About time, we need the LR-LACM and all its variants to be inducted in sizeable numbers.
Sukhoi Su-30MKI
- Thread starter Ashwin
- Start date
cause armenia is getting upgraded super sukhois faster than the IAF lmao
True that, but IAF wants to complete the installation of all the upgrade packages at once rather than go in for an incremental upgrade model.
Incremental upgrades are already happening with MKI. From SDR, RWR to new weapon integrations, they are constantly upgrading.
You can't simply switch the entire avionics incrementally.
Total defence budget of Armania is $1.7 billion. Their entire airforce is 16 fighters!. A single MLU Su-30 will cost $100 million+. They can get multiple SM versions from Russia for the same cost.
We need to invest billions and 5 years to recertify the new MLU version. There is no upgrade without our investment.
People should stop deluding themselves.
No CCS.
And all this talk of "alternate upgrade options" makes one think IAF prefers Russia do the MLU even with the UA war on.
Nevertheless, agree with Ashwin that this is no TASL or Kalyani product that Armenia will be able to buy without IAF/MoD contributing their part to the kitty.
They won't get Su-30 UPG. before IAF. So rather than shame, it's a great matter of pride that we would be exporting our indigenous Su-30 MKI UPG. to friendly nations. One of the mistakes we did during the original MKI negotiation was not to ask for its IPR as it was out and out brainchild of IAF to fuse Su-37 Terminator's superlative air-to-air fighting prowess and supermaneuverability with Su-30's multi-role capability. We funded its development almost fully but never asked for its IPR.
Now finally, with export rights granted to HAL by Russia, we could do what we should have always done. Our R & D cost on MKI programme is now fully vindicated.
Because Su-30MKI draws heavily from Su-27M(original Su-35) program in terms of airframe tech, inclusion of radars etc. Add in TVC, BARS radar and it is as good in both BVR & manueverability as Su-37 yet thanks to tandem-two seats, it's far better in multi-role prowess/mini-bomber role than the baseline single-seat Super Flanker.
Su-30 MKI isn't just a plane, it's 'the' super fighter
why would they do it, they are proud screw driver masters. I suppose they would have gone on strike even if russia had given IPR for free.
It shows our mentality , attitude and culture towards development and progress. chinese on the other hand are like , if it is visible to naked eye we will steal it and try to improve on it.
Apart from that there is another LRASSCM project approved by DRDO for IAF's MKI fleet. This is going to be a supersonic cruise missile like BrahMos-A. Not much is known about it at the moment but could be a derivative of STAR or something entirely new. Let's see.......
The Chinese didn't care about honouring
IPR with Su-27/30. They simply cloned it into the J-11/16. The Russians made some noises but later turned around and meekly sold them by the Su-35S.
The Chinese must have offered market access on the commercial side to get the Russians to back off.
Contrast that with the endless negotiations we're doing for the MKI UPG prog. Fwiw, talks first started in 2005 and we're now in 2026.
India prepares Su-30MKI upgrade - FlightGlobal
The Indian air force is planning a staged upgrade programme for its Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters through to 2017, when Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) is due to complete assembly of 140 aircraft under licence. "Certainly HAL will not produce all 140 aircraft in a single configuration standard, and we...
By the time, things start rolling, roughly half the fleet will have reached EOL. Perfect opening for the Russians to exploit with the Su-57M.
Not only that but China poached super talented aeronautical scientists from Russia post the fall of Soviet Union. That really accelerated their mil-aviation industry.The Chinese didn't care about honouring
IPR with Su-27/30. They simply cloned it into the J-11/16. The Russians made some noises but later turned around and meekly sold them by the Su-35S.
The Chinese must have offered market access on the commercial side to get the Russians to back off.
Contrast that with the endless negotiations we're doing for the MKI UPG prog. Fwiw, talks first started in 2005 and we're now in 2026.
India prepares Su-30MKI upgrade - FlightGlobal
The Indian air force is planning a staged upgrade programme for its Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters through to 2017, when Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) is due to complete assembly of 140 aircraft under licence. "Certainly HAL will not produce all 140 aircraft in a single configuration standard, and we...www.flightglobal.com
By the time, things start rolling, roughly half the fleet will have reached EOL. Perfect opening for the Russians to exploit with the Su-57M.
PS: Look at this latest iteration of their naval Flanker, J-15T with canted radome for RCS reduction:
Su-33 was considered as an alternative to the MiG-29K for the Vikramaditya. But it was found to be too big for the ship.
No doubt, the Chinese have used foriegn tech (+ talent), most notably from Russia and France, to build their own MIC. From the French, they acquired the Fennec, Panther, Super Frelon, etc (which btw has been iterated over time into the latest Z-
8L) while the Russians sold them Buk/Shtil, Klub, Tor and a range of other stuff besides Su-27/30s.
But in each and every case, the Chinese negotiated smartly, acquired design rights and went on to build improved versions on their own with 100% local IP over time.
They wouldn't have been able to export their wares on the global market , often competing with the same foreign mfgrs, otherwise.
India measures localization by percentage while the Chinese iterate on the base model to create multiple variants until 100% localization is achieved.
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Not only Russia and France, but Uncle Sam and Israel also helped them a lot in developing their military aviation industry.
Anyways, under Modi ji, we are in right track and by 2045 we would have parity with China.
I agree the GoI is trying hard to increase FDI in the defence sector which has been lagging. But they have compromised on ToT by allowing FOEMs to start 100% fully owned subsidiaries in India.
At this rate, Indian cos will be reduced to mere contract mfg units with limited local value addition and that too only for hardware ordered by the Indian armed forces.
At this rate, Indian cos will be reduced to mere contract mfg units with limited local value addition and that too only for hardware ordered by the Indian armed forces.
Imagine how many programs could've been farther along were it not for some traitorous egos.
"Following the 1991 Soviet collapse, Russia offered scientists to India; however, a proposal to pay top Soviet experts around ₹10,000 monthly, plus USD 200—considered high compared to Indian ministerial pay and senior scientists' salaries at the time—was reportedly not fully accepted by the Indian government due to pay structure concerns, leading some experts to be picked up by China."