India to acquire HAL-assembled Su-30MKI, additional Russian MiG-29 fighters

An upgraded MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter of the IAF. Photo c/o Russian Aircraft Corp.

The Indian Ministry of Defence (MOD) confirmed that it approved a INR181.48 billion (US$2.43 billion) plan to procure 12 new Sukhoi Su-30MKI and 21 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 fighters for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

This is in line with the plan to increase military preparedness as India and China face-off in their common borders along the Himalayan Line of Actual Control. 

The IAF is also planning to close the gap on their target to have more than 40 operational fighter squadrons to meet threats from China and Pakistan.

The Sukhoi Su-30MKI will be worth INR107.3 billion ((US$1.43 billion) and will be built under license by Indian aerospace company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to replace the same number of aircraft that the IAF lost over the years due to different circumstances. No new fighter squadron will be stood up from these aircraft.

HAL has pushed the Indian government to order additional Sukhoi Su-30MKI aircraft to allow the production lines to be open.

Another 21 units of MiG-29 fighters are to be acquired from Russia under a INR74.18 billion (US$1 billion) program, which will add to the 59 MiG-29 fighters the IAF has been using since 1986. These aircraft were offered at a lower cost due to the aircraft already partially built units from a previously-cancelled order, and would be upgraded to IAF-standard MiG-29M variant as part of the program.

It is expected to replace a squadron of MiG-21 Bison fighters, which are being programmed for retirement in the next couple of years. Delivery is expected to be faster than usual.


[1] Jane’s
[2] The Economic Times India
[3] Zee News