India Set To Finalise Rs 21,000 Cr Deal For Su-30MKI Jet Engines

The Defence Ministry is preparing to finalise a significant deal worth around Rs 21,000 crore to acquire new jet engines for its Su-30MKI fighter aircraft. These engines, to be produced from raw materials in India by Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL), will replace the older engines nearing the end of their service life.

Approximately 230 engines will be ordered in the coming days, with deliveries set to span the next few years, according to media report. The total demand for AL 31 FP engines, which power the entire twin-engine Su-30MKI fleet, is around 950 units.

The engines will be manufactured under a license agreement with a high level of localisation. A substantial portion of the order's value will benefit HAL's established vendor and supplier network.

Alongside the new engines, India plans to upgrade its Su-30MKI fighter jets with entirely new avionics, radars, and electronic warfare systems. The first phase of the upgrade, involving about 100 jets, will be fully executed in India. This modernisation project is valued at over Rs 60,000 crore, with HAL taking the lead in collaboration with the Indian Air Force and other partners.

India had originally ordered 272 Su-30MKI jets from Russia, which form the backbone of its air force. An additional order for 12 jets, worth nearly Rs 11,000 crore, has also been approved to replace aircraft lost in accidents, though the deal is yet to be finalised.

Separately, HAL is nearing a deal with US-based GE Aviation to manufacture advanced jet engines under a technology transfer agreement. These GE 414 engines will power the next generation of Tejas light combat aircraft and other future aircraft programs.