August 14 1996.

India signed a deal to acquire 40 Su-30MK and start licence production after their delivery. This took place without investigation of corruption charges brought earlier.

July 1 1996

India's plans to purchase up to 40 Su-30 totaling $1.8 billion has been postponed. The delay is caused by the allegations of corruption chagres and a clash within India's defence establishment. The competing Mirage 2000-5 falls short of Su-30MK in range and payload. -- Aviaiton Weeek and Space Technology

April 24, 1997 Uchitelskaya Gazeta No 81 (1691). Sergey Ptichkin

The first "pure Indian" variant of Su-30 fighter was assembled. Su-30MKI - Modification Kommercial Indian. Cheif designer Alexander Varkovski. New integral control system, thrust vectoring in two dimensions. Apr'23 the first aircraft was sent to LII (named after M.M.Gromov) for flight tests.
Photo of Su-30MKI in the assembley facility of the OKB.
Nose part of two-seater like of Su-27UB/27PU/30. Wing like of Su-27K/35/37. Thrust vectoring engines like of Su-37. Tail number "56". Russian Air Force designations (red stars).