they could but it doesn't help the fact they mix-match their equipment, such as buying a Sukhoi then installing NATO gear/tech aboard it and it also had something do with HAL, I believe it was the fact HAL was manufacturing low level products not really putting time into building any....
it is bad enough that they are sending some of their SU-30MKIs to Russia for the "Super 30" upgrade and even having us build their SU-30MKIs.
Precisely
Mixing up a Russian platform with western equipment is a very bad idea. The Indonesian Air Force are much aware of this. Which is why they chose to buy the original one and did not to follow Malaysia way. I used to having a discussion with a Malaysians in the past and he telling me how proud they are with Su-30MKM. Thrust vectoring nozzle, better radars, better avionics, can do this .. can do that..
Now, where are they?
Hangar queens?
I don't know..
In the last four years It was never heard of in the local media they flew beside on the independence day celebrations, once a year air shows and a few sorties in joint exercise with one or two countries a year. Even their own military enthusiast community also asked the same thing.
On the otherhands, Indonesia keeps flying its Sukhoi in 365 day a year either for patrols, training, fly pass, intercept, you name it.
Actually, the malaysian air force officials are aware because they have the same version with the Indian su-30MKI. Its made by Indian HAL as well. By the time after the crash when the Indian grounded their fleets for a further investigation, the malaysian also do the same for safety reasons until a solution is found.
I'm glad the indonesian governments has made the right choice.
Rather than modifying it better directly jump to the more advanced version in su-35s