Sukhoi Su-30MKI

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Su-30MKI
An Indian Air Force Su-30MKI
Role Air superiority fighter
National origin Russia / India
Manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (under licence from Sukhoi)
Design group Sukhoi Design Bureau
First flight IAF Su-30МК: 1 July 1997
Su-30MKI: 2000
Introduction 27 September 2002
Status In service
Primary user Indian Air Force
Produced 2000–present
Number built 200 as of August 2014[1]
Unit cost
358 crore (US$47 million)[2]
Developed from Sukhoi Su-30


The Sukhoi Su-30MKI[3](NATO reporting name: Flanker-H) is a fighter plane made by Sukhoi and HAL for the Indian Air Force. It is a version of the Su-30. It first flew in 2000 and entered service in 2002. It is one of the heaviest fighters in the world and can fly very far.

The Indian Air Force plans to have 272 of these planes by 2020. They will form the backbone of Indian Air Force from then.[4]

It is considered a 4++ generation fighter plane and has similar features to the Sukhoi Su-35.[5]

References[change | change source]

  1. Ajay Banerjee (3 August 2014). "Engine rejig to cut Su-30 burnouts". The Tribune. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  2. Ajai Shukla (31 December 2014). "Rafale in storm clouds, Parrikar says IAF can make do with Sukhoi-30s". Business Standard. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  3. MKI stands for Russian Modernizirovannyi Kommercheskiy Indiski (Cyrillic: Модернизированный Коммерческий Индийский), or "Modernized Commercial for India".
  4. "Russia conducts first test of fifth-generation Sukhoi - Times of India". The Times of India.
  5. "Sukhoi Su-35 (Flanker-E / Super Flanker) Multirole Heavy Combat Fighter Aircraft - Russia". www.militaryfactory.com.