Why Su-30 MKI from India More Expensive than Russian-Made Su-30 ?

 09 Agustus 2020

Su-30 MKI with Brahmos missile (photo : Financial Express)

According to Eurasia Times, the Su-30MKI fighter aircraft was developed by Russian company Sukhoi and manufactured under license at India's Hindustan Airlines (HAL), much more expensive than Su -30 made in Russia or Su-30MKK of China.

The Indian government claims that the higher cost of the Su-30MKI compared to China's Su-30MKK and the Russian Su-30 is due to factors such as differences in specifications, small production scale. and India must pay for the technology transfer license fee.

However, the high cost of the Su-30MKI fighter , manufactured by Hindustan Airlines Limited (HAL), has also been suspected of being transferred by the Indian Parliament.

In response to these doubts, Subhash Bamley, an Indian Defense Ministry official said that the main reason for the higher cost of the Su-30MKI was due to the specifications of the Russian Su-30 and the Su-30MKI of India is not the same. The above comparison may not be appropriate.

HAL Aviation Company currently produces Su-30MKI, estimated cost per Su-30MKI is about 62 million USD. Meanwhile, the price of the Russian-made Su-30 is about 40 million USD, so the Su-30MKI is 22 million USD higher than the Russian Su-30.

Su-30MKI fires Astra BVR missile (photo : Economic Times)

In response to lawmakers' questions, Mr. Bamley stated that the Su-30MKI fighters manufactured in India had some modifications to enhance combat performance, to meet the requirements of No. Indian army.

Since the output of India's Su-30MKI is lower than that of the Russian Su-30, the advantage of size also causes the price of Indian fighter aircraft higher. Furthermore, the production of Su-30MKI in India also includes the payment of the license fee for Russia.

The Indian company HAL imports raw materials and special components from Russia and assembles them at the Su-30MKI manufacturing plant in Nashik, the Indian state of Maharashtra.

The Ministry of Defense also said that the manufacture of Su-30MKI in India also gives the country a very advanced technology, which is a step towards the localization of weapons and equipment.

Self-made domestically will reduce the production cost of fighter jets, reduce dependence on foreign equipment manufacturers and shorten delivery times, greatly supporting the Indian Air Force.

The Su-30MKI fighter started to be developed at the request of the Indian Air Force in 1995. Sukhoi and the Irkutsk Aircraft Manufacturing Association (now Irkutsk) are responsible for the design and manufacture of the aircraft. From 1995 to 1998, Sukhoi built two Su-30MKI prototypes for flight testing.

Su-30MKI fully loaded (photo : Reddit)

The first prototype flew in a test flight in July 1997, mass production of the Su-30MKI began at the Irkutsk plant in 2000. The mass-produced Su-30MKI completed its maiden flight in November 2000. In October 2000, India signed a memorandum of understanding with Russia to begin production of the Su-30MKI at a HAL factory in India.

The Indian version of Su-30MKI is equipped with Israel's more advanced electronic air and electronic coping systems, making it different from the standard Russian Su-30 or China's Su-30MKK. In addition, the Su-30MKI can also carry a variety of missiles, including the R73, R77 air-to-air missiles and Brahmos cruise missiles produced by the Russia-India joint venture.

In addition, the Indian-made Astra long-range air-to-air missile has expanded the combat range of the Su-30MKI, making it more dangerous than ever. Su-30MKI is also equipped with thrust vector engine, so it is more maneuverable than Su-30MKK of China.

The Indian Air Force currently has 260 Su-30MKIs and last month, amid border tensions with China, India ordered 12 more Su-30MKIs from Russia; and the number Su-30MKI is the backbone of the Indian Air Force.

Compared to the PLAAF's Su-30MKK, the Indian Su-30MKI is more maneuverable; compared to Russia's Su-30, India's Su-30MKI has better weapons. Therefore, it is easy to understand why India's Su-30MKI price is higher than that of Russia and China.

(KienThuc)