Latest Indian MKI aircraft facing problems

Sukhoi faces huge cost esclation: CAG
NEW DELHI, MAY 19 (PTI)

Licensed production of multi-role Sukhoi-30MKI fighters in the country is running into huge costs overruns and some of them in the latest batch are flying without some advanced critical airborne systems.

To add to this, the indigenous manufacture of the Russian frontline fighters is working out to more than the cost of imports, according to the latest report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) placed in Parliament today.

Three critical airborne systems of the fighters-- electronic warfare system, reconissance system and direction finding modular radar have not not been integrated with the latest batch of aircraft delivered by the Russians under the November 1996 contract, the report said.

"There has been sharp slippage in delivery schedules and the fighters delivered had custmization only partly ", the CAG has pointed out.

Rapping the Government for huge cost esclation risks in the project, the CAG said the total cost of 140 aircraft projected by the Ministry in 2000 was Rs 22,122.78 crores at the 2000 price level, while a detailed project report prepared by HAL in july 2005, the amount shown was Rs 39,224.9 crores, almost a hundred price rise.

"Even this is open ended as the 2.5 per cent cost esclation agreed to by India is applicable only till 2007", the report sai


Hmmm......seems like India is having problems with configuring the MKI's. What impact will it have on the IAF if this keeps up? I think that the MKI's won't be delivered on time at all. Maybe 2020 can be a realistic time table for the MKI's.

I wanted to inquire to the administrators whether the ban on topics related to Indian military is lifted, as this article has ben posted.

india itself isent banned, but all provocations to india vs. china comparision are banned. So we are watching this thread.

The Su-30MKI integrates components from several countries, Russia, India, France, etc. For example:



The French company Sextant Avionique will supply six liquid colour displays, five MFD 55s and one MFD 66, for both the pilot and his WSO (Weapons System Officer), the Totem inertial guidance system (dual-INS) with the GPS technology and the VEH 3000 holographic HUD.
<snip>
The Bars radar uses an Indian Radar controller, under the Project Vetrivale (Lance of Victory). The project also has developed the mission computer and the display processors for the aircraft.
<snip>
The self-defence suite incorporates a newly developed accurate Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), called the Tarang Mk. II. The Su 30 MKI incorporates a number of chaff/ flare dispensers and active jammers. The Tarang system is a modified version of that fitted to the MiG 21 Bison. The Tarang was also developed under the Project Vetrivale.


IMO it's not surprising that the cost per unit will exceed cost of "pure" Russian imports. The article claims that various electronic systems had not been integrated with the Russian aircraft, but did not specify why. I suspect sub-component shortgage/delay rather than technical issues. Unlike commercial products, the military has MIL-spec requirements that would prevent them from using most off the shelf components.

The Su-30MKIs are taking a huge bite out of India's budget. The electronics are coming from multiple suppliers which boosts the cost and then maintenance, which is pretty damn scary! Then trying to fit the Brahmos on it takes out more money. Man, this is one expensive plane!

I find it odd that India's MKI aircraft are facing such problems when India has been producing Russian/Soviet aircraft of various types/models for the past 40 years at HAL(Hindustan Aeronotical Limited). While the MKI is the latest in the line of Sukhoi aircraft bureau its basic design is from the 70's, why is it proving so difficult for the Indians to handle this plane as they are also behind schedule in their induction program. Is the problem the unit cost of the aircraft which is increasing or the incorporation of advanced avionics which is too difficult for the Indian personnel?

Was going MKI route worth it for India?

@45.42 Indian rupees per $ projected cost @2000 prices was Rs 22,122.78 Crores = Rs 221227.8 million = $4870 million. which equals $34.8 million per plane.
With 56.4% cost escalation it is now $54.4 million /plane without three critical airborne systems of the fighters-- electronic warfare system, reconissance system and direction finding modular radar not being integrated. Adding these costs could bring the price per plane equal to comparable European / US planes. When you add the total cost of ownership over the aircraft life period, with inherently low MTB servicing / overhauls, poor quality and unpredictable supply of Russian parts, I wonder if there was much cost - performance advantage for India in going MKI route?

PakTopGun said:

Is the problem the unit cost of the aircraft which is increasing or the incorporation of advanced avionics which is too difficult for the Indian personnel?

Click to expand...

The reason for the increase in the costs is that assembly/production of aircraft in India is much more expensive than importing the same from Russia.

As far as avionics are concerned, over 50% of the avionics of the Su-30 MKI are Indian, hence their incorporation must not pose cost overruns.

Wouldnt assembly of the aircraft in India be more affordable, I mean labour is dirt cheap there no? then to have it assembled somewhere else?

PakTopGun said:

Wouldnt assembly of the aircraft in India be more affordable, I mean labour is dirt cheap there no? then to have it assembled somewhere else?

Click to expand...

The report already mentions that manufacture of the Su-30 MKI in India is more expensive than in Russia. The issue is not labour, but is likely to be the infrastructure for manufacture of the aircraft.
This may also be one of the reasons why the development of the LCA has been delayed extensively.