Sukhoi Su-30MKI

While the exact numbers are not known, IAF sources have explained that the asking price for an upgrade is too high because it will involve a complete revamp and not just a simple extension of life.

theprint.in

Russian defence industry team to visit India soon for talks on upgrading IAF’s Sukhoi fleet

Upgrades would include more better radar & integration of electronic warfare abilities. Russia also hopeful of inking deal with India to supply 12 more Su-30 MKIs and 21 MiG-29s.
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Sathya said:
While the exact numbers are not known, IAF sources have explained that the asking price for an upgrade is too high because it will involve a complete revamp and not just a simple extension of life.

theprint.in

Russian defence industry team to visit India soon for talks on upgrading IAF’s Sukhoi fleet

Upgrades would include more better radar & integration of electronic warfare abilities. Russia also hopeful of inking deal with India to supply 12 more Su-30 MKIs and 21 MiG-29s.
theprint.in theprint.in
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Apparently the purchase of the 21 MiG-29s & 12 MKIs will happen as we're retiring one squadron of Mig-29s by 2030 or thereabouts. In all likelihood it'd happen next year. Beyond that everything else is in the air & unlikely to happen.

Just here after watching another episode of Indigenous Appreciation Hour by S Jha. He claims IAF not inclined to go in for engine upgradation or replacement as it'd cost a bomb & it's not needed as even with the current engine, enough power is generated to run an Uttam AESA radar along with a Growler like configuration on the MKI.

I guess the Russians are aware of this. What you're seeing is formalities being observed by GoI / MoD / HAL / IAF to keep an old partner in good humour.
 
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marich01 said:
Finally some very good capabilities being added to su-30

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This person is not always accurate.

We have certain number of ASRAAM and Python 5 systems in our inventory. They won't be standard systems for Su30.
 
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Ankit Kumar said:
This person is not always accurate.

We have certain number of ASRAAM and Python 5 systems in our inventory. They won't be standard systems for Su30.
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Imo IAF wants to standardise multiple weapons pack on its fleet. This move of integrating different aam weapons was definitely something IAf gave priority. Just not sure if we can do it all without Russia/EU makers permission, I guess not?

Btw saw HAL got patent in some SDR related stuff.

 
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marich01 said:
Imo IAF wants to standardise multiple weapons pack on its fleet. This move of integrating different aam weapons was definitely something IAf gave priority. Just not sure if we can do it all without Russia/EU makers permission, I guess not?

Btw saw HAL got patent in some SDR related stuff.

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Things like ASRAAM and MICA are extremely costly items.

Astra MK1/MK2 and ASTRA IR will be standard across all aircrafts.
 
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Hydra said:
I think Astra IR is not going to be a close range weapons, instead it will substitute Astra mk1.
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The cost of European and Israeli CCM is way too high to be procured in a desired number of between 2000-2500 units. A local alternative is the only option.

It can be a R73 knock off with indigenous seeker and some Israeli tricks. But it needs to be local.
 
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IAF has had so may amazing planes over the years, but nothing IMO touches the mighty Super Flanker aka SU-30 MKI(both in looks and combat potential). Very hard to believe that it was India and not US or UK or France or Germany or Russia which inducted a thrust vectored super fighter into active service in 2002. Raptor was formally inducted only in 2005, IMO.

With new digital RWR, DCMAWS, i-derby ER, Astra 2 and 3 along with multiple other upgrades it shall continue to rule despite the anvil of new "discreet" birds at home and in vicinity.

After Swift Retort a lot of Indians seem to have lost faith, which in my view is extremely sad.
 
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Smart move by IAF. Project Navchakshu already is trying to implement SPECTRA like EW suite on our Flanker. Now with French and Israeli AESA radar we can test MKI's digital RWR against their LPI modes. If MKI can intercept then it means that no AESA would be able to detect/track it from long ranges. SAP-518 aka Khibiny is extremely good. Our SPJ is going to be even better. Good luck trying to take down upgraded MKI with long range radar guided missiles.

Also if Project Ganga goes through we may end up improving both dry and wet thrust of Al31FP along with TBO and service life.

The prospects of upgradation of MKI are huge. Only possible in such a large airframe. Also with new age RAM we can cut the RCS extremely low. Some old reports say 0.5m2/1m2 clean frontal RCS with RAM and 3m2 average. May be they can reduce it even more with ATA load. Lets see......

Also I forgot about new age QWIP based broadband/dual band IRST that we're developing. It shall allow tracking of even VLO fighters from long ranges.

The Tejas project has proved a boon for India. Without project Tejas we would not have been able to make MKI so potent, in present or future.
 
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marich01 said:
Possible SuSukhoi upgrade

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UVMAWS? Isn't it supposed to be IR based DCMAWS? I certainly think and hope so.
 
Ankit Kumar said:
Yep. DC MAWS of DRDO only. Haven't seen any concrete movement on the UV based one. DC MAWS, improved RWR and hopefully a local substitute for EL8222, should do the trick for interim.
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Yup, UV MAWS is best for Helicopters. For fighter planes dual band IR MAWS is by far the best. MKI with all these improvement shall be a beast once again.
 
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Rajput Lion said:
Yup, UV MAWS is best for Helicopters. For fighter planes dual band IR MAWS is by far the best. MKI with all these improvement shall be a beast once again.
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The Tarang RWR has now been started to be replaced by the newer DRDO RWR, fully digital one. Squadron by squadron.

And Astra Integration happening squadron by squadron. So the upgrades have started in patches.
 
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Ankit Kumar said:
The Tarang RWR has now been started to be replaced by the newer DRDO RWR, fully digital one. Squadron by squadron.

And Astra Integration happening squadron by squadron. So the upgrades have started in patches.
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Fully digital RWR is now a necessity rather than a luxury with the proliferation of AESA LPI radars. Even Pakistanis have now fighters JF17 and J10C with AESA radars.

Also we must note that PL15 has got an AESA seeker as well. Without Digital RWR, survivability could be extremely tough in today's dense battlefields.
 
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