Armenia is reportedly close to finalizing a multibillion-dollar agreement with India for the purchase of Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
According to Indian Defense News, the deal — estimated between $2.5 billion and $3 billion — is intended to counter Azerbaijan’s recent procurement of 40 JF-17C Block-III fighters from Pakistan. If signed, it would represent Armenia’s largest-ever defense purchase and significantly strengthen its strategic defense partnership with New Delhi.
Deliveries are projected to start in 2027, with HAL expected to customize the aircraft by integrating Uttam AESA radar, Astra beyond-visual-range missiles, and advanced electronic warfare systems, making them among the most sophisticated export variants of the Su-30MKI.
India’s Su-30MKI: Expanding Strategic Footprint
Introduced into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2002, the Su-30MKI serves as the cornerstone of India’s air combat capability. Powered by AL-31FP thrust-vectoring engines, it offers high maneuverability and a payload capacity exceeding eight tons for a wide range of weapons, including BrahMos cruise missiles.
HAL and the IAF have introduced a series of domestically developed upgrades in recent years — such as mission computers, radar warning systems, and infrared search-and-track technology — as part of the “Super Sukhoi” modernization program launched in 2023.
This initiative aims to retrofit over 150 fighters with digital avionics and next-generation sensors, enhancing compatibility with Astra Mk-2 and Mk-3 missiles. HAL has also positioned the Su-30MKI for export opportunities, with Armenia joining Egypt and Malaysia as potential customers.
