The Security Committee of the Indian Cabinet approved the proposed procurement of 240 AL-31FP engines for Indian Air Force (IAF) Su-30MKI aircrafts from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), at a cost of over 26 billion rupees (just over USD 3 billion). Delivery of these engines will begin in one year and will be completed over a period of eight years.
More than 54% of the engine components are manufactured in India, which produces them locally at HAL’s Koraput division, under Russian license from the United Engine Corporation.
“The Su-30 MKI is one of the most powerful and strategically important fleets of the IAF. The supply of these aero engines by HAL will meet the maintenance requirements of the IAF fleet to continue its unhindered operations and strengthen the country’s defensive preparedness,” the Indian Ministry of Defense stressed in the statement.
Su-30MKI, the backbone of the Indian Air Force
Currently, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has a substantial fleet of 259 Sukhoi-30MKI jets, having received 40 units directly from Russia, while the remaining 222 fighters were manufactured locally by HAL. To maintain the strength of its squadrons and replenish attrition losses suffered since the model entered service, the budget was approved in September 2023 for the purchase of another 12 Su-30 MKIs.
The newly acquired engines will enable the re-engining of approximately half of the IAF’s Su-30MKI fleet. This is standard practice in the aviation industry; fighter jets typically undergo engine replacements 2-3 times throughout their 30-40 year lifespan. However, as newer aviation engines with extended service life become available, this frequency is expected to decline.
See also: India in talks with Russia to produce Sukhoi Su-30 fighter for export
However, the demand for AL-31FP engines in Indian Sukhois may diminish in the coming years due to the planned modernization of 84 Su-30MKI fighters (unofficially dubbed Super Su-30MKI). This upgrade will involve replacing the current powerplant with a newer, more powerful engine, likely the AL-41F-1S used in the Su-35S. Additional enhancements include an AESA radar, an advanced IRST, and upgraded avionics, along with new domestically developed weaponry. The aim is to sustain the IAF’s Su-30MKI fleet as a potent and relevant force well into the 2050s.
