Su-30MKI Upgrade: On June 26, 2025, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met Russia’s Defence Minister Andrey Belousov in Qingdao, China. The two leaders had this important talk during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting. Their meeting comes at a time when India is looking to speed up its defence plans, especially after Operation Sindoor, which showed the urgent need for better air defence and stronger missile systems. The official statement about the meeting said it was “one of the most important recent meetings between the leaders of the two nations,” which shows how serious the discussion was.
The Su-30MKI has been an important fighter jet for the Indian Air Force for many years. Since it joined service, it has used older computer systems made by DARE, like the 32-bit mission computer from 1998. This system controls flight and mission tasks but is now too slow and outdated, especially when compared to newer fighter jets. The software was written in an old programming language and can no longer keep up with modern needs.
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What is DFCC?
To fix this, a big upgrade called the “Super-30” program is bringing in a brand-new flight control computer, called the DFCC. This new system is much more powerful and runs on a 64-bit setup, similar to what’s used in advanced jets like the Tejas Mk1 and Mk2. It works faster, handles more data, and makes the jet smarter and more ready for today’s air battles.
Key features of the new DFCC Include:
- Quadraplex PowerPC Processor: The 64-bit architecture provides enhanced computational throughput, enabling faster and more complex mission-oriented computations.
- High-Speed Autonomous State Machine-Based I/O Controller: This ensures seamless integration and management of avionics systems, improving response times and reliability
- DO-178C Level-A Safety Compliance. The onboard software adheres to the highest safety standards, ensuring robust performance in critical mission scenarios.
- Superior Performance: The new DFCC is designed to outperform the DFCC developed for the Tejas Mk1A and Mk2, making the Su-30MKI’s avionics suite one of the most advanced in its class.
The new DFCC upgrade will make the Su-30MKI much stronger and smarter in battle. This new mission computer helps the jet work better with modern radar, smart weapons, and electronic warfare systems. It keeps the jet ready for air fights, ground strikes, and electronic missions.
With its new 64-bit computer system, the Su-30MKI will become better than many other jets in its class, including newer Russian models and others in the region. It will process data faster, manage flights better, and handle problems more smoothly, making it more powerful and reliable in tough missions reported IDRW.
DARE, the Indian team behind this upgrade, has a strong background in building advanced computer systems for other fighter jets too, like mission computers, radar systems, and display units.
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Russia-India defence Partnership
According to Russia’s defence exporter, Rosoboronexport, these joint efforts help free up space in Russia’s own defence factories and let both countries become stronger partners. Russia also said that the world is moving from just selling weapons to working together on making them. accordign to The EuroAsian Times, they said technology-sharing will soon make up 40% of global military business by 2030, which is double what it is now. India and Russia have already worked together a lot in this area, and Russia’s biggest tech cooperation has been with India.
The Defence Acquisition Council gave its approval in November 2023 to begin this big project. HAL will lead the upgrade process with support from the Indian Air Force and other local partners. The changes will come in two main steps. First, they will add new radar and electronic systems. Then they will work on better flight control and mission systems.
Virupaksha radar
One of the most exciting parts of this plan is the new Virupaksha radar. This is a locally-made radar that will help pilots spot and track enemy targets from much farther away. The radar uses new technology called GaN modules and may detect a 1 square meter object up to 600 km away. It can also handle electronic attacks and follow many targets at once. India is also adding a new search and tracking system using infrared, which will help the jet lock onto enemies even if they try to hide from radar. The upgraded aircraft will also carry a brand-new electronic warfare system that can jam enemy signals and protect itself from attacks.
