Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has proposed upgrades to the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) fleet of Su-30 MKI aircraft with assistance from the Russian original equipment manufacturer.

The Su-30 upgrade programme, estimated to cost Rs109bn ($2bn), will begin in a phased manner from 2012.

The IAF, which inducted Su-30s in the late 1990s, currently operates six squadrons of the aircraft.

The first squadron of the Su-30 was of the “K” variant, which was later upgraded to the latest MKI version.