India and Malaysia air force deal: India and Malaysia have agreed to work closely together to help their air forces take better care of their Russian-made SU-30 fighter jets. They have finalized a plan called the “Terms of Reference” (ToR) to set up a special group called the “SU-30 Forum.” This group will help both countries share tips and ideas on how to maintain and repair these advanced fighter planes. Malaysia has one squadron of SU-30s at the Gong Kedak Air Base, while India has the largest fleet of SU-30 MKIs, with over 270 of these jets in its air force.
India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has made many parts and systems for the SU-30MKIs in India itself. Soon, these jets will get upgrades to make them even better. The upgrades, called “Super Sukhoi,” will include new Indian-made technology like advanced radars, electronic warfare systems, and weapons. A contract for these upgrades will be signed next month. The first 84 SU-30MKIs will be upgraded at a cost of ₹63,000 crore.
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According to The Hindu Businessline, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will pay 90% of the cost, and HAL will cover the remaining 10%. Last year, on December 12, the Ministry of Defence also signed a deal with HAL to buy 12 more Sukhoi jets for around ₹13,500 crore.
The SU-30 Forum will allow India to share its knowledge and experience in maintaining these jets with the Royal Malaysian Air Force. This will help Malaysia take better care of its SU-30s.
The plan for the SU-30 Forum was finalized during the 13th meeting of the Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Committee (MIDCOM) in Kuala Lumpur. The meeting was led by India’s Defence Secretary, Rajesh Kumar Singh, and Malaysia’s Secretary General of the Ministry of Defence, Lokman Hakim Bin Ali. During the meeting, Singh talked about how India’s defence industry can work with Malaysian companies and the military to help them modernize and improve their capabilities.
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At the same meeting, both countries also agreed on the Terms of Reference for a new group called the Strategic Affairs Working Group. This group will help both countries work together on defence-related matters and will act as a bridge between the MIDCOM and other smaller committees.
Both India and Malaysia promised to work on new defence projects as part of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This partnership was discussed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Malaysia’s Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the latter’s visit to India in August 2024. They want to strengthen their defence ties and work together on modernizing their armed forces.
