The Indian Air Force (IAF) Sukhoi-30MKI jets will be upgraded into ‘Super Sukhois’ with a fifth-generation combat features retrofit, Irkut president and chairman Alexy Fedorov has said.

Under the overhaul programme, the Su-30MKI fleet will receive new cockpits, upgraded radar and advanced stealth characteristics.

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The advanced stealth characteristics will make the aircraft less visible to radar than the existing IAF Sukhoi-30 fleet.

MiD DAY also quoted Fedorov as saying that upon modification, the aircraft will carry a heavier weapon load, including the airborne version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.

The IAF, which currently has five operational Sukhoi 30MKI squadrons numbering around 100 aircraft, will operate over 230 Sukhoi-30MKIs or 13 squadrons in its fleet.

“The upgrade will apply not only to the aircraft in service with the Indian Air Force (IAF), but also to those yet to be delivered to India and to be licence-manufactured by HAL,” Fedorov said.

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