NEW DELHI, INDIA — May 25, 2026 : The Indian Air Force (IAF) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the procurement and integration of anti-jamming navigation systems for 258 Su-30MKI fighter aircraft, as part of a broader effort to improve survivability and navigation reliability in electronically contested combat environments.
Issued under tender reference AIRHQ/D PROJ/26-27/01, the procurement seeks the acquisition, installation, testing, certification, and operational integration of Anti-Jamming Navigation System (Antenna) Electronic Units across the IAF’s frontline Sukhoi fleet. The programme is being managed by the Wing Commander Projects (SU-30) at Air Headquarters, Vayu Bhawan, New Delhi, and has been classified as a limited tender under the “Services” category using a buy form of contract.
The tender has been opened exclusively to technically and financially capable indigenous Indian companies, reflecting the government’s emphasis on domestic defence manufacturing and electronic systems development. Participating vendors are required to submit an Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) of ₹6,00,00,000, payable to the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (PCDA), Air Force.
Multi-Constellation Navigation Upgrade for Electronic Warfare Conditions
The primary objective of the RFP is to replace or upgrade existing navigation antennas on the Su-30MKI with anti-jamming, anti-spoofing multi-constellation GPS Antenna Electronic Units, intended to improve navigation resilience in contested electromagnetic environments.
Modern combat aircraft increasingly operate in conditions where adversaries attempt to disrupt navigation systems through Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) jamming and spoofing, making conventional positioning systems vulnerable to interference. The proposed system is intended to allow uninterrupted navigation and operational continuity even in GPS-degraded or electronically denied environments.
According to the technical requirements outlined in the RFP, the upgraded system will support multiple satellite navigation constellations, including NavIC, GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, and the GAGAN augmentation system. By receiving navigation data from multiple global and regional sources, the system is intended to maintain positioning accuracy and mission continuity during electronic disruption.
The antenna unit is required to deliver jamming rejection capability of up to 85 dB against a single interference source and 80 dB against multiple interference sources, enabling resistance against hostile electronic attacks. The system must also remain operational at altitudes up to 21 kilometres, at speeds up to Mach 1.5, and under aircraft acceleration forces ranging from -2g to +9g, reflecting the demanding flight profile of the Su-30MKI platform.
Procurement Scope and Integration Requirements
Under the procurement plan, selected vendors will be required to supply and integrate 300 antenna systems, exceeding the aircraft requirement to support reserves, testing, and maintenance needs. The contract additionally includes the delivery of 50 field-level testers and 10 base-level testers for diagnostics and sustainment support.
The RFP mandates certification trials on two Su-30MKI aircraft prior to broader fleet integration. In addition, training for Indian Air Force personnel will be conducted at the 9 TETTRA School, ensuring operational and maintenance readiness following system induction.
The upgraded navigation systems are expected to enhance aircraft survivability and operational continuity during long-range missions, precision targeting operations, and standoff strike profiles in heavily contested electromagnetic environments.
Part of the Broader “Super Sukhoi” Modernisation Programme
The anti-jamming navigation initiative forms part of the Indian Air Force’s wider Su-30MKI modernisation roadmap, commonly referred to in defence circles as the “Super Sukhoi” or “Super-30” programme.
India currently operates a Sukhoi fleet of approximately 272 aircraft, with around 260 aircraft in active service, forming the backbone of the Indian Air Force’s combat aviation inventory. The wider modernisation effort seeks to improve avionics, mission survivability, sensor performance, and electronic warfare capability.
Parallel upgrades under consideration include the replacement of the aircraft’s legacy 32-bit mission computer architecture with a 64-bit Digital Flight Control Computer developed by the Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE), enabling faster processing of mission and sensor data.
The IAF is also pursuing plans to replace the N011M Bars Passive Electronically Scanned Array (PESA) radar with the indigenous Virupaksha Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, intended to improve tracking, target engagement, and detection capability.
Separately, the Air Force has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for 100 Advanced Self-Protection Jammer (ASPJ) pods incorporating Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) and Gallium Nitride (GaN) technologies to strengthen aircraft self-protection against hostile airborne and ground-based radar systems. The anti-jamming navigation system is expected to interface with these future electronic warfare systems to ensure navigation continuity under electronic suppression conditions.
Tender Timeline and Administrative Framework
The RFP was officially e-published on May 20, 2026, with the clarification period remaining open until May 29, 2026. A pre-bid meeting is scheduled for May 26, 2026, at Air Headquarters, Vayu Bhawan, where participating firms will be able to seek technical and procedural clarifications.
The bid submission window will open on June 1, 2026, and close on June 22, 2026, while technical bids are scheduled to be opened on June 23, 2026. Submitted bids will remain valid for 180 days.
Under contract conditions, the selected vendor will be required to complete procurement, installation, certification, and aircraft integration activities within a 730-day (24-month) performance period from contract signing.
The Ministry of Defence has not disclosed the estimated value of the programme or specific vendor shortlisting criteria in the RFP documentation.
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