[BatGuano]

Yes, the best is made in America. Check the Russian accident statistics (if the true ones exist) to see if they have such a miserable record flying the MIGS and Sukhoi aircraft. My suspicion is that the Indian maintenance is not up to par and the pilots are not well trained and lack the proficiency to fly high performance aircraft. This lack can be attributed to the fact that the airplanes are grounded for long periods of time for maintenance. You have to fly a fighter at least 5 times a week to maintain proficiency.

95% of the time you can look to operations and/or maintenance as the cause. The aircraft itself is usually not to blame.

[sukhoi-30mki]

Indian pilots do fly a lot. 250+ hours for frontal units as per some sources given that they face two nuclear-armed enemies.

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?48916-Countries-with-the-highest-flying-hours

Comparing with Russian accident statistics is not exactly a realistic thing. Russian pilots, since the fall of the USSR, have seen a steep fall in flying hours. You don’t fly, you don’t crash!

India’s problems stem from a number of factors: the fact that advanced jet trainers were delayed for two decades, lack of quality spares (caused by the fall of the USSR and breakup of production units there) and a absence of strategic planning at both government and military levels.