via Defense Talk...
After negotiating for more than a year, India has firmed up an order with Russia for the purchase of 42 upgraded Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft to strengthen its aging fleet. An agreement confirming this purchase will be signed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Russia starting Thursday.Read the whole thing but this part has me intrigued...a Sukhoi with 5th gen characteristics???
While the Cabinet Committee on Security had taken a decision on buying 42 additional Sukhoi MKIs last year, negotiations have taken longer because India was also keen to include some of the features found in fifth generation fighter aircraft. Finally, the Russian side agreed to upgrade the SU-30 MKIs to its latest version known as ‘Super Sukhoi’ with additional characteristics.
Makes me think of a Russian Stealth Eagle.
I wonder if its possible? A google search didn't provide much more information except for this article...
Most significantly, the aircraft will be able to carry a heavier weapon load, including the airborne version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, he added.Wow.
Fedorov said the 'Super Sukhoi' will be a potent aircraft similar in features to a fifth generation aircraft. However, he refused to provide specific details of the upgrade, stating that the exact nature of this was still to be decided between the Indian and Russian sides.
Discussions are currently on regarding various aspects of the proposed upgrade, he said.
The Irkut chief did not provide any indication of the cost of the upgrade project. However, going by the general cost trends of similar upgrades, the price could run close to $1 billion.
Meanwhile, HAL is upbeat over its participation in the cutting-edge technology fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) project.
I did a piece on the potency of the SU-34. Now with the Russian Stealth Eagle in the offering its time to get our house in order with a quickness. Add to the mix the BrahMos missile and you've got trouble in a handbag for amphibious shipping.
Every part of our air defense/air supremacy infrastructure needs to be examined. Our air to air missiles, our anti-air and our anti-missile defense systems need to get updated.
I thought it was assumed that the Russians would load up their existing Su series with all the newest goodies - radar, engines, weapons, etc - which will be going into the Pak-fa?
ReplyDeleteAlthough I'm guessing there won't be too much signiture reduction possible in the existing airframe.
ReplyDeleteyou had better insight than me then. i mean we're still building f-18 and f-16 and we're not doing it so i never thought the russians would...i was wrong...
ReplyDeleteIt's just India topping up her SU-30 purchase. This was flagged a while ago. These and the existing 200+ Indian Mki's are getting some Su-35 bits and pieces but any "signature reduction" is along the lines of the Have Glass program applied to the US F-16 fleet. These areand will remain anything but LO?
ReplyDeletePersonally I don't think there's anything great in this. I think they've just had a look at the capability they will be acquiring under MMRCA and have realised what a lemon they bought with the SU-30 and are trying to maximise an already sunk investment.
My bet is the Indian overseas deployments, for exercises etc, will be upgraded M2K Mirages and the MMRCA aircraft. The Indians will realise what junk they've been getting off the Russians and will continue their path away from that as quickly as they can manage...
Aussie Digger,
ReplyDeleteIf you had any clue, you would realise that the SU-30 fulfils an important niche. If they realised it was a lemon, why are they planning to buy up to 270 of those fighters and also upgrade them. The SU-30's long range strike role, would especially important in the nuclear deterrent and cruise missile role. A single Sukhoi can carry up to 3 Taurus missiles (already offered by MBDA)-how many can the Rafale or Eurofighter carry?
So do get an idea of what you are talking about.