Sukhoi Su-30MKI
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.
| Su-30MKI | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| 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$61 million)[2] |
| Developed from | Sukhoi Su-30 |
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]
Sukhoi Su-30MKI Media
A member of the Indian air force marshals in a Sukhoi Su-30 MKI on the flight line, July 13, here at Lajes Field. The Indian air force is passing through Lajes on their way to participate in Red Flag at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. It is the first time the Indian air force has ever participated at Red Flag or deployed this aircraft to the United States.
IAF Su-30MKI firing Brahmos-ER
IAF Su-30MKIs deployed to the Nellis Air Force Base to participate in the Red Flag 08-4 air combat exercise
Su-30 MKI doing in-flight refueling from Ilyushin Il-78 during Konkan Shakti 21
RAF Typhoon and Su-30MKI during Indradhanush 2015.
Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30MKI
A Sukhoi Su-30MKI of the No. 102 Squadron IAF flying over Lengeri village, Assam, India.
BrahMos missile under Su-30MKI model at MAKS-2009
References
- ↑ Ajay Banerjee (3 August 2014). "Engine rejig to cut Su-30 burnouts". The Tribune. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140804/main4.htm. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
- ↑ Ajai Shukla (31 December 2014). "Rafale in storm clouds, Parrikar says IAF can make do with Sukhoi-30s". Business Standard. http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/rafale-in-storm-clouds-parrikar-says-iaf-can-make-do-with-sukhoi-30s-114123100706_1.html. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
- ↑ MKI stands for Russian Modernizirovannyi Kommercheskiy Indiski (Cyrillic: Модернизированный Коммерческий Индийский), or "Modernized Commercial for India".
- ↑ "Russia conducts first test of fifth-generation Sukhoi - Times of India". The Times of India.
- ↑ "Sukhoi Su-35 (Flanker-E / Super Flanker) Multirole Heavy Combat Fighter Aircraft - Russia". www.militaryfactory.com.
