SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
At Aero India 2025, held from February 10 to February 14, 2025, at Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru, Rostec officials confirmed to idrw.org that the Izdeliye 177S, also known as Product 177S, is being offered to India not only for upgrades to the Sukhoi Su-30 MKI fleet but also for the country’s ambitious Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) fifth-generation fighter program.
The Izdeliye 177S, showcased prominently at the United Engine Corporation (UEC) stand during Aero India 2025, is a fifth-generation engine designed for tactical aircraft. Rostec officials highlighted its advanced features, noting that it delivers increased thrust compared to its predecessors, such as the AL-31FP, which currently powers the IAF’s Su-30 MKI fleet. With a service life of up to 6,000 hours—three times that of the AL-31FP—the 177S incorporates cutting-edge technologies aimed at improving fuel efficiency and reducing operational costs.
The engine’s design draws on elements from the AL-51 (Izdeliye 30), the second-stage engine developed for Russia’s Su-57 stealth fighter. While the AL-51 is still undergoing testing and not yet in full-scale production, the 177S integrates some of its advanced features, such as improved thrust-to-weight ratio and enhanced reliability. Rostec officials emphasized that the 177S maintains similar dimensions to the AL-31FP, making it a seamless replacement for the Su-30 MKI, while also offering scalability for next-generation platforms like the AMCA.
The Indian Air Force operates a fleet of 259 Su-30 MKI fighters, making it the backbone of its combat aviation capabilities. As part of the “Super Sukhoi” upgrade program, approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) in November 2023, the IAF aims to modernize 84 of these aircraft initially, with plans to extend upgrades to the entire fleet. Key enhancements include new avionics, radar systems (potentially the indigenous Uttam AESA radar)), and but has no plans for an improved engines to enhance performance, range, and endurance.
Rostec officials confirmed that the Izdeliye 177S is being pitched as a replacement for the AL-31FP engines currently powering the Su-30 MKI. With a maximum thrust of 14,500 kgf (compared to the AL-31FP’s 12,500 kgf) and a thrust-to-weight ratio of 9.5:1 (versus 8.2:1 for the AL-31FP), the 177S promises significant performance improvements. Its enhanced fuel efficiency and resistance to foreign object damage, such as bird strikes, further bolster its appeal. The officials noted that the engine’s compatibility with the Su-30 MKI’s airframe, due to its identical weight and dimensions, would simplify integration, while local manufacturing by HAL could streamline logistics and reduce costs.
In a significant revelation, Rostec officials told idrw.org that the Izdeliye 177S is also on offer for India’s AMCA program, a fifth-generation stealth fighter under development by the DRDO and HAL. The AMCA, designed to meet the IAF’s requirements for stealth, supercruise, and advanced sensor fusion, requires a powerful and reliable engine to achieve its performance goals. Initially, the AMCA is slated to use General Electric F414 engines, delivering 98 kN (22,000 lbf) of thrust, but India has been exploring options for a more powerful engine, with a target thrust of 110-120 kN, to enable supercruise and enhanced combat capabilities.
Rostec’s proposal includes the potential for local manufacturing by HAL, aligning with India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative. The high degree of component commonality between the 177S and AL-31FP could facilitate a smooth transition to indigenous production, building on HAL’s existing expertise with the Su-30 MKI’s engines. This would enhance India’s self-reliance in aero-engine technology, a critical area where it currently relies on imports.
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