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The Ministry of Defence took up a proposal to modify the Indian Air Force's Su-30 MKI fighters so they can carry the Russian-origin RVV-BD air-to-air missile, placed before the Defence Acquisition Council meeting of 7 September 2026.
The RVV-BD is the export version of Russia's R-37M missile, a Mach-6 class weapon built to kill high-value targets such as AWACS and reconnaissance aircraft.
Technical references place the missile's maximum range at up to 200 km, while Indian reports have cited an engagement range of up to 300 km after integration.
Integration requires changes to the aircraft's radar, avionics and weapons management software, followed by flight testing and software validation.
The IAF operates more than 260 Su-30 MKI aircraft, licence-produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, and DRDO is separately developing Astra variants of over 300 km range.
Highest decision-making body in the Ministry of Defence for capital procurement and major acquisition approvals; grants Acceptance of Necessity to proposals such as this one.
Licence-manufactures the Su-30 MKI in India and carries out airframe and systems integration work for upgrades.
Developing the indigenous Astra family of air-to-air missiles and the Virupaksha AESA radar meant for the Super Sukhoi upgrade.
Operator of the Su-30 MKI fleet and the end user of the proposed weapon integration.
A separate programme to modernise 84 Su-30 MKI aircraft at about Rs 63,000 crore with a new digital cockpit, indigenous electronic warfare suite and the DRDO Virupaksha GaN-based AESA radar in place of the legacy radar.
The RVV-BD route buys a proven long-range capability quickly; the Astra Mk-III gives the same reach under Indian control. The two run in parallel rather than as alternatives.
The Su-30 MKI, its weapons and the S-400 system all come from the Russian line, so weapon-integration proposals of this kind typically move in step with high-level bilateral engagement.
Very-long-range air-to-air missiles are aimed less at enemy fighters than at the AWACS and refuelling aircraft that sustain them; pushing those platforms further back degrades an adversary's whole air picture.
GS Paper 3 > Security > Defence technology and indigenisation
Defence Current Affairs > Aircraft, missiles and procurement
Export variant of Russia's R-37M very-long-range air-to-air missile, a Mach-6 class weapon designed to destroy AWACS and other high-value aerial platforms.
Apex body of the Ministry of Defence, chaired by the Defence Minister, that approves capital acquisition proposals for the armed forces.
Active Electronically Scanned Array radar; it steers its beam electronically instead of mechanically, allowing simultaneous tracking of many targets and greater resistance to jamming.