Sukhoi Su-30

Su-30
Su-30 of the Russian Air Force in flight over Russia
Role	Multirole fighter[1]
Manufacturer	Sukhoi
First flight	31 December 1989
Introduction	1996
Status	In production, in service
Primary users	Indian Air Force PLA Air Force (China) Venezuelan Air Force Royal Malaysian Air Force
Number built	200+
Unit cost	US$33–45 million
Developed from	Sukhoi Su-27
Variants	Sukhoi Su-30MKI Sukhoi Su-30MKK Sukhoi Su-30MKM

The Sukhoi Su-30 (Cyrillic: Сухой Су-30) (NATO reporting name Flanker-C) is a twin-engine, two-seat military aircraft developed by Russia's Sukhoi Aviation Corporation. It is a multirole fighter for all-weather, air-to-air and air-to-surface deep interdiction missions.
The Su-30 started out as an internal development project in the Sukhoi Su-27 family by Sukhoi. The design plan was revamped and the name was made official by the Russian Defense Ministry in 1996. Of the Flanker family, only the Su-27, Su-30, Su-34 and Su-35 have been ordered into serial production by the Defense Ministry. All the others, such as Su-37, were prototypes.
The Su-30 has two distinct branches, manufactured by competing organisations: KnAAPO and the Irkut Corporation, both of which come under the Sukhoi group's umbrella. KnAAPO manufactures the Su-30MKK and the Su-30MK2, which were designed for and sold to China, and later Indonesia and Vietnam. Due to KnAAPO's involvement from the early stages of developing 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 dedicated strike fighter designed for long-range air-to-surface attack missions, similar to the American F-15E.^{[citation needed]}
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 of the Su-27. When India showed interests 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 thrust-vectoring, forward canards and a long-range phase-array radar. Its derivatives include the MKM, MKA and MKV for Malaysia, Algeria and Venezuela, respectively. Russia is in talks to buy from Sukhoi's mass production facility Irkut on 28 to 40 Su-30 C fighters.

Development

Su-27PU long-range interceptor

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), which 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. 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 and long-range missions require 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-series models flew in 14 April 1992.^{[citation needed]}
To adapt the Su-27UB to its new role, the aircraft was fitted with a retractable in-flight refuelling probe to increase range; the probe is offset to the left side of the nose and, to accommodate it, the IRST was offset to the right. The aircraft's avionics were changed, fitting special communications and guidance equipment to command formation flights of single-seat Su-27 interceptors. The rear cockpit received a large CRT display which provides the formation leader with tactical information regarding targets and interceptors. The navigation and fly-by-wire systems were also upgraded. It was fitted with an updated NIIP N001 radar, providing some ability for ground attack and to track and engage multiple aerial targets simultaneously.^{[citation needed]}
Sukhoi offered the Su-27PU to be used as a "fighter controller", a sort of mini-AWACS, with the back-seater using the radar and data links to control other fighters. However, the PVO was not interested in buying the Su-27PU. All five Su-27PUs, with the new designation of "Su-30", ended up in PVO service in the training role. Deliveries to the 54th Interceptor Air Regiment at the advanced training base at Savostleyka began in 1996.^{[citation needed]}
A Su-30M two-seat multirole variant was proposed for Russian use and a few may have been built in the mid-1990s for evaluation. Sukhoi also proposed an export variant, Su-30MK, where "MK" stood for "Modernizirovannyi Kommercheskiy" (Modernized Commercial). Sukhoi displayed a Su-30MK demonstrator at the Paris Air Show in 1993. A much more optimised Su-30MK demonstrator, rebuilt from the first production Su-27PU, was displayed in 1994.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Design

The Su-30 is a multirole fighter. It has a two seat cockpit with an airbrake behind the canopy.
The Su-30MK is capable of accomplishing a wide variety of combat missions at significant distances from the home base, in any weather conditions and during radar jamming, both by day and night.^{[citation needed]} This multirole aircraft is adequately fitted for the entire spectrum of tactical and operational combat employment scenarios, varying from counter-air tasks (i.e. gaining air superiority, air defence, air patrol and escort) to ground attack, suppression of enemy air defences, air interdiction, close air support and maritime attack. Additionally, the Su-30MK can perform ECCM and early warning tasks, as well as exercise command-and-control over a group of aerial combat assets performing joint missions. It has a 9 g load manoeuvrability.^{[citation needed]}

Angle of attack

The Su-30MK's aerodynamic configuration is an unstable-in-longitude triplane. To increase lifting effectiveness and enhance manoeuvrability of the aircraft, foreplanes are installed. They are deflected automatically to ensure controlled flight at high angles-of-attack. Foreplanes, however, are installed only in some Su-30 variants like the Su-30MKI.^{[citation needed]}
The integrated aerodynamic configuration, combined with the thrust vectoring control ability, results in unprecedented manoeuvrability and unique takeoff and landing characteristics. Equipped with a digital fly-by-wire system, the Su-30MK is able to perform some very advanced manoeuvres. They include the well-known Pugachev’s Cobra and the Bell. This allows the aircraft to rapidly strip airspeed, causing a pursuing fighter to overshoot.^[3] While performing a somersault manoeuvre the aircraft makes 360-degree turn in the pitch plane without any loss of altitude. In the Controlled Flat Spin manoeuvre the aircraft performs several full turns in the horizontal plane, with zero forward speed, virtually on the spot.^{[citation needed]}

Powerplant

The aircraft's power plant incorporates two Saturn AL-31F afterburning low-bypass turbofan engines. Two AL-31F turbofans, each rated at 12,500 kgf (123 kN, 27,550 lb) of full afterburning thrust ensures Mach 2 in level flight, 1,350 km/h speed at low altitude, and a 230 m/s climbing rate.
With a normal fuel reserve of 5,270 kg, the Su-30MK is capable of performing a 4.5-hour combat mission with a range of 3,000 km. An in-flight refuelling system increases the flight duration up to 10 hours with a range of 5,200 km (3,200 mi) at cruise altitudes of 11–13 km.^{[citation needed]} The long range significantly increases deployment options. The missions vary from prolonged patrols, and escorts to long-range intercepts and ground attacks.
The thrust vectoring engines on some Su-30 variants have nozzles with turn axes positioned at 32-deg angle to each other. The differential ±15-degree deflection of the engines' asymmetric nozzles enables pitch/yaw thrust vectoring control. Depending on the manoeuvre to be performed, nozzles deflections can be synchronised with or differ from the deflections of horizontal tail planes.^{[citation needed]}

Two-member crew

A two-member crew configuration contributes significantly to enhanced combat capabilities, due to rational distribution of workload between crew members. While the first pilot flies the aircraft, controls weapons and performs manoeuvring dogfight, the co-pilot employs BVR air-to-air and air-to-ground guided weapons in long-range engagements, monitors tactical environment to ensure situational awareness, and performs command-and-control tasks in group missions.^{[citation needed]}

Avionics

• Radar: Either a N001VE or Phazotron N010 Zhuk-27 or an N011M BARS pulse Doppler passive electronically scanned array radar. Capable of detecting and tracking up to 15 air targets, while concurrently attacking four of them. The N011M BARS radar (featuring a 20-m/65.6-ft resolution) ensures detection of large sea-surface targets at a distance of up to 400 km (250 mi), and small-size ones at a distance of up to 120 km (75 mi).^{[citation needed]}
• Other avionics include an integrated optronic sighting-and-navigation system with a laser gyro navigation system; helmet-mounted displays, a head-up-display, multifunction color LCDs with image mixing ability; and a GPS system (GLONASS/NAVSTAR compatible).^{[citation needed]}
• IR and laser sighting pods to detect and engage small-size ground targets are available for installation. The aircraft is provided with an ECCM facility intended to subvert hostile electronic and electro-optical countermeasures.^{[citation needed]}
• The aircraft features autopilot ability at all flight stages including low-altitude flight in terrain-following mode, and individual and group combat employment against air and ground/sea-surface targets. Automatic control system interconnected with the navigation system ensures route flight, target approach, recovery to airfield and landing approach in automatic mode.

Operators

Operators of the Su-30 as of 2010

Sukhoi-30MKI, Indian Air Force, Aeroindia 05.

 Algeria

• Algerian Air Force has 28 Su-30MK fighters in service as of January 2010.^[16] 16 more are on order to be delivered instead of 36 MiG-29SMT/UBT aircraft.^[17][18]

 People's Republic of China

• People's Liberation Army Air Force operates the Su-30MKK variant. The People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force operates the Su-30MK2 variant.

 India

• Indian Air Force operates the Su-30MKI variant.

 Indonesia

• Indonesian Air Force ordered three Su-30MK2 and received two on 26 December 2008 and the third in 2009.^[19] The Indonesian Air Force has 2 Su-30MKs and 3 Su-30MK2s in service as of early 2009.^[5] Another batch of 6 additional fighters were ordered in 2010.^[20]

 Malaysia

• Royal Malaysian Air Force after a close visit to see India's Su-30MKI, signed a deal to purchase 18 of Su-30MKM in May 2003. The first 2 Su-30MKMs were formally handed over in Irkutsk on 23 May 2007, later arrived in Gong Kedak airbase on 21 June.^[21] As part of the contract, Russia sent the first Malaysian cosmonaut to the International Space Station in October 2007.^[22] Malaysia had 12 Su-30MKMs in service with 6 on order in November 2008.^[23] Malaysia has had problems with support for the aircraft so it will purchase spare parts from China.^[24]

 Russia

• Russian Air Force operates 15 Su-30s, including 4 Su-30M2.^[25][26]

 Uganda

• Ugandan Air Force has ordered 6 Su-30MK2,^[27] and received two on 8 July 2011.^[28] The aircraft order cost is estimated at $740 million (Shs1.8 trillion).^[29]

 Venezuela

• Venezuelan Air Force and the government of Venezuela on 14 June 2006, announced the purchase of 24 units of the Su-30MK2 aircraft. The first two Su-30MK2s arrived in the first week of December 2006 while another 8 were commissioned during 2007, fourteen more units have arrived in 2008 with the last 4 being delivered in August.^[30][31] Has 24 Su-30MK2s in service as of early 2009. A second batch of 12 Su-30MKV is also being considered.^[5]

 Vietnam

• Vietnam People's Air Force operates 4 Su-30MK2s as of January 2010.^[32] Vietnam reportedly signed a contract was for 12 more Su-30MK2s in 2009,^[33] but the contract was reduced to 8 fighters.^[34] On 20 July 2010, it was announced at Farnborough International Airshow that a contract for 20 Su-30MK2s had been signed with Vietnam.^[35]

Specifications (Su-27PU/Su-30)

Data from KNAAPO Su-30MK page,^[36] Sukhoi Su-30MK page,^[37] Gordon and Davison.^[38]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 21.935 m (72.97 ft)
• Wingspan: 14.7 m (48.2 ft)
• Height: 6.36 m (20.85 ft)
• Wing area: 62.0 m² (667 ft²)
• Empty weight: 17,700  kg (39,021 lb)
• Loaded weight: 24,900 kg (54,900 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 34,500 kg (76,060 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × AL-31FL low-bypass turbofans
  • Dry thrust: 7,600 kgf (74.5 kN, 16,750 lbf) each
  • Thrust with afterburner: 12,500 kgf (122.58 kN, 27,560 lbf) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.0 (2,120 km/h, 1,320 mph)
• Range: 3,000 km (1,620 nmi) at altitude
• Service ceiling: 17,300 m (56,800 ft)
• Rate of climb: 230 m/s (45,275 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 401 kg/m² (82.3 lb/ft²)
• Thrust/weight: 0.98

Armament
The Su-27PU had 8 hardpoints for its weapon load, whereas the Su-30MK's combat load is mounted on 12 hardpoints: 2 wingtip AAM launch rails, 3 pylons under each wing, 1 pylon under each engine nacelle, and 2 pylons in tandem in the "arch" between the engines. All versions can carry up to 8 tonnes of external stores.

• Guns: 1 × GSh-30-1 gun (30 mm calibre, 150 rounds)
• AAMs: 6 × R-27ER1 (AA-10C), 2 × R-27ET1 (AA-10D), 6 × R-73E (AA-11), 6 × R-77 RVV-AE (AA-12)
• ASMs: 6 × Kh-31P/Kh-31A anti-radar missiles, 6 × Kh-29T/L laser guided missiles, 2 × Kh-59ME
• Aerial bombs: 6 × KAB 500KR, 3 × KAB-1500KR, 8 × FAB-500T, 28 × OFAB-250-270, nuclear bombs

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