India Plans Major Upgrade of Sukhoi-30MKI Fleet with Advanced Avionics and Indigenous Systems

New Delhi, June 28, 2025 — India is set to undertake a significant upgrade of its fleet of Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets, integrating advanced avionics, modern radars, and indigenous systems, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh confirmed following discussions with his Russian counterpart, Andrey Belousov.

The proposed upgrade, aimed at enhancing the operational capabilities of the Indian Air Force (IAF), will involve 78 per cent indigenous content, a major push toward self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

Singh met Belousov on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, China, where both leaders held wide-ranging discussions on geopolitical developments, cross-border terrorism, and ongoing defence cooperation.

India operates approximately 260 Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets, which recently played a pivotal role in Operation Sindoor, including the deployment of the air-launched BrahMos missile against targets in Pakistan on May 10.

“The discussions covered critical areas such as air defence, air-to-air missiles, modern capabilities, upgrades of air platforms, and procurement of essential military hardware on expeditious timelines,” the Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Friday.

Among the key highlights of the upgrade plan is the potential replacement of the current AL-31 engines on the Sukhoi-30MKI with the more powerful AL-41 engines, which power Russia’s latest stealth fighter, the Sukhoi-57. Russia offered the AL-41 engines for India’s fleet modernization earlier this year during Aero India in Bengaluru.

The upgrade will include the integration of Indian-made systems such as the DRDO-developed Uttam Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, significantly improving detection and tracking capabilities. The aircraft will also feature a fully digital glass cockpit with large touchscreens for enhanced pilot situational awareness and a new mission computer to support upgraded avionics.

The overhaul is expected to boost indigenous manufacturing, with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)—which license-produces the Sukhoi-30MKI in India—set to sign a work-share contract for the modernization project.

During their meeting, Defence Minister Belousov reaffirmed the enduring Indo-Russian defence partnership and expressed solidarity with India in the wake of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, on April 22.

The planned modernization underscores India’s strategic goal of enhancing the combat capabilities of its frontline fighter fleet while reducing dependence on foreign suppliers.