Squadron Leader Anuj Vashisht of Gurugram was among the two IAF pilots who died when a Sukhoi‑30MKI jet crashed near Chokihola in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district.The IAF, in a post on Friday morning, said Squadron Leader Vashisht and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar sustained fatal injuries in the crash. The jet was on a training sortie and disappeared from radar shortly after taking off from Jorhat airbase on Thursday.Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he “is deeply saddened” by the deaths of the IAF pilots. “Their courage and service to the nation will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,” he said in a post on social media.The IAF operates around 260 Sukhoi‑30MKI jets, which played a major role in Operation Sindoor, including the delivery of the air‑launched version of the BrahMos missile on Pakistan’s air bases on May 10.There have been 13 accidents involving Sukhoi-30K jets between 2009 and 2026, and five pilots, including the two who died today, lost their lives.A massive upgrade has been planned for the jets, including modern avionics, a latest‑generation radar, better engines and a 78 per cent indigenous content. India aims to increase local components in the upgraded aircraft to boost domestic manufacturing and reduce dependency on foreign suppliers. The IAF is awaiting a final nod for upgrading of the fleet.In February last year, Russia offered the engine that powers its latest stealth fighter jet, the Sukhoi‑57, for the upgrade programme of the existing Sukhoi‑30MKI fleet. The Sukhoi‑30MKI is currently powered by the AL‑31 engine, which is less powerful than the AL‑41 used in the Sukhoi‑57. Russia’s proposal includes replacing the existing engines with the more advanced AL‑41.The HAL, which holds the licence to produce the Sukhoi‑30MKI in India, is set to sign the work‑share contract for the upgrade.The twin‑engine multirole aircraft forms the backbone of the IAF’s fighter fleet. In 2024, the Ministry of Defence placed an order worth Rs 13,500 crore with the HAL to produce 12 more Sukhoi jets along with associated equipment, replacing those lost in attrition over the years.