Rocketing off the active at Yelahanka on a hot morning in front of Prime Minister Modi during Aero India 2023, this Su-30MKI in the hands of the display pilot is about to put up a spellbinding display not seen hitherto that defies the laws of aerodynamics, showing how incredibly manoeuvrable this big jet really is.

The IAF had a massive number of 260 Su-30MKIs in inventory, of which 50 were built in Russia. All others were built by HAL. At least 11 were written off. 150 Su-30MKIs are now expected to be upgraded to MKI-3. This SB222 is one of the first of these upgraded aircraft. Full production of the US$ 4 billion upgrade program is expected to start in 2023, with first upgraded MKI-3s to enter operational service by 2024. The upgrades mostly concern a digital cockpit, improved avionics, sensor systems and to replace the 1980s radar by a modern active electronically scanned array radar developed by HAL.

The IAF had a massive number of 260 Su-30MKIs in inventory, of which 50 were built in Russia. All others were built by HAL. At least 11 were written off. 150 Su-30MKIs are now expected to be upgraded to MKI-3. This SB222 is one of the first of these upgraded aircraft. Full production of the US$ 4 billion upgrade program is expected to start in 2023, with first upgraded MKI-3s to enter operational service by 2024. The upgrades mostly concern a digital cockpit, improved avionics, sensor systems and to replace the 1980s radar by a modern active electronically scanned array radar developed by HAL.