Sukhoi Su-30
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| Su-30 | |
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| Su-30MKI | |
| Type | Air superiority fighter, multirole fighter, strike fighter |
| Manufacturer | Sukhoi |
| Maiden flight | 1989 |
| Introduced | 1992 |
| Primary users |  Russian Air Force Indian Air Force PLA Air Force Algerian National Air Force Royal Malaysian Air Force Venezuela Air Force Vietnam People's Air Force |
| Unit cost | US$33-$45 million |
The Sukhoi Su-30 is a highly-agile military aircraft developed by Russia's Sukhoi Aviation Corporation in 1996. It is a multi-role air superiority fighter, but can also play an effective role as a strike and offensive support aircraft. The aircraft is comparable with USA's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-15E Strike Eagle.
The aircraft is a modernized version of the Su-27UB and has several variants. The Su-30K series and the Su-30MK series have both had commercial success. The differences in nomenclature apart, the variants are manufactured by competing organizations- KNAAPO and Irkutsk, both of which come under the Sukhoi group. KNAAPO manufactures the Su-30MKK and the Su-30MK2, which have been designed for and sold to the People's Republic of China. The most advanced Su-30 variants in service belong to the Su-30MK series from Irkutsk, which include the Su-30MKI, a highly specialized aircraft developed for the Indian Air Force and its derivatives, the Su-30MKM and the MKA for Malaysia and Algeria respectively. The Su-30MK series of fighters are long-range, multi-role platforms. There are several differences between the KNAAPO and Irkutsk fighters, and the latter's designs are generally considered to be the most advanced Russian designed aircraft to be in service today.
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[edit] Development
[edit] Su-27PU long range interceptor
While the original Su-27 had good range, it still did not have enough range for certain air-defense tasks required by the PVO(short for "Protivovozdushnaya Oborona" - "Air Defence") whose requirements spanned the need to cover the vast expanse of the Soviet Union. Hence, the Su-27PU was developed in 1989 as a long range interceptor and 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 crewmen.
- To adapt the Su-27UB to its new role the aircraft was fitted with a retractable inflight refueling probe to increase range, probe was 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 fiited with an updated N001 radar, providing some air-to-ground attack capability and the ability to track and engage multiple aerial targets simultaneously.
- Sukhoi offered Su-27PU to be used as a "fighter controller", sort of a mini-AWACS, with the back-seater using the radar and data links to control other fighters. However PVO was not interested in buying Su-27PU.
- All the five Su-27PUs, with the new designation of "Su-30" ended up in PVO service in the training role
[edit] Su-30MK multi-role twin-seater
An Su-30M two-seat multirole variant was proposed for Russian use and a few may have been built in the mid-1990s for evaluation. Despite PVO Rejecting Su-27PU, Sukhoi OKB did not give up on the idea and began to market variations on the concept.
- Sukhoi proposed an export variant Su-30MK, where "MK" stood for "Modernizirovannyi Kommercheskiy" (Modernized Commercial). Sukhoi displayed an Su-30MK demonstrator at the Paris Air Salon in 1993.
- A much more optimized Su-30MK demonstrator, rebuilt from the first production Su-27PU, was displayed in 1994. Some Western observers shrugged it all off as an attempt to sell "old wine in new bottles", but Sukhoi's marketing blitz would pay off handsomely.
[edit] Universal air warrior
Su-30MK is capable of accomplishing a wide variety of combat missions at significant distances from the home base, in any weather conditions and severe jamming environment, both by day and night.
This multirole aircraft is adequately fitted for the entire spectrum of tactical and operational combat employment scenarios, varying from counterair tasks (i.e. gaining air superiority, air defence, air patrol and escort) to counterland and countersea ones (suppression of enemy air defence, air interdiction and close air support). 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 mission.
[edit] Angle of attack
The Su-30MK aerodynamic configuration is an unstable-in-longitude triplane. To increase lifting effectiveness and enhance manoeuvrability of the aircraft, the canards are installed. They are deflected automatically to ensure flight at high angle-of-attack. However, canards are installed only in some Su-30 variants like Su-30MKI.
[edit] Cobra manoeuvre
The integrated aerodynamic configuration, combined with the thrust vectoring control capability, results in unprecedented manoeuvrability and unique take-off and landing characteristics. Equipped with a digital fly-by-wire system, Su-30MK is capable of performing a number of manoeuvres to dominate in dogfight. They include well-known cobra and bell. While performing a somersault manoeuvre, the aircraft makes 360-deg turn in pitch plane without any loss of altitude. In "controlled flat spin" manoeuvre, the aircraft performs several full turns in horizontal plane, with zero forward speed, virtually on the spot.
[edit] Power plant
The power plant incorporates two AL-31FP by-pass turbojet reheated engines. The total 25,000 kgf (245 kN) afterburning thrust ensures 2M horizontal flight speed, 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 3000 km. An in-flight refuelling system increases the flight duration up to 10 hours with a range of 8,000 km at cruise altitude of 11 to 13 km. Long range significantly increased employment options. The missions vary from prolonged patrols and escorts, to long-range interceptions and air-to-ground strikes.
[edit] 2D thrust vectoring control
Differential ±15-degree deflection of engines' axisymmetric nozzles (with turn axes positioned at 32-deg angle to each other) 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. However only some Su-30 variants have 2D TVC, depending on the customer requirements.
[edit] Two-member crew
Two-member crew configuration contributes significantly to enhanced combat capabilities, due to rational distribution of workload between crewmembers. While the first pilot flies 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.
[edit] Avionics
- Radar:Either a N001VE or Phazotron N010 Zhuk-27 or an N011M BARS pulse Doppler passive phased array radar. Capable of detecting and tracking up to 15 air targets, while simultaneously attacking four of them. The N011M BARS radar (featuring a 20 m resolution) ensures detection of large sea-surface targets at a distance of up to 400 km, and small-size ones—at a distance of up to 120 km.
- Other avionics include integrated optronic sighting-and-navigation system with a laser gyro navigation system; helmet-mounted displays, head-up-display, multi-function colour LCDs with image mixing capability; GPS system (GLONASS/NAVSTAR compatible).
- The 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.
- The aircraft features an automatic piloting capability at all flight stages including low-altitude flight in terrain-following mode, as well as 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.
[edit] Armament
The Su-30MK combat load is mounted on the 12 hard points: wingtip AAM launch rails, three pylons under each wing, a pylon under each engine nacelle, and two pylons in tandem in the "tunnel" between the engines. It can carry 8 tonnes of external stores Armament:
- 1× GSh-301 gun (30 mm calibre, 150 rounds)
AAM:
- 6× R-27ER1 (AA-10C)
- 2× R-27ET1 (AA-10D)
- 6× R-73E (AA-11)
- 6× RVV-AE (AA-12)
ASM:
- 6× Kh-31P/Kh-31A anti-radar missile
- 6× Kh-29T/L laser guided missile
- 2× Kh-59ME
Aerial bombs:
- 6× KAB 500KR
- 3× KAB-1500KR
- 8× FAB-500T
- 28× OFAB-250-270
[edit] Su-30 variants
Sukhoi OKB has pursued new variants of the Su-27 family and has given them a bewildering range of new designations as marketing ploys. One Western observer commented on the Sukhoi OKB in 1995: "They produced more new designations than airframes this year."
List of Su-30 variants:
- Su-27UP: Long range interceptor based on two-seater Su-27UB trainer. Later renamed Su-30.
- Su-30: Testbed fighter with canards added.
- Su-30M: Basically an upgraded Su-27PU, first real multi-role aircraft in Su-27 family.
- Su-30K: Commercial version of the basic Su-30. 50 units sold to India and later upgraded to Su-30MKI.
- Su-30KI: Sukhoi proposal for upgrading Russian AF single seat Su-27S. Also proposed export version for Indonesia, only single seat in Su-30 family.
- Su-30KN: Upgrade for operational two-seat fighters, the Su-27UB, Su-30 and Su-30K.
- Su-30MK: The commercial version of Su-30 first revealed in 1993.
- Su-30M2: upgraded Su-30MK with canards and TVC.
- Su-30MKA: Export version for Algeria
- Su-30MKI: Export version for India with TVC, canards.
- Su-30MKK: Export version for China
- Su-30MK2: Su-30MKK with upgraded electronics that enabled support for antiship missiles
- Su-30MK3: Su-30MKK with Zhuk MSE radar and Support for Kh-59MK antiship missile.
- Su-30MK2V: Su-30MK2 variant for Vietnam with minor modifications.
- Su-30MKM: Export version for Malaysia
After years of negotiations, India decided to purchase 40 Su-30 aircraft and acquired the licence from Sukhoi and Russia to manufacture an additional 140 Su-30 MKI aircraft. India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is the largest manufacturer of the Sukhoi Su-30 in the world.
Apart from India, the Su-30 currently serves or is on order for the airforces of several countries including People's Republic of China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Algeria.
In May 2003, Malaysia signed a deal to purchase 18 of Sukhoi Su-30MKM jet fighters worth almost $1 billion. The Su-30MKMs will be delivered in batches starting in early 2007. As part of the deal, the Russians will send a Malaysian astronaut to the ISS.
On June 14, 2006, the government of Venezuela announced the purchase of 24 units of the Sukhoi Su-30. The first planes are expected to be delivered by 2006's end.
[edit] Su-30MKI (India)
Su-30MKI is the Export version serving in India Airforce. India is to eventually acquire 190 units.
[edit] Su-30MKK/MK2/MK3 (People's Republic of China)
China had been the Su-27's most important operator outside Russia, with over a 150 Su-27SK and Su-27UB aircraft delivered and built under license (as the J-11) since the early 1990s. The Su-30 has been a design that has sparked high interest from Chinese leaders, and the MKK was specially designed by Sukhoi to meet PLAAF needs. In 1999 the Chinese leadership signed a $1.5 Billion deal to buy 38 Su-30MKK (Russian: Modernizirovannyi Kommercheskiy Kitaya; Modernized Commercial China) combat aircraft, the first being delivered by December 20 2000. By the end of 2001, the whole batch completed delivery.
A second batch of 38 had been ordered in 2001, and deliveries are thought to have been completed by 2003. In January 2003, China ordered 24 of the improved Su-30MK2, which have since been delivered to to the Naval Aviation corps. Follow on orders are likely, though the further improved Su-30MK3 has yet to be purchased. However, with the success of the more economical indigenous JH-7A attack aircraft, and the eventual unveiling of the J-11B (improved and indigenized Su-27SK with new sensors and precision attack weapons compatibility), future large orders of the Su-30MKK series may look bleak.
[edit] Su-30MKM (Malaysia)
Su-30MKM is the export version that is on order for Malaysia . This version is similar to the MKI but will principally be equipped with French and Russian avionics. It will feature head-up and multifunction displays from Thales and Sagem of France as well as the Russian BARS NIIP N011M radar.
[edit] Su-30MKV (Venezuela)
The export version that will serve in Venezuela's air force is most likely to be similar to the Su-30MK2. This is based on the presence of 2 such demonstrator models (No. 501 and No. 502) from the KNAAPO facility that took part in July 2006 national day parade in Caracas.
The lastest news confirm that the SU-30 purchased by Venezuela are indeed SU-30MK2.
[edit] External links
- Sukhoi
- FAS.org
- GlobalSecurity.org
- Milavia.net
- Airforce-Technology
- Su-27 Series at Greg Goebel's AIR VECTORS
- Veniks Aviation
- Fighter Tactics Academy
- Sukhoi Su-30 Videos
- Su-30 Videos
[edit] Related content
Related development
Sukhoi Su-32 - Sukhoi Su-34 - Sukhoi Su-35 - Sukhoi Su-37
Comparable aircraft
F-15E Strike Eagle - Panavia Tornado - MiG-29 - F/A-18 Hornet - Chengdu J-10 - Dassault Rafale
Designation sequence
Su-24 - Su-25 - Su-27 - Su-30 - Su-32 - Su-33 - Su-34 - Su-35 - Su-37 - Su-47 Berkut
