Russia Offers 177S Engine for Su-30MKI

[Gap: performance figures come from Russian specifications and have not been independently verified; timeline and technology-transfer terms are single-sourced and unconfirmed.]

Russia offered the Izdeliye 177S engine for India's Su-30MKI on Oct. 3, 2026, claiming about 14,500 kgf afterburning thrust and up to 6,000 hours' service life, a potential performance boost for 84 upgraded fighters.

177S thrust and 6,000-hour life Russian specifications put the 177S's afterburning thrust at roughly 14,500 kgf versus about 12,500 kgf for the AL-31FP, and also claim lower fuel consumption. Officials cautioned those figures require Indian flight and endurance testing before they can be treated as validated.

India's Super Sukhoi upgrade package covers 84 aircraft and includes a new AESA radar, modernized avionics, electronic-warfare systems and integration of Indian weapons, officials said. New Delhi has not selected the 177S; the principal sticking point is technology transfer, with India seeking substantial local manufacturing and deeper access to core systems rather than limited licensed assembly.

Officials said timing will hinge on test results and transfer negotiations; they added a contract could be signed by June 30, 2027, if tests validate the 177S and New Delhi accepts transfer terms, but negotiations could stretch later in 2027 if India presses for fuller technology access.