Bangladesh, Feb. 25 -- Indias reported push to upgrade its fleet of Sukhoi Su-30MKI aircraft-while advancing talks with Moscow over the fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57-marks more than a routine modernization decision. It signals a pivotal moment in New Delhis long-standing effort to reconcile three often competing imperatives: operational readiness, technological self-reliance, and strategic autonomy.

At the center of the current debate is the Indian Air Forces (IAF) “Super Sukhoi” program, which proposes upgrading 84 Su-30MKI jets, with parallel efforts envisaged for the remaining fleet of roughly 175 aircraft. The Su-30MKI, inducted in 2002 and produced under license by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), remains the backbon...