All this point to su30 being in service till at least 2055.
Sukhoi Su-30MKI
- Thread starter Ashwin
- Start date
at the end of the day 4.5gen fighters are the ones going to be doing all the hard work because they are simply vastly cheaper to fly per hour. 5gen/6gen for air dominance establishment and 4.5 gen for bombardment. Unless we proceed to invent an insanely cheap to fly 5/6gen.
Vapour Compression System for cooling of AESA radar of the SU-30MKI UPG Aircraft
Not sure what's going on. Every Japanese aviation photographer is suddenly feeling nostalgic about the Su-30MKI visit to Japan 3 years back:
https://twitter.com/alice_herb/status/2013196088174645349
https://twitter.com/anjun2015/status/2013359943999725998
https://twitter.com/alice_herb/status/2013451857260109968
https://twitter.com/NANOSANsub/status/2013373146792173885
https://twitter.com/alice_herb/status/2013196088174645349
https://twitter.com/anjun2015/status/2013359943999725998
https://twitter.com/alice_herb/status/2013451857260109968
https://twitter.com/NANOSANsub/status/2013373146792173885
i mean its the 2nd prettiest aircraft ive ever seen so i totally understand
Su-30 with Astra, Rampage and R-73
nah the su57 has my heart, its the sexiest aircraft ever imo, never have I seen an aircraft that has lines that flow like it.
Many would believe that it's the prettiest of 'em all
I think if feasible the GoI and MoD should discuss if a EW version of the MKI is feasible. @Rajput Lion had suggested that it was worth pondering over this and I agree that such an idea would benefit the IAF.
While the J-15D is yet to enter naval service, the PLAAF received its first J-16D electronic warfare airframes by November 2021. While often referred to as a ‘Wild Weasel’ variant, based on current understanding, it is not a true SEAD aircraft like the old F-4G Phantom and is perhaps more comparable to the EA-18G Growler.
Its most characteristic features are a pair of large wingtip ESM/ELINT pods similar to the AN/ALQ-218 tactical jamming receiver, a new AESA radar with integrated EW modes (allegedly comparable to the AN/APG-79) and its ability to carry a family of jammer/EW-pods within the RKZ930-xx-family. The latter are claimed to be comparable to the AN/ALQ-99 pods.
As a dedicated EW aircraft, it has the gun removed and therefore must rely on PL-10 and PL-15 missiles or supporting fighter escorts for defence. It is so far unknown whether the J-16D also has a ‘killer’ capability. All examples seen have been unarmed, but there are reports that it may use the YJ-91 or a new-generation anti-radar missile.
www.aerosociety.com
Its most characteristic features are a pair of large wingtip ESM/ELINT pods similar to the AN/ALQ-218 tactical jamming receiver, a new AESA radar with integrated EW modes (allegedly comparable to the AN/APG-79) and its ability to carry a family of jammer/EW-pods within the RKZ930-xx-family. The latter are claimed to be comparable to the AN/ALQ-99 pods.
As a dedicated EW aircraft, it has the gun removed and therefore must rely on PL-10 and PL-15 missiles or supporting fighter escorts for defence. It is so far unknown whether the J-16D also has a ‘killer’ capability. All examples seen have been unarmed, but there are reports that it may use the YJ-91 or a new-generation anti-radar missile.
Red Dragon Flankers - Royal Aeronautical Society
As the Pentagon releases new footage of Chinese Flankers harassing US aircraft operating lawfully in international airspace, ANDREAS RUPPRECHT, author of Red Dragon Flankers, assesses the type and how the PLAAF and PLN fighters fit into the order of battle.
Imo, a dedicated Wild Weasel ew version of the MKI might be possible only once Virpukasha comes alone. The Russian-origin Bars could otherwise suffer emi/emc issues operating in tandem with an Indian stand-off jammer.While the J-15D is yet to enter naval service, the PLAAF received its first J-16D electronic warfare airframes by November 2021. While often referred to as a ‘Wild Weasel’ variant, based on current understanding, it is not a true SEAD aircraft like the old F-4G Phantom and is perhaps more comparable to the EA-18G Growler.
Its most characteristic features are a pair of large wingtip ESM/ELINT pods similar to the AN/ALQ-218 tactical jamming receiver, a new AESA radar with integrated EW modes (allegedly comparable to the AN/APG-79) and its ability to carry a family of jammer/EW-pods within the RKZ930-xx-family. The latter are claimed to be comparable to the AN/ALQ-99 pods.
As a dedicated EW aircraft, it has the gun removed and therefore must rely on PL-10 and PL-15 missiles or supporting fighter escorts for defence. It is so far unknown whether the J-16D also has a ‘killer’ capability. All examples seen have been unarmed, but there are reports that it may use the YJ-91 or a new-generation anti-radar missile.
Red Dragon Flankers - Royal Aeronautical Society
As the Pentagon releases new footage of Chinese Flankers harassing US aircraft operating lawfully in international airspace, ANDREAS RUPPRECHT, author of Red Dragon Flankers, assesses the type and how the PLAAF and PLN fighters fit into the order of battle.
I suspect the IAF acquired the Russian SAP-518/14 pods for the same reason, replacing the Israeli Elta-8222 originally used on the MKI.
There is still time. The line in MH will be making MKIs. Order more and make an EW variant. The nos. can only be made up by ordering more MKIs. The rest of the projects are either moving at the pace of a sloth or are in development phase. A few more squadrons of these will at least help get the nos. going.
I guess Additional orders Probably stuck between Current version vs UPG version.
Another reason could be that the Bars radar has been getting incremental software upgrades over time to keep it current.
Back in the early 2000s, the definitive MKI was planned to have the Mk3 version and there probably have been more upgrades since then that were not made public.
(Many of these upgrades were originally developed for the Ibris radar on RuAF Su-35. This radar is itself an evolution of the Bars)
I don't believe there have been any backend hardware changes though.
The IAF probably thinks Bars is competitive against most threats it might face for the foreseeable future.
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Yeah, most definitely it's between them
Once we replace all Russian avionics with our own in the UPG. version, dialling one EA version won't be out of realms. We are also going to increase NGARMs range to upto 300-350kms with use of high-density propellants. Growler MKI with 6 NGARMs would be a total nightmare for both Pakistan and China.
Yeah, most definitely it's between them
Once we replace all Russian avionics with our own in the UPG. version, dialling one EA version won't be out of realms. We are also going to increase NGARMs range to upto 300-350kms with use of high-density propellants. Growler MKI with 6 NGARMs would be a total nightmare for both Pakistan and China.
To exploit the full range of the R2/R3, we'd need an air launched decoy similar to the US MALD-J. It can spoof and jam enemy radars while relaying target coordinates back to the launch ac which can be used to cue ARMs.
Interestingly, many pvt companies in India are already developing jet powered radar decoy drones. But these are ground launched afaik.
Anadrone Systems Praised by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for Leading India’s Indigenous High-Speed UAV Revolution - India Strategic
New Delhi, October 8, 2025. Anadrone Systems, one of India’s foremost developers of unmanned aerial platforms, was commended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during the Raksha Navachar Samvaad organized by iDEX–DIO and the Department of Defence Production (MoD, GoI). Building on its proven...
www.indiastrategic.in
If any of these could be adapted for air launch in a suitable form factor, that would give the MKI an edge in sead/dead ops.
Also, I'd love for the MKI to get a DIRCM mounted on the spine, similar to the Su-57. It should be doable if the power requirement of the system isn't too high.
I'd imagine dircm would anyway activate only when the onboard rwr/maws detects an incoming missile.
