The Sukhoi-30 MKI: India's Two-Front War Ace?
A Report in the Russia and India Report takes a fascinating look at the role of the twin-fin Sukhoi-30 MKI air superiority fighters in the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) combat strategy. The Su-30 MKI is an eminently versatile fighter that is capable of meeting the IAF’s evolving needs, particularly in the context of a nightmare scenario involving a two-front war with Pakistan and China. I recommend Flashpoints readers check out the whole report for a fairly comprehensive description of the Su-30 MKI’s place in India’s air power strategy go…
How the Su-30 MKI is changing the IAF's combat strategy
With the induction of large numbers of class leading Sukhoi-30 MKI fighters, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has not only made a huge technological transition from a MiG-21 dominated fleet, its war fighting doctrine has also changed, focusing on long-range and strategic missions. Aggressiveness is a fundamental requirement of air combat, and the IAF has traditionally been an attack orientated force. For instance, on December 3, 1971 in response to Pakistan Air Force (PAF) raids on 11 Indian airbases, the IAF responded with initial air str…
India’s Su-30s to be back in use this week
Indian Air Force Chief Arup Raha told PTI that the inquiry into last month’s crash near Pune is almost complete The Indian Air Force’s Sukhoi Su-30MKI fleet, which was grounded last month over a crash near Pune, will be back in use this week, Air Chief Arup Raha was cited by PTI as saying. The fleet would be back in use “within a week's time” Raha told the news agency on Friday, November 14. “This (Pune crash on October 14) was an accident which appeared to be automatic firing of the seats. Court of Inquiry (CoI) i…
IAF grounds entire Sukhoi-30 fleet for safety checks
NEW DELHI: India has grounded its entire Sukhoi-30 fleet and each aircraft is undergoing a thorough technical check following a recent crash near Pune. The fleet of about 200 twin-engine Su-30s would be back in air only when they are cleared by the technical review. "The fleet has been grounded and is undergoing technical checks following the latest accident in Pune. It would be back in air only after a thorough check," IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Simranpal Singh Birdi said. He did not specify what were the specific techni…
Sukhoi Flanker Diplomacy - Win-Win for India in Asia
The induction of advanced Flanker aircraft in Asian air forces is proving to be an unexpected windfall for India. As a maintenance hub for Sukhoi-27/30 Flanker series aircraft and by training foreign fighter pilots, the country earns a substantial amount of money. But more importantly, it strengthens New Delhi’s ties with the region. Neutralising Indonesia :: In October 2013, India agreed to train and support the Indonesian Air Force in operating its fleet of Sukhoi fighters. The Indonesians currently operate both Su-27 and Su-30 jets…
Russia Delivered Four Sukhoi Su-35 Stealth Fighter Jet to China
Russia has finally delivered four Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets to China after a delay of two years as Moscow feared that its fifth generation fighter jet will loose value after Chinese military unveiled its J-20 stealth fighter, official media in Beijing reported. The Su-35 is an advanced version of the Su-30s operated by the Indian Airforce. The delivery was made on December 25, a news portal of the People's Liberation Army reported. Since the debut of China's stealth fighter J-20 fighter at Zhuhai Airshow, procuremen…
MMRCA an Absolute Necessity
It warrants a response only to sensitise the environment of the truth, just as the learned professor tries to undermine it with his needless ranting on the MMRCA. There seems to be a desperation that merits serious scrutiny—who or what is the guiding beacon behind his sustained attempt to force policy makers to take a re-look at an acquisition, the need for which was felt as far back as 2001? Is he batting for an outsider who is looking for a “window of opportunity” as the new government settles down, or is he pitching for an ill-i…
DefenseNews: Russia Lags Behind, As India To Develop New Indigenous AESA Radar For Its Sukhoi Su-30MKI Fighters
NEW DELHI — Over 270 Sukhoi Su-30MKI combat aircraft from the inventory of the Indian Air Force will be equipped with a new AESA radar. Such are the plans of Ministry of Defence. A new version of an active electronically scanned array [AESA] radar is already under development. The DRDO and the Indian Air Force will jointly finance the project, with the latter providing the majority of funding. The air force greenlit the project after assessing Uttam’s progress and performance. The service will lend a few Su-30 MKIs for the radar’s “development…
IAF’s Su-30s arrived in Egypt to participate in ‘Tactical Leadership Programme’
A team of the Indian Air Force arrived in Egypt on Wednesday to participate in a bilateral ‘Tactical Leadership Programme’ with the Egyptian Air Force. IAF Sukhoi Su - 30 Taking to Twitter, the Indian Air Force said that the aim of the exercise is to understand and assimilate the best practices. “A team of #IAF Air Warriors landed in Egypt on 22 Jun 2022 to participate in a bilateral Tactical Leadership Programme with Egyptian Air Force. Participating with the Su-30 MkI aircraft, the aim of the exercise is to understand and assimilate the …
Who needs to down the FGFA?
There is a buzz in the air about New Delhi’s intentions of shooting down the 2007 agreement with Moscow for the joint development of fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) or at least put it on the hold to generate the funds for financing the Rafale deal with France. Under the estimated $20-30 billion mother-of-the-deals for the acquisition of 126 medium multirole combat aircraft (MMRCA), Dassault Aviation’s Rafale was picked as a stopgap measure to sustain the IAF’s strength in view of its depleting inventory caused by the phasing out…
Russian Air Chief holds talks with top Indian defence brass
Russian Air Force Chief Colonel Gen Viktor Nikolaevich Bondarev today held talks with top Indian defence officials after arriving here on three-day visit to India. During his stay, he will visit the Su-30 warplane squadron, which was last week cleared for flying after being grounded for a month following a crash. Bondarev called on Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar andmet with Indian Air Force Chief Air Marshal Arup Raha and Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh. His visit coincides with the arrival of an 18-member Russian Air Force team at A…
India's Tejas Aircraft Top Choice For Malaysia's Fighter Jet Fleet; Final Talks Underway
TEJAS, manufactured by HAL, is a single-engine and highly agile multi-role supersonic fighter aircraft capable of operating in high-threat air environments. India's TEJAS light combat aircraft has emerged as the top choice for Malaysia as the Southeast Asian nation looks at replacing its ageing fleet of fighter jets and the two sides are holding negotiations to firm up the procurement. Malaysia has narrowed down on the Indian aircraft notwithstanding the stiff competition from China's JF-17 jet, South Korea's FA-50 and Russia's…
IAF chief flies his last sortie on Sukhoi-30 with his son
In his last ride in a fighter aircraft, outgoing IAF chief NAK Brownetoday chose to fly with his son Squadron Leader Omar Browne in a Su-30MKI combat plane in Pune. “The Air Chief flew Su-30 with his son, Squadron Leader Omar Browne, also a Su-30 pilot posted to 20 Squadron there, in what would be recorded as the last sortie in the Air Chief’s log book,” an IAF release said here. During Browne’s tenure, his son got several opportunities to display his flying skills in different exercises including the Exercise Ironfist in Jaisalmer e…
MiG-21 to make way for Sukhois as IAF mainstay
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has begun the tectonic shift of making the Russian-built Su-30MKI fighter jets, worth Rs 55,717 crore, the mainstay of its inventory, replacing the vintage warhorse, MIG-21s. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has begun the tectonic shift of making the Russian-built Su-30MKI fighter jets, worth Rs 55,717 crore, the mainstay of its inventory, replacing the vintage warhorse, MIG-21s. Around 17 squadrons will be deployed along India’s border with Pakistan and China and also in the South to cover up the country’s southern f…
US needs new stealth fighter to combat China's J-31: expert
China recently demonstrated its second fifth-generation stealth fighter, the J-31, for the 10th Zhuhai Airshow held in Guangdong from Nov. 11-16. Dave Majumdar, an American defense expert, thus suggests in Washington's National Interest that the US must put the F-35 into service or develop new fighters to face this challenge. China has come to realize that fourth-generation fighters such as the J-10, J-11, Su-27 and Su-30 will be obsolete when facing American fifth-generation stealth fighters like the F-22 and F-35, an officia…
India to Take Part in Aviadarts-2015 Flight Skills Competition
MOSCOW, August 29 (RIA Novosti) - India has confirmed its participation in the Aviadarts flight-skills competition hosted by Russia, Deputy Chief of the Main Staff of Russian Air Force Major General Alexander Lyapkin told RIA Novosti. “In 2015, another flight skills competition will take place, and an Indian crew plans to take part in it. As you can remember, this year China and Belarus participated in the contest,” Lyapkin said. Indian pilot Adzhai Rakhtor confirmed Lyapkin’s statement. Friday was the official opening ceremony for th…
Indian Air Force will get BrahMos missiles in 2015
Brahmos Aerospace is on track to supply cruise missiles to the Indian Air Force by 2015, the company's managing director A S Pillai has said. The BrahMos cruise missile which is jointly designed and developed by India and Russia has been inducted in the army and navy but its variant for the air force is undergoing trials. Pillai spoke to media after receiving the first batch of 40 missile airframes from Godrej & Boyce today. The BrahMos missile's air version will be mounted on Su-30 aircraft. The air force version …
India to Fast Track ALCM Developments
According to sources close to DefenceNews.in the DRDO will fast track development of air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) in all front, by early 2014. According to sources close to DefenceNews.in the DRDO will fast track development of air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) in all front, by early 2014. Plans are in place to test fire the BrahMos air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) on a heavily modified Sukhoi Su30-MKI aicraft. Two jets are already going through the required modifications. The firghter jets were upgraded to some extent in o…
Sukhoi-30s to be back in air in week’s time: Air Force Chief
India’s frontline combat aircraft Sukhoi-30 fleet, which was grounded after a crash near Pune, will be back in air ‘within a week’s time’, Air Force Chief Arup Raha on Friday said. He also said that the findings of a Court of Inquiry into the crash are being finalised. This is the longest period that the Russian-made aircraft has been grounded since 2009 when its operation was suspended for nearly three weeks following an accident. “This (Pune crash on October 14) was an accident which appeared to be automatic firing of the seats. Cou…
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