IAF Su-30MKI Fighter Aircraft Crashes In Nashik, Pilots Managed To Eject And Are Safe: Defence Officials

The Su-30MKI aircraft is a twinjet multirole air superiority fighter, which means that it is powered by two engines, is intended to perform different roles in combat, and can show tactical dominance.

A Su-30MKI aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF), which was with Indian public sector aerospace and defence company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for overhauling (examination and revision of machinery), crashed in Maharashtra's Nashik district on June 4, 2024. (Representative Image) ( Image Source :Getty )

A Su-30MKI aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF), which was with Indian public sector aerospace and defence company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for overhauling (examination and revision of machinery), crashed in Maharashtra's Nashik district on June 4, 2024. However, both the pilots of the aircraft managed to eject themselves from the plane and are safe, defence officials have said, news agency ANI reported. 

An X (formerly Twitter) account called Alpha Defense has shared a video of the incident, and said that it occurred at Shirasgaon in Niphad Taluka. 

#BREAKING | 1 Su-30MKI Fighter Jet of Indian Army Force crashed at Shirasgaon in Niphad Taluka.

Pilot ejected Safely, CoI ordered by @IAF_MCCpic.twitter.com/ExLp6yojh4 https://t.co/CxP1TU24J3

— Alpha Defense™ (@alpha_defense) June 4, 2024

What is Su-30MKI?

The Su-30MKI aircraft is a twinjet multirole air superiority fighter, which means that it is powered by two engines, is intended to perform different roles in combat, and is designed to seize control of enemy airspace through tactical dominance. 

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited builds the aircraft under licence for the IAF. 

It weighs 18,400 kilograms, is 22 metres long, has a maximum speed of 2,120 kilometres per hour, and a range of 3,000 kilometres. 

In 2002, the IAF accepted the first Russian-made Su-30MKI. In November 2004, the first Su-30MKI assembled in India was accepted into the IAF. 

Tailor-made for India's needs, Su-30MKI integrates Indian systems and avionics with French and Israeli subsystems.

India has a fleet of 272 Su-30MKI aircraft, and ordered 12 more in 2023.

In September 2023, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh-led Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for nine capital acquisition proposals worth around Rs 45,000, including 12 Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets which would be manufactured in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The defence ministry said that all procurements will be made from indigenous sources only. 

According to the statement, Singh directed the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs, Defence Secretary, and DG (Acquisition) to engage with Indian industry to raise the minimum indigenous content threshold.