Su-30MKI. Photo: Wikimedia
On Tuesday, June 4, a Su-30MKI fighter jet of the Indian Air Force crashed near the city of Nashik in the Indian state of Maharashtra during a training flight, as reported by local media.
+ Click here to watch the video of the crash site
The aircraft had two pilots on board at the time of the accident. Both survived, although one was injured. The aircraft crashed in an uninhabited area, avoiding casualties on the ground. Local authorities, military, and police quickly arrived at the crash site. The causes of the incident are being investigated, with suspicions of possible technical malfunction.
This accident recalls a previous incident in January last year when Su-30MKI fighter jets and Mirage 2000 collided during a training flight in India.
+ Watch more videos on airplane accidents
About the Su-30MKI
The Su-30MKI is a modified version of the Su-30 fighter jet developed by the Russian Sukhoi Corporation specifically for the Indian Air Force. This version integrates Indian systems, avionics, as well as flight systems from France and Israel. Production of the multi-role fighters takes place in India at the facilities of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under license.
The fleet of Su-30MKI fighters forms the backbone of the Indian Air Force and is expected to remain so for many decades. In 2023, India had more than 260 of these aircraft and has ordered more.
Over the past 20 years, India has invested significantly in intellectual property and infrastructure for the assembly, operation, and maintenance (including overhaul and spare parts production) of the Su-30MKI.
In May of this year, the Indian DRDO conducted flight tests of the modernized RudraM-II anti-radar missile, planned for incorporation into service. The tests were conducted from the Su-30MKI fighter jet.
Source: deccanherald. This content was created with the help of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editorial team.
