Russian Su-30MKI fighter jets built in India may have drawn Armenia’s interest
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Armenia and India are reportedly in talks over a potential Su-30MKI fighter deal worth up to $3B, though no agreement has been officially confirmed.
According to Indian Defense News on October 28, 2025, Armenia is reportedly holding discussions with India on a possible acquisition of eight to twelve Sukhoi Su-30MKI multirole fighters built under license by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The proposed deal, valued between $2.5 and $3 billion, could include pilot training, maintenance support, and integration of Indian-developed radar and missile systems. The talks, not yet confirmed by either side, would expand Armenia’s air defense capabilities and mark another step in a bilateral defense cooperation that has significantly grown since 2020.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
India’s history with the Su-30MKI began in the late 1990s through a partnership with Russia that evolved into licensed domestic production by HAL, making it the backbone of the Indian Air Force and one of the country’s most indigenized and long-serving fighter programs. (Picture source: Indian Air Force)
The agreement has not yet been officially confirmed by either government, but according to this media, the negotiations could involve a procurement package valued between $2.5 and $3 billion. The first phase would reportedly cover the delivery of between eight and twelve aircraft, together with pilot and ground-crew training, technical support, and the integration of Indian-developed systems, such as the Uttam active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, Astra Mk-1 and Mk-2 beyond-visual-range missiles, and the DRDO electronic warfare suite. The proposed schedule foresees initial deliveries beginning by late 2027 and final handover by 2029, which would align with HAL’s ongoing production commitments for the Indian Air Force. Following Azerbaijan’s order of forty Pakistani-origin JF-17C Block III fighter jets, the possible agreement would mark a continuation of India–Armenia military cooperation, which since 2020 has included contracts for the Pinaka rocket system, Swathi counter-battery radars, and advanced anti-tank munitions.
The Indian Air Force’s experience with the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter dates back to 1996, when an initial order was placed for fifty Russian-built Su-30s, followed by a 2000 technology transfer agreement enabling licensed production at HAL’s Nasik plant. Over successive phases, India expanded its total fleet to 272 aircraft, with progressively higher indigenous content and improvements in avionics and structural integration. The Su-30MKI combined a Russian airframe with Indian, French, Israeli, and Russian avionics and subsystems, including the N011M Bars passive electronically scanned radar, canards for improved maneuverability, and AL-31FP thrust-vectoring turbofan engines. The aircraft became the mainstay of India’s airpower, forming the backbone of its fighter fleet and serving as the basis for continued upgrades under the “Super Sukhoi” modernization initiative. This upgrade program involves the integration of the Uttam AESA radar, extended-range Astra missiles, and a new electronic warfare architecture developed by DRDO, with indigenous content projected to reach seventy-eight percent. These cumulative developments likely gave HAL the industrial and technical experience to manufacture export-configured Su-30MKIs without direct Russian participation.
Paradoxically, the procurement of Indian-made Sukhoi Su-30MKIs would simultaneously diversify Armenia’s defense supply chain and reduce dependence on Russian equipment, a process already observed in previous contracts for Indian artillery and radar systems. For now, the Armenian Air Force currently operates a limited number of Soviet-era jets, including Su-25 close air support aircraft and MiG-29 fighters acquired in the early 2000s. These aircraft, constrained by maintenance demands and limited availability of modern avionics or guided munitions, have reduced operational efficiency compared to modern regional counterparts. Armenia’s air defense relies largely on surface-based systems such as the S-300PS and Osa-AKM, leaving its air-to-air and deep-strike capabilities relatively underdeveloped. The possible introduction of Su-30MKI fighters would represent a significant quantitative step for Yerevan, providing long-range air patrol capability, extended combat endurance, and beyond-visual-range targeting capacity. The induction of such aircraft would also require the establishment of a training pipeline for aircrews and maintenance personnel, expansion of airbase infrastructure, and logistical adaptation to support a twin-engine heavy fighter fleet. If executed, the acquisition could also facilitate closer bilateral cooperation in aerospace training and maintenance between HAL and Armenia’s defense companies.
The Su-30MKI is a two-seat, twin-engine multirole/air superiority fighter jet created for both air superiority and ground strike operations. It measures 21.9 meters in length, has a wingspan of 14.7 meters, and a maximum takeoff weight of 38,800 kilograms. The airframe uses titanium and high-strength aluminum alloys for durability and weight optimization, with a triplane configuration incorporating canards that improve control at high angles of attack. The aircraft is powered by two AL-31FP afterburning turbofan engines rated at 12,500 kilograms of thrust each, enabling a maximum speed of Mach 2 at altitude and a service ceiling of 17,300 meters. Internal fuel capacity supports missions up to 3,000 kilometers, which can be extended through in-flight refueling. The Su-30MKI features twelve external hardpoints capable of carrying up to 8,130 kilograms of mixed ordnance. The two-person crew configuration allows for distributed workload management during long-range or multi-target operations, with the pilot primarily handling flight control and the weapons systems officer managing radar, sensors, and targeting functions. These characteristics position the Su-30MKI as a long-endurance platform capable of performing diverse mission profiles, including air defense interception, deep strike, and maritime attack.
The cockpit of the Su-30MKI is equipped with a digital glass avionics suite centered around seven multifunction liquid-crystal displays, combined with a wide-angle head-up display of Israeli origin. The crew operates from tandem zero-zero ejection seats inclined at thirty degrees to mitigate high-g stresses, with the rear seat elevated for improved situational visibility. The aircraft employs a quadruplex fly-by-wire control system that provides stability augmentation and precise control authority during high-alpha maneuvers. The navigation complex integrates a SAGEM Sigma-95 ring-laser gyro inertial navigation system with a satellite-aided receiver for accurate positioning and target designation in all weather conditions. The onboard health and usage monitoring system continuously records aircraft parameters, allowing predictive maintenance and fault diagnostics. The airframe and avionics are configured for long-duration operations, with in-flight refueling capability extending flight endurance to nearly ten hours when supported by tanker aircraft, making it suitable for both air dominance and precision-attack roles within a single sortie framework.
Sensor integration on the Su-30MKI centers on the N011M Bars passive electronically scanned array radar, capable of simultaneously performing air-to-air and air-to-surface tasks. The radar’s detection range reaches up to 400 kilometers against large aerial targets and 120–150 kilometers against destroyer-sized maritime targets, with the ability to track up to fifteen targets and engage four simultaneously. Supplementing the radar is the OLS-30 infrared search and track (IRST) system, which allows passive detection of aerial targets at distances up to ninety kilometers without radar emissions. The aircraft can also mount Israeli Litening targeting pods for precision strikes using laser-guided or electro-optical munitions. The Su-30MKI’s electronic warfare suite includes the DRDO Tarang radar warning receiver, the Elta EL/M-8222 self-protection jammer, and standard chaff and flare dispensers. The planned Armenian configuration is expected to integrate DRDO’s next-generation electronic warfare system, enhancing situational awareness and survivability against modern radar-guided threats. Such a system would include dual-color missile-approach warning, jammer pods, and radar-warning functions consistent with India’s current upgrade roadmap for its own fleet.
The Su-30MKI’s weapons capability encompasses a wide range of precision-guided and conventional munitions suitable for multiple mission types. The aircraft carries a 30 mm GSh-30-1 internal cannon with 150 rounds and can deploy up to 8,130 kilograms of external ordnance. Its air-to-air loadouts include short-range R-73 and medium-range R-77 missiles, as well as India’s Astra Mk-1 and Mk-2 for beyond-visual-range engagements. For strike missions, the platform accommodates Kh-29 and Kh-31 air-to-surface missiles, Kh-35 and Kh-59 anti-ship missiles, and KAB-500 and KAB-1500 laser-guided bombs. The Su-30MKI can also employ stand-off munitions, including BrahMos-A cruise missiles, once properly integrated. Defensive armament is supported by jamming pods, flare dispensers, and radar decoys to counter multiple threat spectra. In the context of the potential Armenian fleet, weapons integration would likely emphasize long-range interception and precision-strike roles, while aligning with India’s export regulations and Armenia’s operational infrastructure. The aircraft’s compatibility with both Russian and Indian-origin munitions would also provide flexibility for future armament procurement.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.
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Armenia and India are reportedly in talks over a potential Su-30MKI fighter deal worth up to $3B, though no agreement has been officially confirmed.
According to Indian Defense News on October 28, 2025, Armenia is reportedly holding discussions with India on a possible acquisition of eight to twelve Sukhoi Su-30MKI multirole fighters built under license by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The proposed deal, valued between $2.5 and $3 billion, could include pilot training, maintenance support, and integration of Indian-developed radar and missile systems. The talks, not yet confirmed by either side, would expand Armenia’s air defense capabilities and mark another step in a bilateral defense cooperation that has significantly grown since 2020.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
India’s history with the Su-30MKI began in the late 1990s through a partnership with Russia that evolved into licensed domestic production by HAL, making it the backbone of the Indian Air Force and one of the country’s most indigenized and long-serving fighter programs. (Picture source: Indian Air Force)
The agreement has not yet been officially confirmed by either government, but according to this media, the negotiations could involve a procurement package valued between $2.5 and $3 billion. The first phase would reportedly cover the delivery of between eight and twelve aircraft, together with pilot and ground-crew training, technical support, and the integration of Indian-developed systems, such as the Uttam active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, Astra Mk-1 and Mk-2 beyond-visual-range missiles, and the DRDO electronic warfare suite. The proposed schedule foresees initial deliveries beginning by late 2027 and final handover by 2029, which would align with HAL’s ongoing production commitments for the Indian Air Force. Following Azerbaijan’s order of forty Pakistani-origin JF-17C Block III fighter jets, the possible agreement would mark a continuation of India–Armenia military cooperation, which since 2020 has included contracts for the Pinaka rocket system, Swathi counter-battery radars, and advanced anti-tank munitions.
The Indian Air Force’s experience with the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter dates back to 1996, when an initial order was placed for fifty Russian-built Su-30s, followed by a 2000 technology transfer agreement enabling licensed production at HAL’s Nasik plant. Over successive phases, India expanded its total fleet to 272 aircraft, with progressively higher indigenous content and improvements in avionics and structural integration. The Su-30MKI combined a Russian airframe with Indian, French, Israeli, and Russian avionics and subsystems, including the N011M Bars passive electronically scanned radar, canards for improved maneuverability, and AL-31FP thrust-vectoring turbofan engines. The aircraft became the mainstay of India’s airpower, forming the backbone of its fighter fleet and serving as the basis for continued upgrades under the “Super Sukhoi” modernization initiative. This upgrade program involves the integration of the Uttam AESA radar, extended-range Astra missiles, and a new electronic warfare architecture developed by DRDO, with indigenous content projected to reach seventy-eight percent. These cumulative developments likely gave HAL the industrial and technical experience to manufacture export-configured Su-30MKIs without direct Russian participation.
Paradoxically, the procurement of Indian-made Sukhoi Su-30MKIs would simultaneously diversify Armenia’s defense supply chain and reduce dependence on Russian equipment, a process already observed in previous contracts for Indian artillery and radar systems. For now, the Armenian Air Force currently operates a limited number of Soviet-era jets, including Su-25 close air support aircraft and MiG-29 fighters acquired in the early 2000s. These aircraft, constrained by maintenance demands and limited availability of modern avionics or guided munitions, have reduced operational efficiency compared to modern regional counterparts. Armenia’s air defense relies largely on surface-based systems such as the S-300PS and Osa-AKM, leaving its air-to-air and deep-strike capabilities relatively underdeveloped. The possible introduction of Su-30MKI fighters would represent a significant quantitative step for Yerevan, providing long-range air patrol capability, extended combat endurance, and beyond-visual-range targeting capacity. The induction of such aircraft would also require the establishment of a training pipeline for aircrews and maintenance personnel, expansion of airbase infrastructure, and logistical adaptation to support a twin-engine heavy fighter fleet. If executed, the acquisition could also facilitate closer bilateral cooperation in aerospace training and maintenance between HAL and Armenia’s defense companies.
The Su-30MKI is a two-seat, twin-engine multirole/air superiority fighter jet created for both air superiority and ground strike operations. It measures 21.9 meters in length, has a wingspan of 14.7 meters, and a maximum takeoff weight of 38,800 kilograms. The airframe uses titanium and high-strength aluminum alloys for durability and weight optimization, with a triplane configuration incorporating canards that improve control at high angles of attack. The aircraft is powered by two AL-31FP afterburning turbofan engines rated at 12,500 kilograms of thrust each, enabling a maximum speed of Mach 2 at altitude and a service ceiling of 17,300 meters. Internal fuel capacity supports missions up to 3,000 kilometers, which can be extended through in-flight refueling. The Su-30MKI features twelve external hardpoints capable of carrying up to 8,130 kilograms of mixed ordnance. The two-person crew configuration allows for distributed workload management during long-range or multi-target operations, with the pilot primarily handling flight control and the weapons systems officer managing radar, sensors, and targeting functions. These characteristics position the Su-30MKI as a long-endurance platform capable of performing diverse mission profiles, including air defense interception, deep strike, and maritime attack.
The cockpit of the Su-30MKI is equipped with a digital glass avionics suite centered around seven multifunction liquid-crystal displays, combined with a wide-angle head-up display of Israeli origin. The crew operates from tandem zero-zero ejection seats inclined at thirty degrees to mitigate high-g stresses, with the rear seat elevated for improved situational visibility. The aircraft employs a quadruplex fly-by-wire control system that provides stability augmentation and precise control authority during high-alpha maneuvers. The navigation complex integrates a SAGEM Sigma-95 ring-laser gyro inertial navigation system with a satellite-aided receiver for accurate positioning and target designation in all weather conditions. The onboard health and usage monitoring system continuously records aircraft parameters, allowing predictive maintenance and fault diagnostics. The airframe and avionics are configured for long-duration operations, with in-flight refueling capability extending flight endurance to nearly ten hours when supported by tanker aircraft, making it suitable for both air dominance and precision-attack roles within a single sortie framework.
Sensor integration on the Su-30MKI centers on the N011M Bars passive electronically scanned array radar, capable of simultaneously performing air-to-air and air-to-surface tasks. The radar’s detection range reaches up to 400 kilometers against large aerial targets and 120–150 kilometers against destroyer-sized maritime targets, with the ability to track up to fifteen targets and engage four simultaneously. Supplementing the radar is the OLS-30 infrared search and track (IRST) system, which allows passive detection of aerial targets at distances up to ninety kilometers without radar emissions. The aircraft can also mount Israeli Litening targeting pods for precision strikes using laser-guided or electro-optical munitions. The Su-30MKI’s electronic warfare suite includes the DRDO Tarang radar warning receiver, the Elta EL/M-8222 self-protection jammer, and standard chaff and flare dispensers. The planned Armenian configuration is expected to integrate DRDO’s next-generation electronic warfare system, enhancing situational awareness and survivability against modern radar-guided threats. Such a system would include dual-color missile-approach warning, jammer pods, and radar-warning functions consistent with India’s current upgrade roadmap for its own fleet.
The Su-30MKI’s weapons capability encompasses a wide range of precision-guided and conventional munitions suitable for multiple mission types. The aircraft carries a 30 mm GSh-30-1 internal cannon with 150 rounds and can deploy up to 8,130 kilograms of external ordnance. Its air-to-air loadouts include short-range R-73 and medium-range R-77 missiles, as well as India’s Astra Mk-1 and Mk-2 for beyond-visual-range engagements. For strike missions, the platform accommodates Kh-29 and Kh-31 air-to-surface missiles, Kh-35 and Kh-59 anti-ship missiles, and KAB-500 and KAB-1500 laser-guided bombs. The Su-30MKI can also employ stand-off munitions, including BrahMos-A cruise missiles, once properly integrated. Defensive armament is supported by jamming pods, flare dispensers, and radar decoys to counter multiple threat spectra. In the context of the potential Armenian fleet, weapons integration would likely emphasize long-range interception and precision-strike roles, while aligning with India’s export regulations and Armenia’s operational infrastructure. The aircraft’s compatibility with both Russian and Indian-origin munitions would also provide flexibility for future armament procurement.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.
