Su 30 MKI, still the champion?

Su 30 MKI, An Indo-Russian variant of the much dreaded Russian flanker, was introduced in south asia in the early 2000. MKI, a beast of a strike platform with its massive N011 Bars Pesa radar mated to R77 AE and PD BVRAAM, a thrust to weight ratio close to 1.2, it massive A2G and maritime strike ordinance and it’s incredible range of 3000 Kms. Before the MKI came to the scene IAF’s primary air superiority platform was the Mig29M and the Mirage 2000 platforms, both comparable to the F16’s in the neighborhood,  but outclassed by the SU27’s in the PLAAF armory. MKI changed this equation, although with similar configuration of SU30 in the Chinese inventory, the chinese variants lacked  quite a few features like the Litening III targeting pods, canards, French and Israeli Avionics as the Su30MKI. The success story of the MKI has been such that even the Russian air force, ordered the SU30SM variant that closely resembles the MKI configuration. Malaysia and Algeria followed suit by ordering derivatives of the Su 30 MKI.


Pakistan has had its military doctrine directly based on India’s capabilities, whereas in China’s case, it has stayed away from any overt confrontational doctrine with India but maintaining a close awareness of IAF’s capabilities. The new platforms introduced by Pakistani Air force, to meet the challenges of maintaining minimum credible defense against India and combat obsolescence of its fleet was in a twofold strategy. F16 Blk52 variants were introduced as deterrence against technologically advanced platforms of the IAF. To combat obsolescence of its A5 Fantan, Mirage III/V and F7 (Mig21 Chinese variants), PAF introduced the FC1/JF17 aircraft developed by China as an export platform. China on the other hand developed their own single engine multirole aircraft J10, for combating the obsolescence of their own fleet. China also license produced J11 variant of SU27 be the primary long range multirole strike aircraft.

So how do these aircrafts match up against the SU 30 MKI of the IAF? Although F16 BLK52 and J10 both are quite capable aircraft, neither of them have the physical range or the radar capability to surpass the MKI, the payload on both of these aircraft is low compared to the MKI, and MKI also outshines both of these aircraft in supersonic and subsonic aerodynamic performance. The J11 and it’s naval cousin the J15 are of comparable configuration, but have the similar configuration to Su27’s lack the avionics and ordinance advantage that the MKI has over the Chinese flanker platforms. 

Super30 upgrade: Su 30 MKI in the IAF fleet are slated for the upgrades and will soon see structural upgrades for 50 airframes to accommodate the Brahmos supersonic ALCM. With air launched mode the Brahmos range will increase from it’s current 290 km to around 400 km. IAF is also testing Astra I and Astra II all aspect beyond visual range missile. IAF has also issued request for information for Brimstone ALCM and Meteor BVR for testing and evaluation.

With the current threat perceptions around the Indian subcontinent, the SU30MKI’s won’t be displaced in its stature for quite a few coming years. But within another decade China will deploy their 5^th generation strike platform J20, and most likely exports J31 to Pakistan, that is when SU 30 MKI is  most likely to be displaced from it’s throne.