The Ministry of Defence has signed a ₹13,500 crore agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the procurement of 12 Su-30MKI fighter jets. The deal is intended to address the shortfall in the Indian Air Force’s fleet caused by the loss of 12 aircraft in accidents over the past two decades.
The new aircraft will feature approximately 62.6% domestically sourced components, with critical parts manufactured by the Indian defense industry, according to a Ministry of Defence post on X.
HAL will produce the aircraft at its Nashik facility, which will undergo upgrades to support the manufacturing process. The new jets will include advanced avionics, electronic warfare systems, and upgraded weaponry to align with the existing fleet of 240 Su-30MKI fighters.
The current fleet is also undergoing an extensive overhaul, which includes fitting 240 upgraded AL-31FP aero engines, aimed at extending their operational life by another 20 years.