The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is a multirole aircraft jointly developed by Russia's Sukhoi and India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force (IAF). A variant of the Sukhoi Su-30, it is a heavy all-weather, long-range air superiority fighter which can also act as a strike fighter aircraft.
Development of the variant started after India signed a deal with Russia in 2000 to manufacture 140 Su-30 fighter jets.The first Russian-made Su-30MKI variant was accepted into the Indian Air Force in 2002, while the first indigenously assembled Su-30MKI entered service with the IAF in 2004.In 2007, the IAF ordered 40 additional MKIs.As of January 2011, the IAF has 142 MKIs under active service with plans to have an operational fleet of 280 MKIs by 2015.The Su-30MKI is expected to form the backbone of the Indian Air Force's fighter fleet to 2020 and beyond.
The aircraft is tailor-made for Indian specifications and integrates Indian systems and avionics as well as French and Israeli subsystems. It has abilities similar to the Sukhoi Su-35 with which it shares many features and components.
Sukhoi Su-30MKI
Sukhoi Su-30MKI
Sukhoi Su-30MKI
Sukhoi Su-30MKI
Sukhoi Su-30MKI
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