Sukhoi Su-30MKI

Before Swift Retort our MKIs had R77 and R27ER as BVR and R73 as WVR. It seems that Pakistanis firing AIM 120s first woke IAF from their deep slumber(dreamimg about Rafales or MMRCA, lol) and now look just within few years from the last event what we've got:

1. Derby-ER(Twin-pulse, 100km range at 25k feet which means max range of over 200kms when MKI lobbs it at 50k altitude. It also has an AESA seeker). MKI with Derby-ER is a fearful enemy for PAF and PLAAF.

2. Mica- IR.

3. ASRAAM

4. R77-1

5. R27ER(EA??)

6. R74M

7. Astra

And now after successful separation/ejection trials very soon it will get Astra 2. Hopefully Astra 3 joins the fray soon too.

They also have seemingly installed B-Net, new Radio Altimeter and 5th gen DR-118 Digital RWR(6th gen is coming soon too).


Amazing how these small steps have made our MKI a formidable fighter again. Only question is why it took so long for these steps to be implemented🤔
 
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Before Swift Retort our MKIs had R77 and R27ER as BVR and R73 as WVR. It seems that Pakistanis firing AIM 120s first woke IAF from their deep slumber(dreamimg about Rafales or MMRCA, lol) and now look just within few years from the last event what we've got:

1. Derby-ER(Twin-pulse, 100km range at 25k feet which means max range of over 200kms when MKI lobbs it at 50k altitude. It also has an AESA seeker). MKI with Derby-ER is a fearful enemy for PAF and PLAAF.

2. Mica- IR.

3. ASRAAM

4. R77-1

5. R27ER(EA??)

6. R74M

7. Astra

And now after successful separation/ejection trials very soon it will get Astra 2. Hopefully Astra 3 joins the fray soon too.

They also have seemingly installed B-Net, new Radio Altimeter and 5th gen DR-118 Digital RWR(6th gen is coming soon too).


Amazing how these small steps have made our MKI a formidable fighter again. Only question is why it took so long for these steps to be implemented🤔
Almost all of the missiles were planned/ordered before 2019. Russian bvr orders were of limited quantity to refurbish old stock.

Also, Derby-i do not have AESA seeker. Only operational BVR with AESA seeker is japanese.
 
Almost all of the missiles were planned/ordered before 2019. Russian bvr orders were of limited quantity to refurbish old stock.

Also, Derby-i do not have AESA seeker. Only operational BVR with AESA seeker is japanese.
PL15 has an AESA seeker. Our own Astra 2/3 will have AESA seeker. IMO, it's only matter of time before all new gen BVR missiles will have AESA seeker.

Also if my memory serves me right, even R77M(dual pulse version of Adder) has an AESA seeker and now it's entered LSP production.
 
PL15 has an AESA seeker. Our own Astra 2/3 will have AESA seeker. IMO, it's only matter of time before all new gen BVR missiles will have AESA seeker.

Also if my memory serves me right, even R77M(dual pulse version of Adder) has an AESA seeker and now it's entered LSP production.
PL-15 does not have AESA as far as I know. It's just fanboys hyping up stuff. Even Chinese posters for PL-15E do not claim it.

Astra-mk2 does not have AESA. Mk3 might have it but we are yet to see evidence of that. R-77 with Agat AESA is yet to enter production.

Miniaturising T/R modules to a seeker is a huge technological challenge and it may not be economical to use it on every future BVRs.
 
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PL-15 does not have AESA as far as I know. It's just fanboys hyping up stuff. Even Chinese posters for PL-15E do not claim it.

Astra-mk2 does not have AESA. Mk3 might have it but we are yet to see evidence of that. R-77 with Agat AESA is yet to enter production.

Miniaturising T/R modules to a seeker is a huge technological challenge and it may not be economical to use it on every future BVRs.
I also read somewhere that even Mica-NG is coming with dual pulse and AESA seeker(for the RF version). May be our French members can comment whether this info is true or just hype🤷‍♂️
 
I also read somewhere that even Mica-NG is coming with dual pulse and AESA seeker(for the RF version). May be our French members can comment whether this info is true or just hype🤷‍♂️
Yes, that's true.

 
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Here is the full interview of Air chief in which he talks about SU-30MKI upgrade plans. Vice Chief also confirmed that for the last decade spiral upgrades in weapons and sensors have kept out fleet unique and ready with enhanced firepower @27:00 onwards:

 
On contrary to some people who think that SU-3OMKI is junk and liability to IAF, now there are reports that IAF is going to extend the life of their Super Flanker:


IAF to determine life extension of Su-30 MKI fighter jets from 25 to 35 years​


The Indian Air Force has initiated a project to carry out life extension studies on its Su-30 MKI frontline fighter aircraft to determine the feasibility of enhancing its calendar life by at least 10 years from 25 years to 35 years.

The IAF has about 260 Su-30s in its inventory, the first of which entered service in 2002. Life extension of an aircraft is different from upgrading the aircraft. While an upgrade involves enhancing the combat capability by introducing newer systems, life extension requires checking the structural integrity of the platform and its subsystems and assessing how long it can function effectively.

In an expression of interest (EOI) issued on October 4, the IAF has stipulated that only Indian firms having the requisite expertise will be allowed to participate in the project, which will be undertaken at the 11 Base Repair Depot located in Nashik. The IAF has undertaken life extension studies on other aircraft and helicopters, allowing platforms to continue in service for longer periods.

The work will be undertaken in three phases. The first phase would involve study of aircraft structural issues, defectation data and analysis of flight data will be carried out by the depot to determine the life extension checks to be undertaken. This includes corrosion removal on the airframe, repair and strengthening of certain load bearing-areas and a few structural modifications.

In the second phase, the industrial partner, which will be responsible for the process and quality control as well as provisioning manpower, equipment and consumables, will carry out life extension checks on one aircraft under the depot’s close supervision.

In the third phase, life extension checks on the remaining aircraft will be carried out independently by the industry in accordance with pre-defined timelines. According to the EOI, three to five aircrafts will undergo life extension checks per year.


The twin-engine heavy, multi-role Su-30 is assembled indigenously by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which has also been involved in several upgrade projects undertaken on the aircraft over the past decade. It now forms the backbone of the IAF’s fighter jet fleet.

Among the most significant modifications of the Su-30 is adapting it to launch the airborne version of the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile, giving it an enormous offensive punch up to a range of about 500 km. Other past upgrades include integration of air-to-air missiles, avionics, mission software and other sub-systems from varied Indian and foreign sources.




Earlier this week, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Choudhari had stated that an initial lot of 84 Su-30s would be upgraded indigenously over the next four to five years, for which the Air Staff qualitative requirements have been finalised. This includes a new fire control radar, touch- and voice-controlled avionics and navigation system, electronic warfare suite and self-protection systems.

Link: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.tr...0-mki-fighter-jets-from-25-to-35-years-439010
 
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On contrary to some people who think that SU-3OMKI is junk and liability to IAF, now there are reports that IAF is going to extend the life of their Super Flanker:




Link: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.tr...0-mki-fighter-jets-from-25-to-35-years-439010
MKI lile aircraft may not be a liability to airforce who operates Jaguar, mig29,mirage2k, which all are 40+ years old airframe. MKI is not a liability to an airforce who's owner put his faith on an aircraft like Tejas over Rafale type aircraft. But its definitely a liability for any force who needs to go war.
 
On contrary to some people who think that SU-3OMKI is junk and liability to IAF, now there are reports that IAF is going to extend the life of their Super Flanker:




Link: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.tr...0-mki-fighter-jets-from-25-to-35-years-439010
No one thinks MKI is a liability. Super flanker is a marketing name given by russians for their upgrade proposal which we did not take.

MKI lile aircraft may not be a liability to airforce who operates Jaguar, mig29,mirage2k, which all are 40+ years old airframe. MKI is not a liability to an airforce who's owner put his faith on an aircraft like Tejas over Rafale type aircraft. But its definitely a liability for any force who needs to go war.
Who is this? Admiral Pravin Sawhney’s ghost writer ?
 
No one thinks MKI is a liability. Super flanker is a marketing name given by russians for their upgrade proposal which we did not take.


Who is this? Admiral Pravin Sawhney’s ghost writer ?
Pravin sawhney will lick any shit of Russian origin, just like many fan boys does here.

Other than parade performance what achievement does a flanker have? Nothing.
And do you really think that MKI without AESA radar, EW suite, without modern a2a missiles ( slowly it is getting addressed now) will have a chance in a contested airspace?

And i said MKI is not a liability to IAF, because for an airforce inventories mainly consists rust buckets inducted before 90s or 80s, MKI will give bare minimum breathing space. MKI is not a liability for IAF, since we dont have adequate AEWS /AWACS the limited data link & monstrously powerfull radar of mki may come in handy.