operate in. I hope an AESA-based version of
the existing N011M BARS or the N035 Irbis-E shall be fine. A rear-facing radar in the
tail sting and T/R modules on the wing LEs will also be standard for the Super-MKI.
I think if we get LE-mounted T/R modules, they will be able to perform jamming and
such duties themselves for typical SEAD roles. Although the main lobe will be needed
in order to jam more powerful fighter-based radars like the AN/APG-68(v)9 and any
new Chinese AESA that could arise.