SOURCE: AFI
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is poised to significantly enhance the combat capabilities of its Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter fleet, its frontline workhorse, with a slew of indigenous upgrades slated for the fiscal year 2025-26. According to a recent Standing Committee on Defence report tabled in Parliament, key acquisitions will focus on integrating homegrown avionics, weapon systems, and electronic warfare (EW) capabilities into the Russian-origin jets. This move not only bolsters the IAF’s operational edge but also underscores India’s growing self-reliance in defense technology.
The Sukhoi-30 MKI, numbering over 260 aircraft and constituting nearly half of the IAF’s fighter strength, has been a cornerstone of India’s air power since its induction in the early 2000s. While the fleet has proven its mettle in exercises and operations—demonstrating versatility in air superiority, ground attack, and long-range strike missions—its reliance on foreign subsystems has long been a point of concern. The 2025-26 upgrades aim to address this by infusing the platform with cutting-edge indigenous technologies, enhancing both its lethality and survivability in modern combat scenarios.
A major highlight of the planned acquisitions is the integration of advanced indigenous avionics. The report indicates that these upgrades will likely include next-generation cockpit displays, mission computers, and radar enhancements, potentially building on the DRDO-developed Virupaksha AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar . Currently, the Su-30 MKI operates with the Russian N011M Bars radar, a capable system but one that could benefit from the precision and multi-target tracking capabilities of an AESA system. SMART avionics will also reduce maintenance costs and downtime, critical for a fleet that logs thousands of flight hours annually.
The weapon systems slated for integration are equally transformative. The IAF has already begun equipping the Su-30 MKI with indigenous precision-guided munitions like the Astra Mk-1 beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), with a range of over 100 km, and the BrahMos-A supersonic cruise missile, capable of striking targets 300-400 km away. The Standing Committee report suggests further expansion of this arsenal in 2025-26, potentially including the Astra Mk-2 (160+ km range) and the Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW), both developed by DRDO. These additions will amplify the Su-30 MKI’s ability to engage enemy aircraft and infrastructure from standoff distances, a necessity given the evolving threats along India’s northern and western borders.
Electronic warfare capabilities form the third pillar of this upgrade package. The report emphasizes the need for advanced EW suites to counter sophisticated enemy air defenses and electronic countermeasures, a domain where the IAF seeks to leapfrog its adversaries. Indigenous systems like the DRDO’s Dhruti radar warning receiver and the under-development Samyukta EW suite could be tailored for the Su-30 MKI, enhancing its ability to detect, jam, and evade hostile radar and missile threats. Such upgrades are vital in contested airspace, where electronic supremacy often determines mission success.
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