Armenia to purchase Su-30MKI Flanker-H fighter from India 

ArmInfo. Is the Russian aeronautics industry starting to pay for its recurring shortcomings? At the end of October 2024, the Armenian Ministry of Defense announced that it had begun negotiations with the Indian aircraft  manufacturer HAL to acquire a batch of locally produced Su-30MKI Flanker-H fighters as well as dedicated weapons. In doing so, it intends to cancel the order for eight additional Su-30SM Flanker-Cs that has been pending... for 5 years.

This would be the first contract since India chose to export its own Su-30MKIs, Avions  Legendaires reports. 

Currently, the Armenian fighter fleet consists of four Sukhoi Su-30SM  Flanker-Cs received new in spring 2019 and around fifteen much older  Su-25K Frogfoots. However, a few weeks after receiving its fighters,  Armenia chose to order eight additional Su-30SMs. Although they were  partially paid, up to 70% of the contract, no aircraft have been  delivered since. For one simple reason: Sukhoi has not produced any  and the only Su-30s to date that have left its factories have been  for the needs of Russia itself.

Five years later, it seems that the patience of the Armenians has  come to an end. Russia could well lose a customer but also an ally.  Armenia has started discussions with HAL around the supply of eight  to twelve Su-30MKIs. In fact, Hindustan Aircraft Limited would take  over the eight new aircraft, on condition that Sukhoi reimburses the  advance, and would upgrade the four current Su-30SMs to the Su-30MKI  standard.  This would include replacing the original passive  electronically scanned array radar with an active Uttam antenna  radar.

Known as the "Super 30" program, the negotiations revolve around a  batch of Astra 1 long-range air-to-air missiles, Rudram 1 anti-radar  missiles, and SAAW guided bombs. All three are of Indian design and  production. The size of the contract that is emerging between the two  countries is currently unknown.