Sukhoi-30 still missing: Five facts about Russian-origin fighter plane
The Su-30 fleet is plagued by engine trouble and poor serviceability.
The Sukhoi-30 fighter plane that went off the radar in India’s northeast on Tuesday is still untraceable. The fate of its two pilots is also uncertain after the Russian-made jet lost radio and radar contact 60km north of Tezpur in Assam.

Here are five things about the Indian Air Force’s frontline Su-30 fighter planes:
The fleet
The IAF has contracted 272 Su-30 MKI fighter planes out of which nearly 240 have been delivered. The remaining 32 fighters are likely to be inducted over the next three years.
The first 50 jets came in ready from Russia, the remaining were and are being built under licence by the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
Safety record
Seven Su-30 jets have crashed since 2009, while one is still listed as missing. The IAF inducted its first Su-30 fighter at the Lohegaon air base in Pune in June 1997.
Engine trouble
India’s Su-30 fleet is plagued by engine troubles. Russian-origin fighters recorded 35 engine failures or engine-related problems between January 2013 and December 2014.
Poor serviceability
The Su-30 fleet is also battling poor serviceability, standing at barely 60%. Simply put, only 60 of 100 fighter planes are mission-ready at any given time.
Way forward
India and Russia signed two agreements in March for long-term supply of spares for Su-30 fighter jets. The agreements lay down the terms and conditions for technical assistance and supply of spares for five years, improving the fleet’s serviceability.