Government Finalizes ₹13,500 Crore Agreement for 12 Sukhoi Fighter Jets with HAL, Significantly Enhancing Self-Reliance

New Delhi, Dec 12 (NationPress) The Ministry of Defence has officially placed an order worth ₹13,500 crore for the procurement of 12 Su-30MKI fighter jets from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), representing a significant step forward for the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative of the government.

According to a statement from the Defence Ministry, these aircraft will feature an indigenous content of 62.6 percent, which has been augmented by the indigenisation of numerous components that will be produced by the Indian defence sector.

An official revealed that the manufacturing of these aircraft will take place at the Nasik division of HAL. The delivery of these jets is expected to enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Air Force and bolster the nation’s defence preparedness.

The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is a twinjet, two-seater multirole air superiority fighter developed by the Russian company Sukhoi and is produced under license by HAL for the Indian Air Force. This model is a heavy, all-weather, long-range fighter variant of the Sukhoi Su-30.

This announcement follows shortly after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's recent visit to Moscow, where he engaged with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to further reinforce defence relationships between the two nations.

In September, the defence ministry also signed a ₹26,000-crore contract with HAL for advanced engines intended for the Su-30MKI aircraft. These engines will be produced at HAL's Koraput division and are aimed at meeting the operational requirements of the Indian Air Force's Su-30 fleet.

The government’s commitment to enhancing domestic defence production as part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative is increasingly evident in the expanding order books of the nation’s defence manufacturing firms, signaling a positive future outlook for the industry.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a public sector leader primarily serving the Indian Air Force, is also expected to make significant technological advancements as India and the U.S. prepare to sign a deal for the production of advanced GE engines for military aircraft at HAL facilities.

Thanks to strategic government initiatives, India’s defence production has surged to an astounding ₹1.27 lakh crore in FY 2023-24, reflecting a remarkable increase of around 174 percent from ₹46,429 crore in 2014-15, based on official statistics.

Traditionally, India depended heavily on foreign nations for its defence requirements, importing approximately 65-70 percent of its defence equipment. However, this scenario has changed significantly, with about 65 percent of defence equipment now being produced domestically.