IAF gets leaner, meaner Sukhois for arsenal

While Air Chief Marshal S. Krishnaswamy called the aircraft best suited to take on ‘‘our prime adversary’’, the commentary at the induction added that the aircraft’s maiden flight was ‘‘deliberately done on August 14, the Independence Day of an enemy country.’’

‘‘With pressure on the border, such an aircraft gives an edge to our country,’’ Krishnaswamy said, adding that ‘‘it is possible to use the aircraft in a counter-terrorist role.’’

A product of Russian, Indian, Israeli and French efforts, the Su-30 MKI — dressed in dull grey paint — is supposed to be India’s answer to the best in the world, notwithstanding the claims made by the yet-to be operational American F-22.

While air chief Krishnaswamy called the Su-30 MKI a milestone, aircraft designers from the Sukhoi design bureau said it was a ‘‘qualitative improvement on the earlier variant.’’