India temporarily grounds Sukhoi-30 fighter jets

Last week, a Sukhoi-30 MKI had crashed in a field near Pune.

Though the matter is under investigation, but preliminary findings had suggested that it’s not human error, but a technical problem in the fly-by-wire system of the jet as the main cause behind the accident.

"The fleet has been grounded and is undergoing technical checks following the latest accident in Pune. It would be back in air only after a thorough check," IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Simranpal Singh Birdi is quoted by media as saying.

“A Court of Inquiry is in progress to ascertain the actual cause of accident,” he added.

IAF sources said that, each aircraft will go through thorough technical check-up.

Birdi of course, did not specify what specific technical aspects the force is looking into.

This meant, about 200-odd twin engine Su-30s will not be making sorties till they are cleared by the technical review.

It has been learnt that the grounded fleet represent almost a third of the country's fighter fleet.

The IAF is down to 34 combat squadrons, as against an authorised strength of 44. Each squadron has up to 18 fighter planes.

According to IAF, till date SU-30 MKI has been involved in five accidents since 2009 and the fleet has at least been grounded twice earlier.

IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha had recently told media persons that the Su-30 fleet was facing certain problems, but he refused to elaborate.

The IAF’s Su-30 fleet has faced a high number of mid-air engine failures during the last two years, said an IAF official.

Sukhoi “Su-30MKI” is a super-maneuverable air superiority fighter developed by Russia's Sukhoi and built under licence by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

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