India to add to Su-30MKI fleet with new order
India has approved the assembly of a dozen additional Su-30MKI fighters, to make up for attritional losses. (Photo: Gordon Arthur)
As the Indian Air Force (IAF) waits to fill gaps in its fighter inventory with indigenous LCA Mk1As, in the interim it is buying 12 Su-30MKI fighters to replace crashed examples.
This pending aircraft procurement valued at $1.3 billion – the biggest since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war – was given acceptance of necessity by the Defence Acquisition Council in mid-September, along with eight other projects valued at $5.9 billion.
The Su-MKIs will be license-built by HAL at its Nashik plant, the same facility where LCA Mk1As will be manufactured.
Delivery is scheduled within a year of signing
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