IAF's Sukhoi Su-30MKI

[Blademaster]

primarily because Sukhoi's life service costs are astronomical. Engine replacement, spares and fuel consumption of one squadron of Su30s is roughly equal to 2.5 squadrons of Tejas.

Not comparing them to Tejas but to other fighters that are in the MFRA competition such as Rafale eurofighter and f-15s.

 

[aim120]

Exactly, are the IAF babus not watching the war between Russia & Ukraine. The fighter jets that Russia is using most often are:
SU 35S <multi role>
SU 34M <as a bomb truck>
SU 25 <ground attack>
SU 57 <sparingly>
They have SU 30SM2, Mig 29, etc, but none of those are being used. I would rather have IAF take a closer look at SU 35S (apparently, the newer ones delivered to the Russian Air Force have gotten upgraded based on learnings on the battlefield. There is no light, medium, or heavy here. This is real war - everything is heavy.

Su30 of russia doesn't have the litening pod like the MKI. While the Su34 has the TV and IR opticals. SU34 also has a lower RCS than all other SU 27 derivatives including SU30.

While the SU35 has better thrust and a more powerful radar and lower RCS than SU30. It can stay in air for longer duration.

Russia has used the SU30, one of which was used to take out the patriot battery. Russian Navy also used the SU30 to take out several ukraine drones. Most of SU30 missions are flown by Russian Naval aviation.