The Indian Air Force continues to rely heavily on the Su-30MKI, with more than 260 aircraft in service and an expected operational life of 15 to 20 years.

While the fighter remains the backbone of Indian aviation due to its range, payload capacity, manoeuvrability and performance, its radar and infrared signatures have become a liability in modern combat environments dominated by advanced detection systems.

The Su-30MKI’s large airframe, canards, air intakes, exposed compressor blades and multiple hardpoints contribute to significant radar reflections. External weapons and fuel tanks mounted under the wings further increase visibility, while the absence of infrared stealth compounds the weakness. 

These design features stem from the aircraft’s role as a heavy fighter optimised for endurance and payload delivery, making them difficult to fully correct without a fundamental redesign of the platform.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation, has launched an initiative to address these vulnerabilities.

The focus is on applying radar-absorbing paints and materials developed in India, particularly those using magnetic functional fillers. 

Rather than coating the entire airframe, the treatment will be applied selectively to highly reflective areas such as the interiors of air intake ducts and adjacent fuselage sections. This targeted approach aims to reduce radar cross-section while preserving aerodynamic and flight characteristics.

System-scale demonstrations have already been conducted using locally produced absorbing paint. Laboratory tests were followed by flight trials, including a Tejas light combat aircraft carrying a payload treated with the coating.

Evaluations of the Su-30MKI’s radar cross-section have also been reported, with official technical documents noting a “significant reduction in radar signatures across a broad multi-dimensional frequency range.” These results, however, must still be validated in operationally representative configurations for the heavy fighter.

India’s Su-30MKI fleet is undergoing radar signature reduction trials, but experts stress that survivability in modern contested airspaces also demands a major leap in Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities.

Indigenous jammer pods, advanced GPS anti-jamming systems, and DRDO-developed EW suites are being integrated under the ‘Super Sukhoi’ upgrade to counter China’s J-20 stealth fighters and advanced Pakistani air defence networks.

Therefore, the need to strengthen Electronic Warfare features in the Su-30MKI has become urgent. Modern air combat is increasingly defined by the electromagnetic spectrum, where adversaries deploy advanced radars, long-range missiles, and networked air defence systems.

India’s Super Sukhoi upgrade program is therefore introducing indigenous Aircraft Self Protection Jammer (ASPJ) pods, Gallium Nitride-based transmitters, and Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) technologies to spoof and confuse enemy radars.

DRDO’s Yodha and Anidra EW suites are being tailored for the Su-30MKI, combining offensive jamming, passive detection, and deception to create false radar targets and blind missile seekers.

In addition, new anti-jamming GPS antennas compatible with India’s NaVIC system are being integrated to resist spoofing and ensure navigation accuracy in contested environments.

These EW enhancements are critical to counter stealth aircraft like China’s J-20 and to penetrate dense air defence networks, ensuring the Su-30MKI remains a credible frontline fighter through the 2030s and beyond.

The initiative reflects India’s broader effort to enhance survivability of its frontline combat aircraft without attempting to transform them into stealth platforms. By selectively reducing radar visibility, the Su-30MKI can remain relevant in contested airspaces while retaining its strengths in payload and range. 

This work also underscores India’s growing self-reliance in advanced defence technologies, with indigenous materials and coatings being developed and tested domestically.

Agencies