India orders hundreds of new engines for Su-30MKI fighters

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — The backbone of India’s fighter jet fleet is the Russian-designed Sukhoi Su-30MKI, and the country recently ordered 240 engines to keep the fleet airborne for years to come.

Following approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security earlier this month, officials signed a deal with state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to supply the so-called AL-31FP engines.

The contract, worth more than 260 billion rupees or US$3.1 billion, will see the first engine handed over to the Indian Air Force (IAF) after a year. All will be delivered within eight years, according to a Ministry of Defence statement, with production of 30 annually.

Made by HAL under Russian license, the engines currently feature local content of 54%. However, the company plans to boost the ratio to 63% by tapping India’s defense manufacturing ecosystem. “This would also increase the indigenous content of repair and overhaul tasks of the aero engines,” said the ministry.

It further stated, “These aero engines will be manufactured by the Koraput Division of HAL, and are expected to fulfill the needs of the Indian Air Force to sustain the operational capability of the Su-30 fleet for the defense preparedness of the country.”

Notably, India chose to stick with AL-31FP engines, even as Russia is upgrading its Su-30SM fighters with the newer and more powerful AL-41FS.

Incidentally, the IAF is buying twelve new Su-30MKIs from HAL for $1.3 billion to make up for losses. This purchase was approved in September 2023.

The air service has approximately 260 Su-30MKIs, six of which traveled to Exercise Pitch Black 2024 in Australia in July. The Indian detachment commander, Group Captain Ajay Rathi, praised the platform: “With its advanced avionics, thrust vectoring and superior payload capacity, the aircraft is capable of undertaking offensive and defensive missions, to execute strategic and tactical operations.”

He described its key capabilities as its long range, maneuverability, firepower and effectiveness in contested environments.

Last November, India’s Defence Acquisition Council signed off on a major upgrade program for 84 Su-30MKIs. HAL Chairman and Managing Director C.B. Ananthakrishnan subsequently told The Economic Times: “The upgrade will see significant private-sector participation, with HAL as the lead integrator.”

Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, the Air Force’s top officer, said the project would upgrade 51 aircraft systems, with 78% of the content being indigenous. HAL is responsible for 30 elements, while the private sector will upgrade eight systems.

Once implemented, the upgrade will include installation of the Virupaksha active electronically scanned array radar, a new electronic-warfare system, and a domestic infrared search and track system.