Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter plane crashed in Karbi Anglong district of Assam last night, in which two pilots of the Indian Air Force were martyred. The Air Force said that the pilots have been identified as Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar.

The Air Force posted on Twitter saying that all IAF personnel express their deepest condolences and stand strongly with the bereaved family in this hour of grief. Let us tell you that Su-30MKI was on a training mission and went missing shortly after taking off from Jorhat airbase and then crashed. This airbase is located about 60 kilometers away from the accident site.

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.@DefenceMinIndia@SpokespersonMoD… pic.twitter.com/zUtfUJ2ewr

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) March 6, 2026

Officials had said that contact with this aircraft of Russian origin was lost at 7:42 pm. The Su-30MKI is a two-seat multi-purpose fighter jet developed by Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi. It is now manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under license for the Indian Air Force.

Sukhoi is considered to be the most powerful fighter aircraft.
The Indian Air Force has a fleet of more than 260 Su-30MKI jets, but the way this fighter jet crashed has raised questions about its maintenance. The Sukhoi Su-30 MKI, which was inducted into the Air Force in the early 2000s, is considered one of the most powerful fighter aircraft.

When did the crash happen before?
However, this is not the first time that a Sukhoi jet has crashed. Before this, Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft had crashed. In August 2019, a Sukhoi-30 MKI crashed in a paddy field near Tezpur in Assam during a routine training mission. During that time both the pilots managed to escape safely and later their lives were saved.

In May 2015, a Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft crashed shortly after take-off, about 36 kilometers south of Tezpur Air Force Base, with both pilots ejecting safely before the crash.

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Indian Air Force: The Indian government has approved the purchase of 114 more Rafale fighter jets from France. With this step, the squadron strength of the Indian Air Force is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. In the meantime, let us know how many fighter jets are there in a squadron of the Indian Air Force and how many does India have at present.

How many fighter jets are there in a squadron?

A standard fighter squadron of the Indian Air Force usually consists of 18 fighter aircraft. Of these 18 aircraft, about 16 are operational fighter jets, while two are trainer aircraft. These are used for pilot conversion and operational training. Apart from this, some aircraft are kept in reserve to manage maintenance cycles and emergencies. Each squadron is usually commanded by an officer of the rank of Wing Commander. It oversees operational preparation, training and deployment.

How many fighter squadrons does India have now?

By February 2026, the Indian Air Force is operating approximately 29 active fighter squadrons. This is much less than its sanctioned strength of 42.5 squadrons. This is considered necessary to deal with the two front situation. The decline in squadron numbers over the past few years has been mainly due to the retirement of older aircraft such as the MiG variants. Along with this, new aircraft have been gradually included.

Total fighter aircraft in service

Based on the current 29-30 squadrons, India has approximately 520 to 540 operational fighter aircraft. This number keeps going up and down depending on retirements, upgrades and new inductions. Although the fleet is still strong, the gap between sanctioned and actual numbers remains a strategic concern.

114 What will change with Rafale jet?

With the approval to purchase 114 more Rafale jets, the number of squadrons is expected to improve significantly in the next 10 years. Once inducted, these aircraft will greatly help India get closer to its projected strength and modernize its fighter fleet. With growing regional security challenges, expanding squadron capability is not just about numbers. It is about maintaining air power and also about the strength of the Indian Air Force.

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A big decision regarding the Su-30MKI, the most powerful fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force, is going to be taken soon. On one hand, the ‘Super Sukhoi’ upgrade program is expected to get the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Security in the next one to two months, on the other hand, with the inclusion of Israel’s deadly Rampage missile in it, its strike capability has increased manifold. After this upgrade, Su-30MKI will not only remain the backbone of the Indian Air Force, but will also be seen standing at the forefront of the list of the world’s deadliest fighter jets.

According to HAL Chairman and Managing Director DK Sunil, technical preparations for the major upgrade program of Su-30MKI have been completed. All important aspects have been agreed upon between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Indian Air Force and DRDO and now only formal approval is awaited. Under this scheme, 84 Su-30MKI fighter aircraft will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology.

Why is the upgrade considered important?

This upgrade is also considered very important because Su-30MKI is still the most numerous and most powerful fighter jet of the Air Force. It plays a decisive role in air defense, deep strike and maritime operations. As a large number of aircraft have now entered their second decade of service, this upgrade has become necessary to keep them fully capable beyond 2040. Especially until the future indigenous fighter jet AMCA joins the Air Force.

Su-30MKI will have state-of-the-art technology

Under the Super Sukhoi upgrade, the Su-30MKI will be taken to a completely new level. It will include long-range AESA radar, state-of-the-art digital cockpit, artificial intelligence based multi-function display and voice command system. Along with this, new IRST system, advanced self-protection jammer, better electronic warfare and advanced data link capabilities will also be added.

Su-30MKI’s destructive power increased with Rampage Missile

Meanwhile, another major increase in the firepower of Su-30MKI occurred when the Indian Air Force included Israel’s supersonic Rampage air-to-surface missile in it. This is the same missile, which was recently used during Operation Sindoor and which caused heavy damage to enemy targets.

The Rampage missile reaches the target at supersonic speed and its heavy warhead is capable of destroying even the strongest targets. According to defense experts, this missile is very difficult for the existing air defense system to track, due to which it is considered capable of dodging even the state-of-the-art systems like S-400, THAAD and Iron Dome.

Why is Rampage dangerous for air defense systems?

The biggest strength of Rampage missile is its high speed, low altitude flight and precise guidance system. This missile flies at a speed of about 1975 kilometers per hour and is equipped with a powerful warhead of about 570 kg. Its design is such that it becomes visible late to radar and air defense systems, making it extremely difficult to intercept.

This missile is capable of targeting important targets like enemy bunkers, command centres, airfields, bridges and warships. Earlier it was included in Jaguar Darin-III and MiG-29K aircraft of the Navy, but its effect on a heavy and long-range fighter like Su-30MKI is considered to be more fatal. For this, necessary changes have also been made in the airframe and fire control system of the aircraft.

Where does Su-30MKI stand compared to Rafale?

Although Rafale is considered a state-of-the-art multi-role fighter jet, but experts believe that with longer range, more weapon carrying capacity, twin engine power and now supersonic missile like Rampage, Su-30MKI can prove to be more lethal in deep strike and stand-off attacks.

This is the reason why defense experts consider Su-30MKI to be a more powerful platform than Rafale in many missions. Interestingly, while the Su-30MKI and MiG-29K are fighter jets of Russian origin, the Rampage missile has been developed in Israel. India had purchased the first batch of this missile during the increased tension with China in 2020-21 and since then it has become an important part of the precision strike capability of the Indian Air Force.

The Indian Air Force is preparing to buy 114 new Rafales from France to fulfill the shortage of fighter jets in its fleet. The Defense Ministry is engaged in deep brainstorming regarding this. There is speculation that this deal may be sealed during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India next month. Meanwhile, India has taken important steps towards strengthening its defense capabilities.
India is preparing to equip its fleet of fighter jets purchased from France with indigenous air-to-air Astra MK1 and Astra MK2 Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missiles (BVRAM). Testing regarding this will start in the next two years i.e. by 2028.

Su-30MKI and Tejas fighter jets also equipped with Astra

According to defense news website Defense.in, this initiative is an important part of the Indian Air Force’s roadmap to increase operational flexibility while promoting self-reliance in defense technology. Let us tell you that Astra MK1, which is already equipped in fighter jets like Sukhoi-30MKI and LCA Tejas, provides a strike range of more than 100 kilometers.

Astra MK2 will increase firepower

Not only this, in the coming time, Rafale and Sukhoi-30 will also be upgraded with Astra MK2, due to which their range will increase from 100 km to 160 km. Along with this, this missile will compete with missiles like Meteor made by European countries. According to defense sources, the fighter jet and its manufacturers Dassault Aviation and Thales have agreed to provide necessary technical support for this programme.

Their participation is crucial to develop specific software upgrades that enable Indian missiles to effectively coordinate with Rafale’s advanced RBE2 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and its combat management system. This cooperation ensures that the fighter jet can fully utilize the guidance and targeting capabilities of the Astra missiles. It will have to go through many stages before going into a war-like situation.

Tension between China and Pakistan will increase!

As soon as the news of upgrade of Rafale fighter jets is heard, the tension of Pakistan as well as China is going to increase. In fact, the way India is equipping its fighter jets with missiles like Astra, such technology is also used by European countries and America. Therefore, upgrading Indian indigenous missiles will make Rafale even more dangerous.

India is investing extensively to strengthen its defense power. Thousands and lakhs of crores of rupees are being spent in modernizing the country’s defense system. The plan to purchase 114 Rafale fighter aircraft at a cost of about Rs 3.25 lakh crore is the latest example of this. Apart from this, huge amount is also being spent on strengthening the air defense system.

Under Mission Sudarshan Chakra, an air security system is being prepared for the entire country, which can make every part of India safe from air attacks by 2035. Moving forward in this direction, the Central Government has taken another big and important decision to increase the strength of the Indian Air Force.

Approval to purchase 6 new multirole tanker transport aircraft

To strengthen air-to-air refueling capability, the Government of India has given green signal to the purchase of six Multirole Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft. The total estimated cost of this deal is US $ 1.1 billion i.e. approximately Rs 9,978 crore. With the help of these tanker planes, fighter planes deployed on long-range missions will be able to refuel in the air without landing. With this, fighter jets will not have to face problems like fuel shortage during extended missions. Countries like America and Russia already have strong capabilities in this region and now India is also moving towards joining this club strongly.

India’s strategic reach will be strengthened in the Indo-Pacific region

This deal will not only enhance the operational capability of the Indian Air Force, but will also broaden India’s strategic reach and influence in the Indo-Pacific region. This program is being led by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), while Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will have important participation in it.

Old Il-78 tanker now in final stages

Currently the Indian Air Force mainly has Il-78MKI air-to-air refueling tanker aircraft of Russian origin, which were inducted in the year 2003. These aircraft have now been in service for an average of more than 22 years and have reached the end of their effective operational life.

According to defense analysts, the operational effectiveness of these aircraft is decreasing due to rising maintenance costs, limited availability and lack of technical integration with modern fighter aircraft. GlobalData’s fleet analysis also notes a steady decline in the reliability of the Il-78 aircraft, making it increasingly difficult to support long missions with frontline fighters such as the Rafale, Su-30MKI and Tejas. In such a situation, the purchase of MRTT aircraft is being considered as a necessary and timely reform.

Technical Features of MRTT

Each MRTT aircraft will be fitted with two General Electric CF6-80C2 or equivalent turbofan engines, which will provide approximately 60,200 pounds of thrust i.e. approximately 268 kilo Newtons. The maximum take-off weight of these aircraft will be approximately 1,86,000 kg.

These aircraft will be able to transfer 72,500 to 90,700 kg of fuel. With a maximum speed of Mach 0.80 (about 851 km per hour) and a flight range of more than 11,000 km, they will be much more capable than the existing Il-78 aircraft. Through underwing pods, they will be able to provide both probe-and-drogue and boom refueling support.

HAL will have a big responsibility

The MRTT aircraft selected will be a modified version of the Boeing 767 passenger aircraft, which is being developed as per the requirements of the Army. According to ‘Indian Defense News’, this aircraft will have the capacity to carry more fuel, will have the power to fly long distances and will be equipped with a modern probe-and-drogue refueling system, due to which it will be able to work easily with most of the fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force.

The presence of HAL in this deal makes it even more important. HAL will not only help in installing Indian systems in these aircraft, but will also develop a system for their maintenance, repair and overhaul within the country. This will reduce dependence on importing spare parts from outside and the aircraft will remain available for operation for a longer period. This entire initiative is related to the government’s ‘Self-reliant India’ mission and experts believe that the partnership between HAL and IAI can open new avenues for technology sharing and export in the future.

Will get decisive advantage in long distance missions

Air-to-air refueling aircraft are considered a force multiplier for any modern air force. These enable aircraft to complete missions over long distances without landing at forward bases. This capability is extremely important for India with its vast geographical area and extensive maritime borders.

Amid growing strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific region, China’s increasing air and maritime activities and potential tensions with Pakistan, the Indian Air Force felt the need to increase its operational reach. The deployment of MRTT aircraft will give India an edge in continuous surveillance, quick response and remote operations in the Indian Ocean region.

Preparation to respond to China

Last year, during ‘Operation Sindoor’, the Air Force faced limitations in fuel supply during cross-border operations. According to defense sources, this experience inspired policy-makers to give priority to air refueling capability.

The induction of MRTT aircraft will enable advanced fighter jets like Rafale to work more effectively with long-range precision weapon systems. The Su-30MKI will provide long-range air patrolling capability, while also increasing the tactical flexibility of light combat aircraft like Tejas. This deal will strengthen India’s deterrence in the ongoing tension on LAC with China and possible conflict scenarios with Pakistan. This step will help India play a leading role in the balance of power in the Indian Ocean region.

Answer to China’s growing power

Experts say that this deal is completely in line with India’s strategy to maintain stability in the region through international forums like Quad. The deployment of MRTT aircraft in the Indian Air Force will create a strong balance against the rapid increase in the number of H-6U tanker aircraft by China.

With the arrival of new aircraft, changes will also be made in the training of pilots and ground staff. Through simulator agreements with IAI, the crew will be trained in modern mid-air refueling techniques, simultaneous refueling of multiple aircraft and network-based combat systems.

Relief in squadron shortage

At present the Indian Air Force is facing a huge shortage of squadrons. Where there should be 30 squadrons, currently only 18 are active. With the induction of MRTT aircraft, existing fighter aircraft will be able to perform missions for longer periods and more effectively. This will allow more work to be done with less resources and will also provide necessary time for future fighter projects like AMCA.

This deal is also considered sensible from money point of view. The price of $1.1 billion for six aircraft is lower than Europe’s more expensive platforms like the A330 MRTT. This deal has been done at the government-to-government level, due to which decisions could be taken quickly while avoiding the long tender process.

Air Force will get big benefit

This purchase of six MRTT aircraft is not limited to just replacing old aircraft with new ones, but it is a big strategic step for the Indian Air Force. This will not only increase operational strength and mission capability, but will also strengthen self-reliant defense production, regional balance and the long-term security needs of the country. In the changing global and regional situation, this decision can prove to be an important and far-reaching step in giving a new direction to India’s air power.

Mirage 2000: Indian Air Force (IAF) Headquarters is seriously considering inducting the indigenous Astra Mk 1 Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missile (BVRAAM) in the upgraded fleet of Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft. This decision can play an important role in bridging the capability gap of the Air Force till the arrival of foreign next generation missiles.

Currently, the Indian Air Force’s Mirage 2000 aircraft rely on MICA IR and MICA RF missiles, whose effective strike range is said to be around 80 kilometers. According to defense sources, this range is now considered less than the long-range missile systems available with regional rivals, which may impact air combat capability.

Work continues on MICA NG

According to the report of idrw.org, European defense company MBDA is working on the next generation MICA NG (New Generation) missile, whose estimated range will be 150 to 160 kilometers. This missile has been confirmed to be compatible with India’s upgraded Mirage 2000 5 aircraft. However, its delivery is expected by the end of 2028-29, while full operational clearance may take an additional 3 to 4 years due to the testing and integration process.

Upgraded Mirage 2000 equipped with RDY 2 radar

Thales RDY 2 all-weather synthetic aperture radar has been installed in the upgraded Mirage 2000 aircraft of the Indian Air Force. This radar is capable of tracking fighter targets with 5 square meter radar cross section from a distance of 120 to 140 kilometers. Earlier Mirage variants had Thomson CSF RDM radar, but the RDY 2 is now considered more capable for multi-mode and BVR warfare. If the Astra Mk 1 is approved for inclusion in the Mirage 2000, it will require technical collaboration with Thales. With this, an accurate data link can be established between the RDY 2 radar and the Astra missile, so that the fire and forget capability and guidance of the missile remains fully effective. Astra Mk 1 has already been successfully operationalized on Su 30MKI and Tejas fighter aircraft.

Strategic benefits will come soon from indigenous option

While MICA NG may have to wait until the early 2030s for full deployment, Astra Mk 1 appears to be a timely, cost-effective and indigenous interim solution. The deployment of Astra Mk 1 with the strong detection capability of the RDY 2 radar can quickly increase the striking range and lethality of the Mirage 2000 fleet.

Self-reliant India will get a big boost

The decision to include Astra Mk 1 in Mirage 2000 will strengthen the Self-reliant India initiative. This will not only lead to widespread use of indigenous missile systems, but will also reduce dependence on foreign upgrades. Additionally, it will help keep the Mirage 2000 aircraft relevant in future challenging air combat scenarios.

Russia offer to india: Russia has allegedly offered R-37M missile to India amidst the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan. This offering is to equip the fleet of Suu-30 MKI fighter jets with this missile. R-37m is a hypersonic long second air to air missile.

The R-37M range is 300 to 400 kilometers, known as AA-13 Xhead and its maximum speed is Mac 6, which makes it one of the world’s most dangerous Beyond-Viguel-Rage (BVR) missiles. Meaning that it has the ability to attack the enemy’s target in the air without attacking it. This offer becomes more important when India wants to further increase its aerial power amid regional tension with its enemies Pakistan and China.

What is the specialty of R-37 M missile?

1. The missile has been developed by Russia’s Vimple Design Bureau, whose airborne warning and control system (AWACS), tanker aircraft and enemy fighter aircraft have been designed to neutralize high -value air targets.

2. Its Jeticenable rocket boosters enabled the missile to achieve an extended range of 300–400 km (160–220 knots), which is far ahead of India’s current R-77 missiles. Their range is about 100 km.

3. The missile’s Mac 6 (about 7,400 km/h) of the missile rapidly attacks the targets running at a high speed, making it difficult for the enemies to escape.

4. The weight of this missile is about 510 kg and is equipped with a sophisticated guidance system, which connects it to mid-court updates, active radar homeing and navigation for the terminal face.

5. R-37M can be installed in several fighter jets, including SU-30, SU-35, SU-57, MIG-31BM and MIG-35. Russia has proposed it for India’s SU-30mki fighter jets, which are to be upgraded.

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