India acquires 12 new Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets
The Ministry of Defence of India has formalized a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the acquisition of 12 Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft, which HAL produces locally under a Russian license.
The agreement, which includes both the 12 Su-30MKI fighters and the associated equipment, is valued at approximately 13.5 billion rupees (equivalent to USD 159 million), a figure that includes taxes and duties.
Since at least mid-2020, the Indian Air Force (IAF) had been seeking authorization to acquire these new Su-30MKI aircraft. The objective of this acquisition is to maintain the operational capability of its squadrons and replace units lost due to attrition since the model was introduced into service.
See also: India in talks with Russia to produce Sukhoi Su-30 fighter for export
The Indian Ministry of Defence emphasized that the aircraft will have a 62.6% indigenous content, achieved through the local production of multiple components by the national defense industry. However, it has not yet been specified whether the new fighters will correspond to the “base” version currently operated by the IAF or if they will be the Super Su-30MKI, a proposal from HAL that envisions a comprehensive mid-life upgrade of the fleet.
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