IAF Sukhoi Su-30MKI Fighter Jet Loses Radar Contact in Assam

India: A Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has gone missing from radar contact during a sortie over Assam, defence officials confirmed on Thursday evening.

According to the Defence Public Relations Officer (PRO) in Guwahati, the twin-engine multirole jet lost radar contact in the Karbi Anglong district. An IAF team has been immediately dispatched to ascertain the circumstances and locate the aircraft.

Search and rescue operations are currently in progress, with teams mobilised to the area. Some local reports from nearby villages mentioned hearing a loud explosion around 7 pm local time, followed by sightings of smoke rising from hilly terrain, though these remain unconfirmed by official sources.

The aircraft was reportedly on a routine mission, and details regarding the number of crew members onboard or their status have not yet been officially released. The IAF has described the situation as developing, with further updates expected as search efforts continue.

The Su-30MKI forms the backbone of the IAF’s fighter fleet, with hundreds in service. Assam hosts several key air bases, including those at Jorhat and Tezpur, from where such sorties are frequently conducted.

This incident comes amid ongoing modernisation efforts for the Su-30MKI fleet under India’s “Super Sukhoi” programme, which includes upgrades to avionics, radar, and weapon systems.