Asad

Engine blade defect grounds Sukhoi-30



NEW DELHI SEPT. 5. The only complete squadron of India's frontline Sukhoi-30 fighters has been grounded following detection of "nicks'' in the engine blades. The Indian Air Force wants the defective parts replaced free of cost but the manufacturers are reluctant because the warranty period has expired.

The IAF has threatened to stall a long-term contract for the supply and indigenous manufacture of improved versions of this plane unless its makers made amends immediately, informed sources said.

Other sources in the Air Headquarters admitted to the problem of nicks but said flying had been staggered prior to their despatch to Russia for routine checks. Planes are regularly checked and nicks of a certain size and amount are permitted. Otherwise the blades are changed. According to warranty terms, these planes of `Sukhoi-30 MK' make are due to be upgraded by 2006.

India currently has 28 Sukhoi planes based at the Lohegaon IAF base at Pune. The first batch of 18 is of Sukhoi-30 K make (NATO name `Flanker') and arrived in 1997-98. The remaining 10 of the improved `MKI' make arrived recently. The problem, according to informed sources, is with the first lot comprising the No. 24 Hunting Hawk squadron, the IAF's main high performance fighter fleet. With slight modification, these planes are considered ideal for delivery of nuclear weapons because of their long range. They are certain to find a place in the newly created Strategic Forces Command, which will oversee all nuclear delivery systems such as warships, submarines, missiles and aircraft.

Informed sources said the rub lies in the fact that the IAF currently has too few multi-role combat planes. The number will increase after 22 Sukhoi-30 MKI arrive from Russia, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) makes another 140 and some French planes are purchased in due course. As a result, the IAF does not want to wait for a couple of years for the scheduled upgrade of these `K' variants to `MKI'.

Other sources, however, were confident that the crisis would blow over. "Nicks happen all the time but the contract with Sukhoi is for a very long period. Their people have been at hand at the base for some time and will continue to be around till all the three versions of the plane are ready," said the sources.

Informed sources point out that the main reason for the selection of Sukhois over competitors such as Mirage-2000 was the considerably lower costs, including life cycle costs. Irkut should, therefore, make an exception and take a close look at these aircraft, especially because the 18 planes, on an average, are only halfway through their technical lives.

However, the Russian company has never been busier. Last year, it accounted for nearly one-thirds of the total Russian armament exports and this year it began supplying Sukhoi planes to Malaysia besides the two lucrative tie-ups with India and China. It appears to be a tough call for both IAF and Irkut. The problem with Sukhoi spares has not occurred for the first time.

IAF officials say that in the past, poor product support as a result of the failure of Irkut to supply the spares already contracted for had led to decrease of average serviceability from 69 per cent in 1997-98 to 62 per cent in 1998-99.

This was because the price quoted by the manufacturer was inconsistent and abnormally high which resulted in delay in finalising the general spares contract.





© Copyright 2000 - 2003 The Hindu

So much for the invincible and god-like Su-30MKIs. :D

-3BSD

__________________
He who praises you for what you lack wishes to take from you what you have.
- Don Juan Manuel

Jay

it clearly says the problem is with MK-1's and not MKI's!!:D

Anon

Is there a difference?

LOL

Jay

ofcourse, MK-1's are different from MKI's! The nicks were found only in MK-1's.

:D
*Edited

Anon

MKI's are different than MKI's?

LOL, how so?

I is the same as 1....

Asad

Then how come they threatened to suspend all future sales if the problem was affecting only the older planes? You Indians are very good at denial.

-3BSD

bigross86

Last time I checked I=1, Snipe. I'm just as confused as you are...

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Jay

oops...sorry that was supposed to be MK-1's.

BSD, the whole sqadron was never grounded, just read the article it says an issue with warranty for those 18 mk-1's, i guess they'll sort it how much to pay and how much is covered under warranty.
They just threatned Sukhoi/Saturn, coz for last couple years Sukhoi is/was profitable bcoz of India and China.and now they signed a $900m contract with Malaysia, so if they dont go with IAF they'll be in trouble. They'r just trying to gain some leverage!!

troung

"MKI's are different than MKI's?"

Yeh

"LOL, how so?"

The Su-30MK-1/K of the InAF are just Su-27UBKs with IFR and a nice new fancy name.

The Su-30MKIs are the ones with TVC, N-011M radar, canards and PGMs (Kh-59ME, Kh-31P, Kh-29L/T, KAB-1500, KAB-500).

The Su-30MK-1/Ks are going to be upgraded to the Su-30MKI model.

Su-30K

Attached Images

su-30k inaf 02.jpg (28.8 KB, 1059 views)

Anon

Thanx Troung.

UnitedDiversity

To: [M21Sniper]

yea there is a difference between the MK-1 and MKI. They uses different engine, so if one engine has problems, doesn't mean the other plane is effected.


To: [troung]

are you sure those MK-1s are going to be upgraded to MKIs? Because to me, it's just one of those baseless Indian dreams that never come true.

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"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed" - President Eisenhower

Jay

UD,
that was the deal! those MK-1's were supposed to be exported to Indonesia (?). But then Russia sent them to India and promised an upgrade.

troung

"are you sure those MK-1s are going to be upgraded to MKIs? Because to me, it's just one of those baseless Indian dreams that never come true."

It's their on paper plan, so it probably will happen.

rahul0072002

Whoever said that the MKIs were grounded??!!

Technicians of No.20 service the radar of an MKI at Lohegaon



An Sukhoi-30 MKI makes a low pass over the Yelahanka airfield .



An Su-30MKI retracts its undercarraige on takeoff at Aero India 2003



Three MKIs of No.20 in close echelon formation on way to thier rendevouz with an Il-78 Tanker



...And lastly, but certainly not the least:
Two Sukhoi-30MKIs of the No.20 Squadron on a flight over Pune.

Jay

These 3 MK-1's were shot right after the engine blade nicks uproar!!



They dont look grounded to me :roll
too lil to rejoice..eh :D