With the final exit of the MiG-21s last month bringing down the IAF fighter squadron strength to 29 as against the sanctioned 42, there’s a push within the government to go ahead with the programme to upgrade the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fleet, the backbone of the IAF, officials aware of the latest discussions have told The Sunday Express.

The Su-30MKI upgrade programme, also referred to as the Super Sukhoi programme, is a major midlife upgrade programme which can increase the service life of the multirole fighter by another 20 years.

According to officials, the upgradation proposal is currently being examined by the Ministry of Defence and efforts are underway to fast-track its movement to the Cabinet Committee of Security (CCS) for its approval.

“It is currently being examined by the Ministry

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