Super Sukhoi Upgrade
Sukhoi’s SU-30MKI forms the backbone of Indian Air Force frontline fighter with nearly 260 of them in active service. Known for its manoeuvrability, the fighter jet features 25-year-old technologies that needs a mid-life upgrade for the improved performance, enhanced service life and be combat ready for the modern warfare. While the upgrade of SU-30 MKI with engagement with Russia seems to be highly unlikely, Indian Air Force seems to be going ahead with the upgrade of various components of SU-30 MKI which we will be discussing in detail.
Uttam AESA Radar’
The most important component of a fighter jet is its Fire Control Radar (FCR). The SU 30MKI is currently integrated with N011M Bars PESA Radar having a range of 400 km for search and 200 km for track. The drawback of PESA radar is they are vulnerable to jamming. This is the reason why IAF intends to integrate the indigenously developed Uttam AESA radar with its fleet of SU-30 MKI. HAL and LRDE has already completed the feasibility study and the findings of the same has been accepted by IAF.
As per latest report from the Delhi Defence Review, the ToT of production of Uttam AESA radar is done to HAL. IAF is planning to spare few SU-30 MKI for the Uttam AESA radar upgrade which is expected to be complete in another 2 years.
Uttam AESA Radar is based on Gallium Arsenide technology. The Su-30MKI can accommodate approx. 1200-1300 T/R modules. Unlike most contemporary radars, Uttam features Quad TRM i.e., a single plank that hosts 4 TRMs. It allows the T/R modules to be more densely packed.
UTTAM FCR comes up with other capabilities like, Identification friend or foe (IFF), electronic and communication support measures, C-band line-of-sight, Ku-band SATCOM datalinks, etc., similar to those on the air born early warning systems. This upgrade is going to increase the SU-30 MKI capabilities by many folds.
Dhruti DRWR-118
The other critical updates are RWR, MAWS & ASPJ. There are many upgrades planned but we will be talking about only those are absolutely necessary and on which progress has been made.
The existing Su-30MKI fleet are equipped with DARE developed Tarang-Mk2 RWR. DARE now has developed all digital RWR named ‘Dhruti’ for the Su-30MKI fleet which is based on its experience on D-29 RWR developed for the Mig-29UPG fleet. Back in August 2021, it was reported that the Indian Air Force is going ahead with Rs 1000 crore project for the upgrade of RWR for the fleet of 125 SU-30 MKIs.
RWRs enables to detect radar from other aircraft and missiles that have active guidance. Across the airframe of a fighter, you can see antennas that are placed to alert pilot in case if its fighter jet is being painted or locked by adversary fighter.
Dual Colour MAWS
Analysis of aircraft losses due to enemy action since the 1960s shows that at least 70% of all losses were attributed to passive heat seeking i.e. Infrared (IR) guided missiles. The RWR will not alert against an IR guided
missile. This is where MAWS comes to rescue. DRDO has already developed the indigenous dual colour MAWS – a similar technology used in F-35s and its integration with SU-30MKI is in progress.
Advance Self Protection Jammer
The next upgrade regarding which we will discuss is the Self-Protection Jammer Pods. The Su-30MKI fleet were originally equipped with Russian SAP-518 pods which was later replaced due to poor performance with Israeli Elta EL/L-8222 Airborne Self Protection Jammer pods. DARE has also developed High Band Jammer (HBJ) pod which began its trial in 2019 and also integrated with SU-30MKI. DRDO is also working on a much advance ASPJ (Advance Self Protection Jammer) which will feature Gallium Nitride based solid-state AESA jammer transmitters along with Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM). The DRFM jammers are known for severely degrading adversaries’ radars and missile seekers. The integration of ASPJ with SU-30 MKI is going to greatly boost the SU-30 MKIs electronic warfare capability on par with current generation fighter jets
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Bro, actually how good will the Uttam AESA radar be….? And how good does it counter Electronic Jamming….? Is it actually good or just a hype…?
Gallium arsenide or gallium nitrite ?
What radar is in Su-35 ????
Drop any Russian upgrades – all are sold to China
Sir please please please tell me uttam aesa radar range which will fit su 30 mki please 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
What is its range please tell( uttam aesa )
THIS LONG AWAITED! THIS WILL MAKE IT THE BEST FOURTH GEN PLUS PLUS AIRCRAFT AGAIN.
Su30 will be unbeatable in our region. Just imagine if we have our own jet engine in SU30.
Uttam Radar should be used across all the fighter jets in IAF squadrons.
AMCA and TEDBF (Airforce version) should replace Sukhoi in Future
Bro there is any APS IN OUR TANKS LIKE
T-72,T90,ARJUN, TANK EX ETC……??????.
HARD KILL APS AND SOFT KILL APS?????
So almost all fighter jets in IAF will be equipped with uttam AESA radar . Hope it works well. May be IAF could have waited for couple of years for gallium nitride radar
Sir we all know that fighter jets like j16 and another fighters having size similar to su 30 , is coming with atleast 1500 trm aesa radar so 1000- 1200 trm looks bit inferior….
This is amazing, way to give existing hardware a new life. Are we also considering doing any kind of sensor fusion display like 5th generation fighters?
Mr.admin I want to know that is radar in fighter plane is movable.. I mean can you move rgt left…
Why need to upgrade? India already has 6 generation indigenous fighter tejas which has more kill record then f15 and more stealth than f22 raptor.
No mention of the engine upgrade which is worthwhile and should go ahead:
The newest Izdeliye engine
"NPO Saturn izdeliye 117S, or AL-41F1S, is a slightly simplified derivative of the AL-41F1 from the Su-57, with the key difference being the separate engine control system of the AL-41F1S, and intended for export. The engine produces 86.3 kN of thrust dry, 137.3 kN in afterburner, and 142.2 kN in an emergency. This engine has an assigned life of 4,000 hours and an MTBO of 1,000 hours" — Wikipedia
Also RCS reduction methods as already planned for AMCA and implemented in Mig29 i.e
use of composites and RAM coatings to bring the SU30MKI huge RCS should be done.
It's RCS should be reduced to 1m as fast as possible.
The current upgrade package is good but more is needed since 272 Su30 are the backbone of the
entire IAF. Making it more lethal is crucial to victory.
Uttam news
Except for the engine power , Indian SU 30 will be on paar or more lethal than the Russian one Quad radars are the new age stuff along with quantum. DRDO must be given a free hand
Super Shukhoi is another congress like commitment, for over 3-4 years it's pending. Act & do the needful fast