An IAF Sukhoi-30MKI. (File photo)
New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Security, the government’s highest decision making body, has granted approval for the procurement of 240 AL-31FP engines for the Indian Air Force’s Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets at a total cost of ₹26,000 crore, on Monday. For this deal, the IAF will enter a deal with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited under the “Buy (Indian)” category with an aim to boost India’s defence indigenization efforts.
The AL-31FP engines, which power the Sukhoi-30MKI, the backbone of the IAF’s fighter fleet, will be manufactured at the HAL’s Koraput division in Odisha. Notably, these engines will feature more than 54 per cent indigenous content. The inclusion of key indigenized components in the engines is expected to enhance operational reliability and performance, a senior IAF officer told reporters.
The Sukhoi-30MKI, originally developed by Russia’s Sukhoi, is a multirole air superiority fighter, and with 272 units, it constitutes the largest fleet in the IAF. The procurement of these engines is crucial for maintaining the operational readiness and strategic capabilities of this fleet. According to the defence ministry, the delivery of these engines is scheduled to start within a year from now and will take a total of eight years to complete.
This move is seen as a critical step in strengthening India’s defence preparedness, ensuring that the Su-30MKI fleet remains combat-ready for the foreseeable future.
With talks of India exporting the Sukhoi-30 gaining traction in recent days, this deal is also expected to have a positive impact on HAL’s domestic production capabilities and the broader aerospace sector in India.
