Indian Air Force issues tender to HAL for buying 12 Su-30 MKI fighter jets
22 Nov 2023 23:55:00
The Indian Air Force has launched a tender to the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the procurement of 12 upgraded Su-30MKI fighter planes in an effort to increase squadron strength.
"Recently, a tender has been issued to the HAL for buying the 12 Su-30MKI fighters, which will be manufactured in India by the HAL in partnership with the Russian original equipment manufacturers," a source in the defense industry informed ANI.
The public sector corporation is anticipated to reply to the tender by next month with project specifications and other information, they added.
The aircraft would have a high amount of indigenous content to meet the requirements of the Indian Air Force, in accordance with the government's Aatmanirbhar policy in the defense industry.
"These would be one of the modern Su-30 MKI aircraft of the IAF, equipped with multiple Indian weapons and sensors," added the source.
The Indian Air Force is also embarking on an ambitious initiative to update its fleet of Sukhoi-30 fighters, which will see 84 of its jets outfitted with indigenous armament systems, better radars, and avionics.
"The project is planned to be completed indigenously with the HAL, and it will also position us well for the upgrade of similar aircraft in foreign countries," they stated.
India possesses a fleet of 272 Su-30 fighter planes, which it has acquired in several tranches since the early 2000s.
The Indian Air Force is also embarking on an ambitious initiative to update its fleet of Sukhoi-30 fighters, which will see 84 of its jets outfitted with indigenous armament systems, better radars, and avionics.
"The project is planned to be completed indigenously with the HAL, and it will also position us well for the upgrade of similar aircraft in foreign countries," they stated.
India possesses a fleet of 272 Su-30 fighter planes, which it has acquired in several tranches since the early 2000s.
The planes have already been modified with Indian equipment and weaponry like as the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and the Astra air-to-air missile.
Air head Marshal VR Chaudhari, the head of the Indian Air Force, recently declared that the BrahMos supersonic missile has 'galvanised and substantially boosted' the Indian Air Force's firepower and reinforced the nation's ability to defend itself in any fight.
He stated that a powerful combination of a BrahMoS missile on the Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets is being developed, and that smaller versions of the next-generation BrahMos missiles are being created for installation to other combat aircraft.
Su-30s have participated in a variety of drills and operations, including the Balakot air strikes and the current military standoff with the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
Source : ANI