Combat aircraft

Two stages of radar upgrade are

planned. The  rst involves replacing Indian

computers with indigenous systems.

Russia will then deal with enhancing

radar performance, a ording a longer

range, higher jamming resistance, and

new operational modes. Replacement

of the PESA array with an active array —

uni ed with the N036 radar antenna of

the Su-57 — was once considered, but this

has withered on the vine. Instead, a new

L420 Khibiny-U ECM suite and S-107-2

communications will be installed.

The Indian Su-30MKI upgrade,

uno cially known as the ‘Super Sukhoi’

or ‘Super 30’, has been the subject of

protracted negotiations. India wants

to adapt the aircraft for carriage of

indigenous weapons, including Astra

AAMs. On November 22, 2017, the

long-awaited maiden launch of the huge

Indo-Russian Brahmos-A air-to-surface

missile took place from a Su-30MKI against

a naval target in the Bay of Bengal.

‘Bort’ 25 Red, RF-95863,

has been detached to

Lipetsk at various points

for combat evaluation,

having been noted

carrying KAB-500Kr

guided bombs in the past.

Dmitriy Pichugin

Above: Thrust-

vectoring,

canards, and

a powerful

radar made

the Su-30SM a

formidable fi ghter.

Piotr Butowski

Naval Su-30SMs wear a dark gray and blue scheme. They operate with the 43rd

Naval Attack Aviation Regiment at Saki, the 72nd Air Base at Chkalovsk and the 279th

Independent Shipborne Fighter Aviation Regiment at Severomorsk-3. Dmitriy Pichugin

Su-30SMs are operational

with the Black Sea, Baltic

and Northern Fleets.

Piotr Butowski

FORCE REPORT // RUSSIAN FIGHTERS

92 April 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net

90-92 Russian Fighter pt2 Su-30SM C.indd 92 15/02/2018 12:49