India clears Rs 15,000 crore Sukhoi deal

The ongoing procurement of 126MMRCA for the Indian Air Force may not be shaping up as desired by the IAF, but in a major boost to its capability, the government has cleared the Rs 15,000 crore deal for acquiring additional 42 Sukhoi-30MkI aircraft.

Domain-B reports that the Cabinet Committee on Security may have sanctioned this fresh purchase sometime early this month. The additional 42 Sukhoi-30MkI fighter aircrafts will be the upgraded ‘super’ variant of the aircraft. The new Super variant will be capable of carrying the BrahMos cruise missile and also the Nirbhay cruise missile which is under development.

Xinhua reports that the 42 Su-30MKI would be delivered to the Indian Air Force around 2015. The total number of the Indian Air Force's Su-30s would rise to 272 by 2018, becoming the largest type in the IAF's fighter family.

Times of India reports that the initial contract was for 50 fighters, at US$1.46 billion. Over the years, the numbers kept increasing. In 2000, the government contracted the licensed production of 140 of these highly advanced fighters by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Then another 40 were added to the contract. However, owing to the crash of two Sukhoi-30MkI, the order was enhanced to 42 aircrafts.

The procurement of 42 more aircrafts has also been necessitated due to the delays in the current procurement process of 126 MMRCA, inability of DPSUs to complete the development of Tejas - Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and the decision of the government to phase out the MiG-21s by 2018.