Indian Air Force receives first Su-30MKI fighter aircraft overhauled by HAL.

"After successful testing of various systems on ground and in air, as per stipulated flight profiles, the aircraft is certified to fly. At present, the TTL (Total Technical Life) of the aircraft is 6000hrs/25 years," the press note said.

The press note, quoted the defence minister as having said: "...India would continue to need fighter planes such as Su-30s due to a not-so-friendly neighbourhood."

HAL Chairman R K Tyagi said that the Su-30 overhaul facility at HAL Nashik is one of its kind in the world and has great export prospect as nearly 10 countries have Su-30 fleets.

The Sukhoi Su-30MK (MKM-export version) is a russian made two-seat multirole fighter aicraft. Intended to gain air superiority, deliver blows against ground and waterborne targets by guided and unguided weapons, and also to conduct group combat actions in enemy's ECM and air defense fire environment, by day and night, in any weather conditions. The Sukhoi Su-30MK enables its crew to fully implement vast capabilities of up-to-date avionics systems and the entire range of airborne weapons to defeat aerial and ground (waterborne) targets. The Su-30MK is a qualitatively new multifunctional combat aircraft, in which the combat capabilities of Su-27-family aircraft have been retained and developed. It is developed from the Su-30 production aircraft and capable of carrying air-to-surface guided weapons.