In a significant move to bolster India’s defence capabilities, the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced the approval of a major procurement deal for 240 AL-31FP aero engines, designated for the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Su-30MKI fleet. The engines will be manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at a cost exceeding Rs 26,000 crore under the “Buy (Indian)” category.
The Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared the proposal, and the delivery is expected to commence within a year, with full completion over eight years. Over 54% of the engine components will be indigenously produced, demonstrating India’s push for self-reliance in defence production. The engines will be built at HAL’s Koraput division, a key facility for defence manufacturing.
The MoD emphasized the strategic importance of the Su-30MKI, calling it one of the most powerful aircraft in the IAF fleet. “The supply of these aero-engines by HAL would meet the fleet sustenance requirement of IAF to continue their unhindered operations and strengthen the defence preparedness of the country,” the MoD said in an official statement.
The Koraput aero engine project is one of large-scale Russian-Indian defence programs of strategic nature. The aero engines are manufactured under Transfer of Technology (TOT) license from Russia. In October 2000, an intergovernmental agreement was signed between India and Russia to enable the licensed manufacturing of Su-30MKI aircraft, including their engines and key components. The Sukhoi Engine Division was established in 2002 by then Defence Minister George Fernandes, and by 2004, it began producing AL-31FP engines. Since its inception, the division has manufactured over 517 engines and overhauled more than 670, ensuring the IAF’s fleet remains operational, according to HAL.
AL-31FP is a twin spool, axial flow, low bypass turbofan engine incorporating afterburner system, variable area jet nozzle with thrust vectoring, air-to-air heat exchanger and anti-surge system. The jet nozzle pitches up and down to improve the maneuverability of the Sukhoi aircraft. “AL” represents the first letters of the name and surname of the major Soviet scientist and designer of jet engines Arkhip Lyulka, under whose supervision the AL-31F engine was developed in the 1980s. Lyulka design bureau, leading Russian developer of engines for combat aircraft, is named after him.
In March 2024, the Indian Ministry of Defence announced a contract with HAL to produce Russian RD-33 aero engines for MiG-29 fighter jets, valued at Rs 5,249.72 crore. These engines will also be manufactured at HAL’s Koraput facility. Modern aircraft turbofan engines, like the RD-33, are among the most complex technological systems, and the successful execution of this large-scale joint project demonstrates the impressive capabilities of Indian and Russian engineers working together.
The India-Russia defence partnership saw further progress in the ground forces sector over the summer. On 4th July, Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state export company, announced plans to manufacture 3VBM17 Mango armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding-sabot (APFSDS) rounds in India. A day later, Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited, based in India, delivered 35,000 Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles to the Indian Ministry of Defence.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Moscow in July, he discussed joint defence production with Russian President Vladimir Putin. As India’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Vinay Kwatra stated, both leaders were eager to expand defence cooperation by incorporating new military platforms and equipment into the successful framework of Indo-Russian joint production initiatives.
