India Dual Upgrade Plan Su-30MKI: IAF is thinking of using two different ways to upgrade its Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets. The goal is simple, the Air Force does not want its planes to become weak or old while waiting for full approval from the government for the local “Super Sukhoi” plan.
Right now, India has many Su-30MKI jets. The local upgrade plan will first cover 84 aircraft. But there are still 175 more jets that also need improvements. So the Air Force is also talking with Russia for a second path. This is being done so there is no “capability valley” in the coming years. The upgrades could take ten to fifteen years, and the Air Force does not want to lose strength during this long time.
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Recently, a Russian technical team visited the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited plant in Nashik. This factory has built Su-30MKI jets in India for many years under license. The Russian side may help speed up upgrades for the 175 aircraft not included in the first 84-jet plan.
New Engine and Faster Upgrades
Russia is offering to quickly improve the radar and electronic warfare systems of the jets. One big offer is a new engine called the AL-41F1S. This engine is also used in the Sukhoi Su-57.
This new engine gives about 18% to 20% more thrust compared to the older AL-31FP engine. That means the jet can fly better at high altitudes and may even do “supercruise,” which means flying very fast without using extra fuel burners. But the Air Force is still thinking carefully. Changing engines can cost a lot and may create long term support problems. So they are checking if it is better to keep the old engines or switch to the new ones.
India’s Super Sukhoi Plan
At the same time, India’s own upgrade program is very important. This plan is led by HAL and the Defence Research and Development Organisation. It is part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission, which means building more things inside India.
An important part of this plan is the Virupaksha AESA radar. This radar uses Gallium Nitride technology which will make it mroe powerful.
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| Feature | Legacy N011M Bars (PESA) | Virupaksha AESA (Indigenous) |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Passive Electronically Scanned | Active Electronically Scanned (GaN) |
| Detection Range | Baseline | 1.5x to 1.7x improvement |
| Tracking | Limited simultaneous targets | 64 to 100 targets simultaneously |
| Weight | Approx. 650 kg | Under 300 kg |
The indigenous package also integrates a suite of advanced domestic weaponry, including:
- BrahMos-ER: Supersonic cruise missiles for long-range precision strikes.
- Astra Series: Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles.
- Rudram: Anti-radiation missiles designed to neutralise enemy air defence systems.
Fighter Shortage
There is also pressure because the Air Force does not have enough fighter squadrons. In early 2026, it has about 31 squadrons. But it should have 42. That is a big gap. The Su-30MKI jets make up almost 60% of India’s fighter fleet. So if these jets are not strong and ready, India’s air power will suffer.
India may follow a mixed system, like it did with the MiG-21 Bison upgrade. In that project, some jets were upgraded outside India, and most were upgraded inside the country using special kits.
