Context:
Recently, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced the procurement of 12 Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft and associated equipment and the army has also inducted 100 155mm/52 calibre K9 Vajra-T guns under 2017 contract from South Korea.
More In News:
- The defence ministry inked a ₹13,500-crore contract with Bengaluru-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
- The Indian Air Force (IAF) currently operates a fleet of 260 Su-30 fighter jets.
- An additional 12 Su-30 aircraft have been contracted to replace planes that were lost in accidents, ensuring operational strength and readiness.
- The defence ministry signed a ₹26,000-crore contract with HAL for 240 aero-engines for the IAF’s Su-30s
- The engines will be made with technology transfer from Russia, and by the end of the contract, the engines will have 62.6% indigenous content.
- The K-9 Vajra gun deal is part of the army’s artillery modernization plan, which focuses on improving mobility, precision, range, quick strikes, and survivability.
- This includes equipping regiments with advanced 155mm artillery systems, long-range missiles, precision rockets, and enhanced surveillance for faster target detection and destruction.
About the Su-30MKI fighter Jet:
- It is a multirole combat fighter aircraft jointly developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
| Feature | Details |
| Length | 21.9 meters |
| Height | 6.4 meters |
| Maximum Weight | 38,800 kg |
| Radar System | N011M passive electronically scanned array radar, OLS-30 laser-optical locator, Zhuk AESA (future) |
| Weapon Systems | 30mm Gsh-30-1 cannon, 12 hardpoints, air-to-surface missiles, air-to-air missiles, laser-guided bombs |
| Key Missiles | BrahMos, Kh-29L/T/TYe, Kh-31A/P, Kh-59M, R-27R, R-73, R-77 |
| Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) | Tarang RWR (developed by DRDO) |
| Engine | 2 x Al-31FP turbojet engines (12,500 kgf thrust each) |
| Maximum Speed | Mach 1.9 |
| Rate of Climb | 300 m/s |
| Max Unrefueled Range | 3,000 km |
| Max Range with Refueling | 8,000 km (with two refuels) |