Amid reports that the Indian Air Force (IAF) could be looking at Russia's fifth-generation Sukhoi-57 as an interim measure to address the critical shortage of fighter squadrons the force is facing, reports have emerged that the IAF is considering a parallel route to upgrade a section of its Su-30MKI fighter jet fleet. The report comes even as the IAF is awaiting clearance from the prime minister-led Cabinet Committee on Security for the upgrade of the Russian fighters under the 'Super Sukhoi' programme.
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Under the 'Super Sukhoi' programme, or 'Su-30MKI upgrade', the fighter jets, which were inducted into the force in 2002, are to be updated with new radars, IR sensors, EWS, and avionics. The upgrades, aimed at sustaining the operational capability of the Su-30 fleet and strengthening the country's defence preparedness, are expected to extend the operational life of the fighter jets until 2055.
According to a report by The New Indian Express, as the upgrade under the 'Super Sukhoi' programme, which would be led by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), may take at least seven years from the time of approval, the IAF is considering a parallel track for the Su-30MKI fleet of nearly 175 aircraft, possibly modeled on the MiG-21 Bison upgrade.
“Relying solely on the indigenous upgrade could push timelines well into the next decade. A parallel track is therefore being considered to ensure operational readiness is not affected,” TNIE quoted a source in the defence establishment as saying.
It has also been pointed out that as the 'Super Sukhoi' upgrade is limited to 84 jets, a need has been felt for exploring a parallel route for upgrading the remaining fleet of nearly 175 jets.
According to the report, the upgrades could be similar to the MiG-21 Bison upgrade model. Under this model, a few of the fighters were upgraded in Russia by Sokol Aircraft Plant, based in Nizhny Novgorod, and the remaining were upgraded in India with the use of knockdown kits supplied by Russia.
"The idea is to address the squadron crunch and avoid a capability gap, especially as the IAF looks to maintain adequate 4.5-generation capability amid a potential two-front threat,” TNIE quoted the source as saying.