Bareilly: The Indian Air Force has constantly been updating the Sukhoi aircraft to suit Indian needs. Now, the ultimate in the series the Sukhoi 30 MKI Phase 3 is out. The Sukhoi 30 MKI is a multi-role air dominance fighter, a generation ahead of the MiGs, Mirages and Jaguars that the air force presently has. The term multi-role defines the range of functions it can perform .“It can do an air defence job, an anti-shipping job and also carry out electronic warfare,” says Commanding Officer, NN Sinha.So how much damage can it cause considering the fact that it can carry up to eight tonnes of weapon load?A single bomb can do a task which during the World War II hundreds of aircrafts did.“Maybe it can wipe out an airbase, making it in-operational for 24 hours,” says Group Captain, PV Gadgil.
Apart from super maneuverability, the aircraft can carry nine tonnes of fuel as opposed to a five-tonne capability of any conventional fighter aircraft and with the new buddy re-fueling mechanism in place, the aircraft can stay in the air for up to 10 hours without a break.With an inherent ability to dominate the skies, the Sukhoi 30 MKI Phase 3 is probably the most formidable aircraft not just in the subcontinent, but also in the world.