Armenia is reportedly close to finalizing a significant multibillion-dollar agreement with India for the purchase of Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Current negotiations are advanced, reflecting Armenia’s strategic response to Azerbaijan’s recent procurement of 40 JF-17C Block-III fighters from Pakistan, as highlighted by a report from Indian Defense News.
The potential deal, valued between $2.5 billion and $3 billion, would mark Armenia’s largest defense procurement to date and strengthen its military partnership with New Delhi. If finalized, deliveries are anticipated to commence by 2027, and HAL will be customizing the jets with advanced features such as the Indian-designed Uttam AESA radar, Astra beyond-visual-range missiles, and electronic warfare systems. These enhancements are expected to position the Armenian variant among the most sophisticated export versions of the Su-30MKI.
The Su-30MKI has been integral to India’s air power since its induction into the Indian Air Force in 2002. Known for its AL-31FP thrust-vectoring engines that enable supermaneuverability, the fighter can carry over eight tons of a diverse array of armaments, including precision-guided bombs and BrahMos cruise missiles. The aircraft has undergone significant upgrades over the past five years, featuring indigenous mission computers, radar warning receivers, and infrared search-and-track systems.
India commenced a modernization program called the “Super Sukhoi” in 2023, designed to retrofit over 150 aircraft with advanced digital cockpits, next-generation sensors, and compatibility with Astra Mk-2 and Mk-3 missiles. Concurrently, HAL has been gearing up its production lines for possible export orders, actively marketing the Su-30MKI to various countries, including Egypt, Malaysia, and now Armenia.
Furthermore, the Su-30MKI is central to India’s joint weapons integration initiatives. It has successfully conducted extended-range trials of the BrahMos-A supersonic cruise missile, underscoring its formidable strike capabilities.
