The truth is that IAF didn't want the Flanker to begin with. They had their heart set on 126 M2000-5, perhaps to be followed by the Rafale (early prototypes were already flying at the time) at a later date.
You're right about the IAF being on the defensive against China. But the IAF's thinking remains platform centric vs network centric. Fleet-wide datalinking has been lagging for decades.
in turn, this has impacted the large scale adoption of third party midcourse guidance (already demonstrated on the Mk1 Tejas years ago) etc.
Not taking ownership of the indigenous fighter development efforts. The AF has typically been the impetus for technological (and manufacturing) progress in nations where it decides to build rather than buy. And build doesn't just mean giving orders.
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IAF has posted this Tweet from their own official handle
Group Captain
ABHINANDAN VARTHAMAN , who shot down F 16 on February 27 , 2019
Has Retired from IAF
dailypioneer.com
ABHINANDAN VARTHAMAN , who shot down F 16 on February 27 , 2019
Has Retired from IAF
From MiG21 Fighter Jet to ATR Abhinandan Varthaman begins a new flight as Commercial Pilot
From the roar of a MiG-21 Bison in a combat mission to the measured routine of a passenger aircraft cockpit, Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman is preparing for a dramatically different second innings in the skies. The decorated Indian Air Force fighter pilot has joined regional airline FLY91 as a
dailypioneer.com
Defence Acquisition Council to meet tomorrow: From Sukhoi-30 to SDRs - Key proposals on the table
India’s DAC is set to consider Sukhoi-30 overhauls and 2,500 SDRs amid a fighter shortage, while Navy radar, destroyer and marine turbine proposals also advance.
www.etnownews.com
Decisions to overhaul about 40 Sukhoi-30 fighters of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and to acquire 2,500 Software Defined Radios (SDR) -- a Rs 5000 crore deal, will be before the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) when it meets tomorrow.
The DAC, headed by defence minister Rajnath Singh, is expected to clear the overhaul, after which the Sukhoi-30 fighters will get another 15-20 years of flying capability.
Till there is a regular supply of GE-404 engines, Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) will not be able to supply Tejas fighters and the deal for 114 additional Rafale fighters is still being negotiated. Russia has also offered India the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter, but so far there has been no decision on it.
The DAC, headed by defence minister Rajnath Singh, is expected to clear the overhaul, after which the Sukhoi-30 fighters will get another 15-20 years of flying capability.
Till there is a regular supply of GE-404 engines, Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) will not be able to supply Tejas fighters and the deal for 114 additional Rafale fighters is still being negotiated. Russia has also offered India the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter, but so far there has been no decision on it.
Radars for the Navy
The DAC, which also includes the chief of defence staff, the three service and the defence secretary, are looking at requests for new radars for the Navy’s Talwar-class frigates and importantly, Air Route Surveillance Radars (ARSA) for naval stations across the country. The Navy is also looking for New Generation Destroyers, and four are being planned. The proposal has cleared the Defence Procurement Board and will get to the DAC shortly.
The ARSA radars will help the Navy to keep closer track of all military and civilian aircraft and also, large UAVs. The will eventually be in all major land stations in India. Also on the agenda are 24-28 MW marine gas turbines for the Navy.
The ARSA radars will help the Navy to keep closer track of all military and civilian aircraft and also, large UAVs. The will eventually be in all major land stations in India. Also on the agenda are 24-28 MW marine gas turbines for the Navy.
Has IAF received these, or it was not formulated and are these 12 Su 30 MKI under Super Sukhoi or just emergency procurement?
militarywatchmagazine.com
India to Make Emergency Purchases of 12 Su-30MKI and 21 MiG-29 Fighters to Counter China
The Indian Defence Ministry announced plans on June 18th to make emergency purchases of 12 Su-30MKI and 21 MiG-29 twin engine multirole fighters from Russia, which will add to the sizeable fleets of…
Su-30 will be delivered in 2-3 years time. Maybe not under Super Sukhoi program, but could be under proposed Russian upgrade.
Okay here is some news.
India Restarts russian-Origin Su-30MKI Fighter Production, Plans to Build 12 Aircraft in Five Years | Defense Express
India built 222 russian Su-30MKI fighters by 2020 and is now restarting production to help fill gaps in its own fighter fleet
en.defence-ua.com
Good initiative, but it has to be managed very carefully. Specially when civilian airspace is open and to ID friend or foe.
F-35 set to debut in IAF’s Tarang Shakti exercise
This is the first time the F-35 stealth fighter is taking part in an exercise in the country, the officials said. To be sure, the aircraft took part in the Aero India show in Bengaluru in 2025 and 2023 | India News
www.hindustantimes.com
The US Air Force is expected to deploy its F-35 fifth-generation fighter aircraft during Tarang Shakti, IAF’s largest multilateral air combat exercise to be held in Jodhpur from September 26 to October 12, officials aware of the development said on Monday.
This is the first time the F-35 stealth fighter is taking part in an exercise in the country, the officials said. To be sure, the aircraft took part in the Aero India show in Bengaluru in 2025 and 2023.
Nine global air forces, including those of France, Germany, Greece, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, have confirmed their participation in the exercise, while 30 countries will take part as observers. Other aircraft taking part in the air drills include F-16s, F-18s, Rafales and A400 military transport aircraft.
All major IAF assets, including fighter jets such as Sukhoi-30s, Mirage-2000s, and the Tejas light combat aircraft, along with transport aircraft, helicopters, special operations planes, mid-air refuellers and airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft, will participate in the exercise.
“Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 returns as India’s premier multinational air exercise, bringing global Air Forces together for high-octane joint tactical maneuvers,” the IAF wrote on X on Monday. Tarang Shakti 2026 will be held in one phase, in contrast to the maiden edition of the exercise held in 2024 in two legs—at the Sulur and Jodhpur airbases.
The 2024 edition of the drills involved around 80 Indian and foreign aircraft. The exercise’s mission profile included beyond-visual-range combat missions, large force engagements, air mobility operations, dynamic targeting, low-light operations, and high-value aerial asset protection. The first phase involved 205 sorties by different types of aircraft, while more than 800 sorties were clocked in the second and final phase.