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Sukhoi Su-30

The Sukhoi Su-30 (Russian: Сухой Су-30; NATO reporting name: Flanker-C/G/H) is a twin-engine, two-seat supermaneuverable fighter aircraft developed in the Soviet Union by Russia's Sukhoi Aviation Corporation. It is a multirole fighter for all-weather, air-to-air and air interdiction missions.

The Su-30 started as an internal development project in the Sukhoi Su-27 family by Sukhoi. From the Su-27UB two-seat trainer, the Su-27PU heavy interceptor was developed. The design plan was revamped and the Su-27PU was renamed to Su-30 by the Russian Defense Ministry in 1996. Of the Flanker family, the Su-27, Su-30, Su-33, Su-34 and Su-35 have been ordered into limited or serial production by the Russian Defense Ministry. Later, different export requirements split the Su-30 into two distinct version branches, manufactured by competing organisations: KnAAPO and the Irkut Corporation, both of which come under the Sukhoi aerospace group's umbrella.


KnAAPO manufactures the Su-30MKK and the Su-30MK2, which were designed for and sold to China, and later Indonesia, Uganda, Venezuela, and Vietnam. Due to KnAAPO's involvement from the early stages of developing the Su-35, these are basically a two-seat version of the mid-1990s Su-35. The Chinese chose an older but lighter radar so the canards could be omitted in return for increased payload. It is a fighter with both air supremacy and attack capabilities, generally similar to the U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle.[9]


Irkut traditionally served the Soviet Air Defense and, in the early years of Flanker development, was given the responsibility of manufacturing the Su-27UB, the two-seat trainer version. When India showed an interest in the Su-30, Irkut offered the multirole Su-30MKI, which originated as the Su-27UB modified with avionics appropriate for fighters. Along with its ground-attack capabilities, the series adds features for the air-superiority role, such as canards, thrust-vectoring, and a long-range phased-array radar. Its derivatives include the Su-30MKM, MKA, and SM for Malaysia, Algeria, and Russia respectively. The Russian Aerospace Forces operates several Su-30s and has ordered the Su-30SM variant as well.

Development[edit]

While the original Su-27 had good range, it still did not have enough range for the Soviet Air Defense Forces (PVO, as opposed to VVS – the Soviet Air Force). The Air Defense Forces needed to cover the vast expanse of the Soviet Union. Hence, development began in 1986 on the Su-27PU, an improved-capability variant of the Su-27 capable of serving as a long-range interceptor or airborne command post.[10]


The two-seat Su-27UB combat trainer was selected as the basis for the Su-27PU, because it had the performance of a single-seat Su-27 with seating for two crew members. A "proof-of-concept" demonstrator flew 6 June 1987, and this success led to the kick-off of development work on two Su-27PU prototypes. The first Su-27PU flew at Irkutsk on 31 December 1989, and the first of three pre-production models flew on 14 April 1992.[11]

– 70 Su-30MKA (2022)[81]

Algerian Air Force

Crew: 2

Length: 21.935 m (72 ft 0 in)

Wingspan: 14.7 m (48 ft 3 in)

Height: 6.36 m (20 ft 10 in)

Wing area: 62 m2 (670 sq ft)

Empty weight: 17,700 kg (39,022 lb)

Gross weight: 24,900 kg (54,895 lb)

Max takeoff weight: 34,500 kg (76,059 lb)

Fuel capacity: 9,400 kg (20,723 lb) internal

[189]

Powerplant: 2 × /FP Afterburning turbofan engines, 74.5 kN (16,700 lbf) thrust each dry, 122.58 kN (27,560 lbf) with afterburner

Saturn AL-31FL

Data from KnAAPO,[15] Sukhoi,[16] Gordon and Davison,[186] deagel.com,[187] airforce-technology.com[188]


General characteristics


Performance


Armament



Avionics

On 12 June 1999, a Russian Su-30MK crashed at the , Le Bourget, France. Both pilots ejected safely and no one was hurt on the ground.[191]

Paris Air Show

On 22 September 2020, a Russian Su-30M2 was shot down by a Su-35S during air combat training which pitted two Su-35S against one Su-30M2. When the pilot of a Su-35S pulled the trigger to record the simulated hit, the jet fired a burst from its 30mm GSh-30-1 cannon, hitting the right wing of the Su-30M2, leaving the aircraft uncontrollable and forcing its crew to eject.[193][194]

[192]

On 23 October 2022, a Russian Su-30SM crashed into a residential building in the Siberian city of during a test flight. Pilots Maxim Konyushin and Viktor Kryukov died in the crash, but there were no casualties on the ground.[195][196] Investigators suspect that the aircraft's oxygen system had been refilled with nitrogen, which caused both pilots to become unconscious and lose control of the aircraft in flight.[197]

Irkutsk

On 12 August 2023, a Russian Su-30 crashed in the during a training flight. Both airmen were killed.[198]

Kaliningrad region

Fourth-generation jet fighter

Related development


Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era


Related lists

Gordon, Yefim and Peter Davison (2006). Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker. Specialty Press, 2006.  978-1-58007-091-1.

ISBN

Eden, Paul, ed. (July 2006). The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft. London, UK: Amber Books, 2004.  1-904687-84-9.

ISBN

Gordon, Yefim (1999). Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker: Air Superiority Fighter. Airlife Publishing, 1999.  1-84037-029-7.

ISBN

Williams, Mel, ed. (2002). "Sukhoi 'Super Flankers'". Superfighters: The Next Generation of Combat Aircraft. Norwalk, Connecticut: AIRtime Publishing Inc., 2002.  1-880588-53-6.

ISBN

Official ; Official KnAAPO Su-30MK and Su-30MK2 pages

Sukhoi Su-30MK page

Su-30 page on milavia.net

Sukhoi Flankers – The Shifting Balance of Regional Air Power

Su-30 page on Fighter Tactics Academy site

Asia's Advanced Flankers on ausairpower.net

Sukhoi Su-30 photo pool on Flickr