The Indian Air Force (IAF) Su-30MKI, which was recently used to target terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor in May 2025, recently crashed in Assam, killing both pilots.
The Su-30MKI disappeared from radar shortly after taking off from Jorhat Air Force station for a training sortie on March 5 and subsequently crashed in a remote hilly terrain. The two pilots on board, Squadron Leader Anuj Vashisht and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar, sustained fatal injuries in the crash.
Developed jointly by Russia’s Sukhoi and India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the Su-30MKI is a customised variant of the Russian Su-30 family. It is a twin-engine, multirole fighter jet that forms the backbone of the Indian Air Force.
As the aircraft went missing, the IAF initially wrote on X: “An IAF Su-30 MKI is reported overdue. The aircraft had taken off from Jorhat, Assam, and was last in contact at 7.42 pm. Further details are being ascertained. Search and Rescue mission has been initiated.”
This was followed by the crash’s acknowledgement later that day. “The IAF acknowledges the loss of Sqn Ldr Anuj and Flt Lt Purvesh Duragkar, who sustained fatal injuries in the Su-30 crash. All personnel of the IAF express sincere condolences and stand firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief,” the service stated on X.
The exact cause of the crash has not been officially determined, and a Court of Inquiry is likely underway. Additionally, there have been no reports of any preliminary findings on technical failure, human error, weather, or other factors at the time of writing this report.
This is the third Su-30MKI crash in as many years.
Earlier, in June 2024, a Su-30MKI crashed shortly after takeoff from the HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) facility in Nashik during a test sortie. A technical snag was reported at the time, but both pilots managed to eject safely.
In January 2023, a Su-30MKI from the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) collided midair with a Mirage 2000H during a close combat exercise.
“The aircraft were on a routine operational flying training mission. One of the three pilots involved sustained fatal injuries. An inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the accident,” the IAF had said at the time.
Despite these crashes, the attrition rate of the Su-30MKI is among the lowest in the IAF, at just about 5%, and the aircraft remains a cornerstone of the IAF’s multi-role capability.
Su-30MKI’s Role In Operation Sindoor
The aircraft proved its combat efficacy last year when India launched the daring “Operation Sindoor” targeting terrorist infrastructure located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The operation, launched on May 7, 2025, targeted terrorist infrastructure belonging to organizations like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). It escalated into a brief but intense clash before a ceasefire was reached on May 10. In fact, one of the pilots involved in the latest crash, Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar, participated in the May strikes.
The Su-30MKI, the IAF’s primary multi-role fighter, contributed significantly to the operation by performing a range of roles. During the initial strikes on May 7, the Su-30MKIs offered defensive cover and air superiority. As per some reports, they maintained combat air patrols (CAP) along the western border, ensuring that attack packages, including other aircraft targeting terror camps, operated without hindrance from Pakistani interceptors.
The Su-30MKI is also armed with supersonic BrahMos cruise missiles. On May 10, the MKI launched BrahMos strikes against multiple Pakistan airbases, causing extensive damage to PAF facilities.
Additionally, Su-30MKIs equipped with the Astra Mk1 beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile conducted CAP (Combat Air Patrol) flights, marking the weapon’s combat debut.
Moreover, the aircraft featured prominently in joint IAF operations alongside Rafales, mostly for precision and Electronic Warfare support.
The Su-30MKI had emerged as a key aircraft following the Balakot airstrike, particularly during the intense aerial exchanges of ‘Operation Swift Retort.’ At the time, Pakistan’s F-16s were sent to destroy the Su-30MKI, which essentially represented India’s air superiority. As per reports, Pakistani pilots would have received unprecedented recognition had they shot down even one of these cutting-edge fighter jets.
Su-30MKI—Due for Upgrades
The IAF received a total of 272 Su-30MKI aircraft through phased procurements. However, the active fleet was pegged at around 259 as of 2024, and the number has now fallen to 258 following the latest crash.
In addition, India and state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed a contract in December 2024 for 12 more Su-30MKI aircraft, valued at about ₹13,500 crore (US$1.6 billion).
These jets will be built domestically at HAL’s Nasik factory, with over 60% indigenous content, mostly to replace aircraft lost over the years. The deliveries of these jets will bring the fleet back to or beyond the target strength of 272.
Meanwhile, a large number of Su-30MKIs are planned to undergo a major upgrade. Speaking to the EurAsian Times in October last year, the IAF chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh said, “We are processing an upgrade program for the existing Su-30 MKI fleet. This will be the first time an indigenous upgrade of any fleet is being planned.”
India’s Defence Acquisition Council granted Acceptance of Necessity for the modernisation of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Su-30MKIs by HAL on November 30, 2023. The ambitious plan, estimated at around Rs 63,000 crore ($7.5 billion), aims to enhance the Su-30 MKI aircraft, making them much more lethal in modern air combat.
The upgrades are set to integrate advanced technologies, including radars, avionics systems, longer-range weapons, multi-sensor fusion capabilities, electronic warfare systems, and cockpit interfaces, aligning the Su-30MKI with modern combat jets.
One of the most significant upgrades is the integration of the indigenously developed Virupaksha AESA radar, which will substantially improve detection, tracking, and engagement capabilities, as noted earlier by IAF veteran and military commentator Squadron Leader Vijainder K. Thakur (retd). The radar uses Gallium Nitride-based technology and is anticipated to increase detection range by around 1.5 to 1.7 times.
“Additionally, the Su-30MKIs will be fitted with a new indigenous Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system, enhancing both air-to-air and air-to-ground targeting. The upgrade will also introduce a new electronic warfare suite designed to detect, jam, and neutralize enemy threats, significantly boosting survivability in contested airspace,” Thakur emphasised.
Additionally, some experts earlier stated that the upgraded ‘Super’ Sukhois are expected to be close to fifth-generation fighter capabilities, excluding stealth features. However, the EurAsian Times understands that this is an aspirational point of view, and the ultimate adoption of technology (including advanced engines) would determine the aircraft’s generational evolution.
The upgrade will initially focus on 84 aircraft, with plans to expand to about 75% of the fleet, or roughly 200 aircraft. The plan currently awaits clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security.
In March 2025, Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state-owned export agency, announced that Russia is prepared to implement a comprehensive modernization program in collaboration with Indian defence enterprises, in line with the ‘Make in India’ and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. This was part of Russia’s Su-57E offer to India.
Pushing the export of its fifth-generation fighter, Rosoboronexport said it is prepared to carry out the fleet upgrade program for the Indian Air Force’s Su-30MKI fighters and to engage with Indian industry more broadly.
“It is possible to boost the combat capabilities of the Su-30MKI jet by way of integrating new air-launched weapons and upgrading onboard systems,” it stated. “Today, the continuation of the program of producing these aircraft in India is being discussed. We expect good news in the near future.”
At the time, it stated that the combat potential of the Su-30MKI, a frontline multirole fighter in the IAF inventory, can be significantly enhanced by integrating new-generation air-to-air weapons and modernizing onboard avionics and mission systems.
Reports suggest that the IAF is considering Moscow’s offer to replace the existing AL-31s with the more potent AL-41 engines. However, a decision on the matter remains elusive.
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