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Pilot killed in Sukhoi crash was part of Op Sindoor. ‘He was very proud to be part of IAF,’ says father

March 06, 2026 4 min read Internal Security GS3
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What Happened

  • Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar were killed when their Su-30MKI fighter jet crashed in a remote hill region of Karbi Anglong district, Assam, approximately 60 km from the Jorhat Air Base.
  • The aircraft went missing at 7:42 PM on 5 March 2026 during a routine training mission after taking off from Jorhat Air Base. Flt Lt Duragkar was originally posted at Tezpur but was operating from Jorhat due to runway maintenance at Tezpur.
  • Flt Lt Duragkar's father revealed that his son had participated in Operation Sindoor, launched in May 2025 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

Static Topic Bridges

Sukhoi Su-30MKI — Backbone of the Indian Air Force

The Su-30MKI is a twin-engine, two-seater, multirole air superiority fighter developed by Russia's Sukhoi and manufactured under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at its Nashik facility. It is the IAF's primary air dominance platform, with a sanctioned fleet strength of 272 aircraft. The "MKI" designation indicates the Indian-specific variant (M for Modernised, K for Kommercheskiy/Commercial, I for India).

  • India signed the initial deal with Russia in 2000 for 140 aircraft; the first HAL-assembled Su-30MKI entered IAF service in November 2004.
  • HAL now manufactures over 80% of the aircraft indigenously.
  • Maximum takeoff weight: 38,800 kg; payload capacity: over 8 tonnes, including air-to-air, air-to-surface, and anti-ship missiles.
  • The Super Sukhoi upgrade programme (announced 2024) aims to extend the fleet's service life by 30 years through integration of AESA radars, long-range weapons, and advanced electronic warfare suites.
  • The Su-30MKI has been involved in several incidents: at least 11 aircraft have been lost in crashes since induction.

Connection to this news: The crash of an Su-30MKI during a routine training sortie raises questions about fleet maintenance, operational readiness, and the pace of the Super Sukhoi upgrade programme for the IAF's most numerous fighter platform.

Operation Sindoor (May 2025) — India's Military Response to the Pahalgam Attack

Operation Sindoor was launched on 7 May 2025 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack of 22 April 2025, in which 26 civilians (mostly tourists) were killed by militants affiliated with The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. India conducted precision missile strikes on nine terrorism-related infrastructure sites of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir between 1:05 AM and 1:30 AM IST.

  • India stated that no Pakistani military or civilian facilities were targeted — only terrorist infrastructure.
  • A ceasefire was announced on 10 May 2025 following negotiations between India and Pakistan.
  • The operation involved multiple IAF platforms, including Su-30MKI aircraft operating from bases across India.
  • The operation represented a significant escalation from the 2019 Balakot air strikes, both in scope and the number of targets hit simultaneously.

Connection to this news: Flt Lt Duragkar's participation in Operation Sindoor underscores the dual-role demands on IAF pilots — transitioning between high-intensity combat operations and routine training sorties — and the risks inherent in both.

IAF Operational Readiness and Fighter Squadron Strength

The Indian Air Force has been operating below its sanctioned strength of 42 fighter squadrons (approximately 756 aircraft) for over a decade. As of 2025-26, the IAF operates approximately 30-31 squadrons, creating a significant capability gap against the two-front threat scenario envisaged by India's defence planners.

  • The IAF's fighter fleet includes Su-30MKI (272 sanctioned), MiG-29 (~69), Mirage 2000 (~49), Jaguar (~120), MiG-21 (being phased out), Rafale (36), and Tejas LCA (Mark 1 deliveries underway).
  • The Tejas Mark 1A programme (83 aircraft ordered from HAL) and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) are intended to address the squadron shortfall.
  • Operational losses due to crashes further deplete the available fleet, making each aircraft loss significant.
  • The IAF's attrition rate for fighter aircraft has been a matter of parliamentary concern, with questions raised about maintenance protocols and pilot training standards.

Connection to this news: The loss of an Su-30MKI during a training mission highlights the broader challenge of maintaining operational readiness while the IAF operates well below its sanctioned squadron strength.

Key Facts & Data

  • Two pilots killed: Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar (28 years old, from Nagpur).
  • The Su-30MKI crashed in Karbi Anglong, Assam, approximately 60 km from Jorhat Air Base on 5 March 2026.
  • Su-30MKI sanctioned fleet: 272 aircraft; it is the IAF's most numerous fighter platform.
  • Operation Sindoor was launched on 7 May 2025, striking nine targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
  • The IAF operates approximately 30-31 fighter squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 42.