The Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC), led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, accepted proposals totaling approximately Rs 45,000 crore, including Rs 11,000 crore for 12 Sukhoi-30MKI fighters of Russian origin that would be produced in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The Rs 11,000 crore project would include the aircraft and related ground systems. 

According to the criterion, the fighter jet would have more than 60% indigenously produced content. The Defence officials claimed that these would be the IAF's most advanced Su-30 MKI aircraft, fitted with numerous Indian armaments and sensors.

The DAC has accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for nine capital acquisition proposals of approx Rs 45,000 crores. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on September 15, news agency ANI reported.

According to the Defence Ministry, all of these purchases will be made from Indian vendors under the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured (IDMM)/Buy (Indian) category, which will significantly assist the Indian defence industry's progress towards realising "Aatmanirbhar Bharat."

The DAC also accorded AoN for proposals of the Indian Air Force which included the Avionic upgradation of Dornier Aircraft to improve the accuracy and reliability of operations.

The Sukhoi-30MKI, a powerful twin-seat air superiority fighter, is the pinnacle of aviation technology. This versatile multirole fighter was originally developed by Russia's Sukhoi and produced under license by India's HAL exclusively for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The Sukhoi-30MKI has been a steadfast participant in several conflicts and military drills since its introduction into the IAF's fleet in 2002.

The nomenclature of the aircraft itself speaks volumes about its capabilities. "SU" signifies Sukhoi, the esteemed manufacturer, while "MKI" stands for "Multirole-K India," eloquently articulating its multifaceted prowess tailored to the specific needs of the Indian Air Force.

The Sukhoi-30MKI is distinguished by its distinctive two-seat layout, which houses a pilot and a co-pilot/weapon systems officer (WSO). During various mission scenarios, this configuration improves situational awareness and evenly distributes the workload.

Over the years, the Sukhoi-30MKI has evolved into a cornerstone of the Indian Air Force's capabilities. This versatile and battle-tested aircraft continues to serve as a stalwart guardian, standing ready to fulfil a multitude of roles and missions. Through various upgrades and adaptations, it remains a potent symbol of aerial dominance in the IAF's inventory.

Image source: India TV