ISLAMABAD: The Indian Air Force’s reliance on the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighterjet, long hailed as the backbone of its aerial capabilities, has come underrenewed scrutiny following candid remarks by a prominent defence analyst.Abhijit Iyer-Mitra has pointed out that India acquired approximately 290 ofthese advanced multirole aircraft under agreements promising substantialtechnology transfer from Russia, particularly for critical components suchas engines. However, the failure to receive full proprietary know-how formanufacturing independent engines has left the programme vulnerable,raising questions about strategic dependencies in defence procurement.
The Su-30MKI programme began in the late 1990s with an initial order of 50aircraft directly from Russia, followed by licensed production of theremaining units by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Official recordsindicate a total procurement of 272 aircraft, with additional ordersapproved in recent years to replace losses from crashes. The deal, valuedin billions of dollars, included provisions for full technology transfersigned in December 2000, enabling HAL to assemble the jets in phases fromknocked-down kits to more localised production. Despite these arrangements,the core propulsion system, the AL-31FP turbofan engines withthrust-vectoring capabilities, remains heavily dependent on Russian inputs.
A key point of contention revolves around the engine technology. WhileHAL’s Koraput division has manufactured and overhauled hundreds of AL-31FPengines under license, producing over 500 units and assembling them withincreasing indigenous content reaching around 54 per cent in recentcontracts, the complete mastery of high-temperature metallurgy, turbineblade design, and critical hot-section components has not been fullytransferred. Recent contracts worth billions of rupees for 240 additionalengines highlight ongoing needs for Russian collaboration, even as Indiaseeks to extend the fleet’s life through upgrades. This dependency hasexposed vulnerabilities, particularly amid global supply chain disruptionsand geopolitical pressures.
The analyst’s observation underscores a broader reality: even if Russia haddelivered comprehensive technology transfer, India’s aerospace industrylacks the full industrial capacity to produce such sophisticated enginesdomestically from scratch. The long-delayed Kaveri engine project,initiated by the Defence Research and Development Organisation in the 1980sto power indigenous fighters like the Tejas, has faced persistentchallenges in achieving required thrust levels, reliability, andafterburner performance. Despite recent progress, including high-altitudetesting in Russia and preparations for inflight evaluations, the programmehas yet to yield an operational fighter-grade engine, forcing continuedreliance on foreign suppliers.
This situation has prompted introspection within India’s defenceestablishment about past procurement strategies. A 2015 Comptroller andAuditor General report criticised the limited indigenisation in theSu-30MKI assembly, noting that local content fell short of targets,resulting in higher costs for domestically produced units compared toimported ones. The absence of deeper transfer has restricted India’sability to independently upgrade or export the platform, unlike othernations that pursued alternative approaches to similar technology. Recentdiscussions with Russia focus on enhanced collaboration, includingpotential licensed production of advanced variants, to address these gaps.
Read Top Stories
The Su-30MKI continues to serve effectively, equipping over a dozensquadrons and integrating indigenous systems such as missiles and radars.Ongoing modernisation efforts under the Super Sukhoi programme aim toincorporate Uttam AESA radars and other local technologies, targetingextended service life beyond 2055. However, the persistent enginebottleneck illustrates the complexities of achieving self-reliance inhigh-technology defence sectors, where foundational capabilities inmaterials science and precision manufacturing remain underdeveloped.
Experts argue that the experience with the Su-30MKI serves as a cautionarytale for future deals, emphasising the need for enforceable technologytransfer clauses, including source codes and critical processes. As Indiapursues ambitious projects like the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, thelessons from this programme highlight the interplay between internationalpartnerships and domestic capacity building in securing long-term strategicautonomy.
ogimageimage-name