In the event of a dogfight between the Su-30MKI and Pakistani F-16s—or, worse, its domestically-produced JF-17 fighters—the Indian planes are likely to win hands-down.
India is poised for war with their neighbor, Pakistan, after a recent Islamist terrorist attack in the disputed Kashmir region left 26 Indian civilians dead. India is rightly upset with Pakistan—both for denying India’s requests that the attackers, who came from Pakistan, be brought to justice, and for the Pakistani government’s absurd denials that they were at all involved in the attack. And indeed, some Pakistani lawmakers are openly referring to the terrorists responsible for the Kashmir attack as “freedom fighters.”
As a result of this, the Indians are promising retribution. Tensions between the two nuclear-armed powers are at levels not experienced since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Already, Indian and Pakistani forces are moving closer together as the tensions between the two governments increase and the war of words between leaders escalates.
India’s Su-30MKI Will Strike the First Blow on Pakistan
One of the systems that India would almost certainly deploy against the Pakistanis in the opening hours of a conflict would be their Su-30MKI, a twin-engine, multirole fighter jet that was developed in partnership between India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Russia’s legendary Sukhoi Design Bureau. Since 2002, the Su-30MKI has evolved into a versatile platform for the Indian Air Force, playing a key role in India’s defense strategy, regional power projection, and indigenous technological advancement.
The Sukhoi Su-30 was a proven design from the final days of the Soviet Union. In the 1990s, as India was looking for an affordable, advanced multirole fighter, they landed on the Su-30. But New Delhi did not want the Russians to simply produce carbon copies of the existing Su-30. Its engineers had a specific set of modifications in mind to make its variant of the plane unique, specifically tailored to operate in the Indian context of national defense. For instance, India needed these planes to be adapted for continuous high-altitude operations in difficult regions, like the Himalayas.
In other words, the “I” at the end of the Su-30MKI designation for the plane is not just for show. The plane’s design first came from Russia, but the finished product incorporates Indian engineering from start to finish. In fact, the jet includes advanced technologies from not only Russia and India, but also Israel, France, and others—making it a truly multinational product. Key modifications India made to the Su-30 base model include thrust-vectoring engines, an advanced avionics suite, and integration of indigenously developed systems. HAL, under a licensed production agreement, has manufactured the majority of India’s Su-30MKI fleet at its Nashik facility, contributing to India’s push for self-reliance in defense production.
The first Su-30MKIs were delivered to the Indian Air Force in 2002, and the fleet has since grown to over 260 aircraft, making it the Indian Air Force’s largest fighter platform.
A Su-30MKI is powered by two AL-31FP turbofan engines, ensuring that this bird can hit a speed of Mach 2 and a combat range of around 1,864 miles (extendable with mid-air refueling). The Su-30MKI comes equipped with thrust-vectoring nozzles, providing exceptional maneuverability and allowing the jet to perform complex aerobatic maneuvers like the famous Pugachev’s Cobra.
Whe Su-30MKI Is So Dangerous in Aerial Combat
The “Pugachev’s Cobra” maneuver is named after Soviet test pilot Viktor Pugachev, who first performed it at the 1989 Paris Air Show. In this maneuver, the pilot pulls his aircraft’s nose upward to a near-vertical (or even slightly past-vertical) angle of attack (often 90-120 degrees) while maintaining forward momentum.
Accordingly, the jet briefly flies tail-first (!), resembling the rearing motion of a cobra, before the nose is pitched back down to resume its normal flight operations. A key element of Pugachev’s Cobra is that the jet never stalls, relying instead on the Su-30MKI’s powerful engines, aerodynamic design, and thrust-vectoring nozzles to maintain control.
Nothing in the Pakistan Air Force can replicate this. And in the event of a dogfight between the Su-30MKI and Pakistani F-16s—or, worse, its domestically-produced JF-17 fighters—the Indian planes are likely to win hands-down.
In other words, the Su-30MKI will be a nightmare for the Pakistan Air Force if the situation on the subcontinent deteriorates to full-blown war—as it appears to be doing.
The Systems That Make the Su-30MKI Great
The jet is equipped with an infrared search and track (IRST) system, electronic countermeasures (ECM), and a helmet-mounted display for enhanced situational awareness. By integrating Western (such as French navigation systems and Indian mission computers) and Indian avionics in the Su-30MKI, Indian engineers have ensured that the Su-30MKI has significant operational flexibility.
These warbirds carry a diverse arsenal of air-to-ground, air-to-air, and anti-ship weapons. Because of its origins, the Su-30MKI is compatible with Russian missiles, such as the R-77 and R-73, as well as Indian-developed weapons, like the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and the Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile.
The jet’s 12 hardpoints allow it to carry up to eight tons of munitions, making it a formidable platform for both offensive and defensive missions.
India’s Su-30MKI accounts for nearly half of India’s entire warplane fleet. The jet’s versatility allows it to go from conducting air superiority and interdiction to strategic bombing and maritime operations. Its long range and endurance make it ideal for patrolling India’s vast borders, particularly in the high-altitude regions of Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, where tensions with China have escalated in recent years.
Pakistan Is Fighting a Losing War
As conflict with Pakistan becomes more likely, the differences between India’s military and Pakistan’s will become stark. Pakistan is a hollow force. Even their nuclear weapons are less advanced than are the Indian nukes.
Should war erupt, Indian planes like the Su-30MKI will square off against Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunders—a fight whose outcome would seem to be a foregone conclusion. Nor is the Su-30MKI the only advanced warplane in India’s arsenal. They’ve also got Dassault Mirage 2000s, Rafale Ms, and Saab JAS 39 Gripens—all of which are superior to the systems in Pakistan’s fleet. Any war, even a nuclear one, would not end well for the Islamists who are clearly running Pakistan today.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Joe Ravi.
