Sukhoi Su-30
The Sukhoi Su-30 is a twin-engine, two-seat supermaneuverable fighter aircraft developed in the Soviet Union in the 1980s by Russia's Sukhoi Aviation Corporation. It is a multirole fighter for all-weather, air-to-air interdiction missions. The Russian Aerospace Forces were reported to have 130 Su-30SMs in operation as of 2024.
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 organizations: 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.
Irkut traditionally served the Soviet Air Defense and, in the early years of Flanker development, was responsible for 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 VKS operates several Su-30s and has ordered the Su-30SM variant as well.
Development
While the original Su-27 had good range, it still did not have enough range for the Soviet Air Defense Forces. 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.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 on 6 June 1987, and this 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.
Later development
The most extensive ongoing modernization effort for the Su-30 family is the Indian Air Force's "Super Sukhoi" program, a comprehensive mid-life upgrade for approximately 80 to 84 of its Su-30MKI fighters.The plan aims to add an active electronically scanned array radar and also aims to improve the cockpit systems alongside the uprated avionics, and EW suites.The project also includes the Su-30MKI to be compatible with India's Indigenously developed missiles BrahMos and Astra missiles.The project also aims to improve suppression or destruction of enemy air defences and attacking ground targets in heavily defended areas.The upgrades aims the jet to remain in service until 2055.The project is estimated to cost around ₹66,829 crore.The upgrade will be carried out by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Defence Research and Development Organisation.The Indian Air Force has initiated pilot projects with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay to develop and implement AI-driven solutions for the Su-30MKI fleet.
Design
The Su-30 is a multirole fighter. It has a two-seat cockpit with an airbrake behind the canopy. It can serve as an air superiority fighter and as a strike fighter.Flight characteristics
The integrated aerodynamic configuration, combined with the thrust vectoring control ability, results in high maneuverability and supermaneuverability characteristics. Equipped with a digital fly-by-wire system, the Su-30 can perform some very advanced maneuvers, including the Pugachev's Cobra and the tailslide. These maneuvers quickly decelerate the aircraft, causing a pursuing fighter to overshoot, as well as breaking a Doppler radar-lock, as the relative speed of the aircraft drops below the threshold where the signal registers to the radar.Some variants of the Su-30, notably the Su-30MKI and its derivatives including the Su-30MKM and Su-30SM, are fitted with canards to enhance maneuverability and also compensate for the heavier N011M Bars radar and mission systems in the nose. The canards and the reshaped leading-edge extensions help control the vortices and increase the angle-of-attack limit of the airframe, but they also add drag and reduce the maximum speed to Mach 1.75.
Powerplant
As with the baseline Su-27S/P, the Su-30's powerplant incorporates two Saturn AL-31F afterburning low-bypass turbofan engines, fed through intake ramps. Two AL-31Fs, each rated at of full afterburning thrust for speeds up to Mach 2 in level flight and 1,350 km/h speed at low altitude for non-canard variants. Canted thrust vectoring is used in some variants to enhance maneuverability.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 aerial refueling system increases the range to or flight duration up to 10 hours at cruise altitudes.
Avionics
The aircraft features autopilot ability at all flight stages including low-altitude flight in terrain-following radar 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.Some of the at least $783,000 that Irkut-Yakovlev sourced from Thales in 2022 was for their holographic Head-Up Display 3022 system.
Maintenance
The sanctions policy created as a result of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine caused problems with aftermarket sales and servicing of the French systems that have become an integral part of the Su-30SM. The VKS now needs, via its Rosaviaspetskomplekt partner, to have its warplanes maintained by the Kazakhstani firm ARC Group which is the "exclusive distributor of Safran Electronics & Defence in the Republic of Kazakhstan".Operational history
Russia
In 1994–1996, an initial batch of five original Su-30 fighters, contracted for the Russian Defence Ministry, were delivered to 54th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment based at Savasleyka air base. No further orders of the variant were made. However, the Russian Defence Ministry was impressed with the export Su-30MKI's performance envelope and ordered a local version of the same aircraft for their own use, called the Su-30SM, which is the third adaptation of the MKI after the Malaysian Su-30MKM and the Algerian MKA. A total of 60 Su-30SM fighters, under two contracts signed in March and December 2012, respectively. On 21 September 2012, the Su-30SM performed its maiden flight. The Russian Air Force has received first two serial aircraft on 22 November 2012. By end of 2015, 31st Fighter Aviation Regiment, the last aviation regiment of the Russian Aerospace Forces that operated Soviet-made MiG-29A/UBs was fully rearmed with about twenty new Su-30SM fighters. All aircraft of the first two contracts were delivered by 2016.Another 36 aircraft were ordered in April 2016, six of which intended for the Russian Naval Aviation. This was to increase the total number to 116.
On 25 August 2020, a contract for 21 modernized Su-30SM2 aircraft for the Russian Naval Aviation was signed at the 'ARMY-2020' military-technical forum.
2015 Russian military intervention in Syria
In September 2015, Russia deployed Su-30SM fighters for the first time to Latakia International Airport, Syria. At least four Su-30SM fighters were spotted in a satellite photo. In late December 2015, there were 16 Su-30SMs at Khmeimim Air Base. As part of their combat deployment, they provided target illumination for bombers launching airstrikes against rebel groups.Su-30SMs were initially tasked with aerial escort of Russian attack jets and strategic bombers but also conducted air to ground duties. On 21 March 2017, rebel forces launched a new offensive in the Hama province; a few days later a video emerged showing a Russian Aerospace Forces Su-30SM striking ground targets with unguided air-to-ground rockets in a dive attack against the rebels.
On 3 May 2018, a Russian Aerospace Forces Su-30 crashed shortly after take-off from the Khmeimim Air Base, killing both crew members.
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Russian Su-30SM and Su-35s fighters were used for air superiority missions during the war. Combined, at least seven air to air victories were confirmed over Ukrainian jet aircraft and one over a Ukrainian Naval Aviation Mil Mi-14.A Russian Su-30 was destroyed on the ground by Ukrainian OTR-21 Tochka missiles fired during the Millerovo air base attack.
On 5 March 2022 a Russian Naval Aviation Su-30SM, RF-33787, tail number Blue 45 was shot down in Bashtanka area, Mykolayiv Oblast. Both crew members, Major Aleksey Golovensky and Captain Aleksey Kozlov, were captured. The same day another Su-30 was lost in Ochakov, Mykolaiv Oblast, pilot by Lt. Colonel Aleksey Khasanov and Cpt Vasily Gorgulenko were killed while on combat duty in Ukraine.
On 13 March 2022, another aircraft, RF-81733, tail number Red 72, was lost over Ukraine; the pilot, Kosyk Serhiy Serhiyovych, survived and was captured.
On 15 March 2022, a Su-30SM, serial number RF-81773 tail number Red 62, was shot down near Izium, Kharkiv. Pilots Alexander Pazynych and Evgeny Kislyakov, did not survive and Capt. Aleksander Pozinich from 14th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, were killed.
On 9 August 2022, explosions at Saky air base in Novofedorivka, Crimea left at least three Su-30s destroyed and one damaged according to satellite imagery. On 18 August a Su-30SM, serial number RF-81771, had its wreckage recorded in Kharkiv region in the Izyum direction.
On 18 August 2022, remains of a Su-30 registration number RF-81771 tail number Red 60, were discovered near Mala Komyshuvakha, Izium. The fate of the pilots remained unknown.
On 27 August 2023, Ukrainian media, citing claims made by the Security Service of Ukraine, said that 16 Sypaq Corvo Precision Payload Delivery System drones had been used in an attack on the Kursk Vostochny Airport in Russia, with three shot down and the others hitting four Su-30s and one MiG-29 aircraft. An S-300 radar and two Pantsir air defence systems were also reportedly hit.
On 12 August 2024 a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29, callsign 72 White, piloted by Olexander Migulya was shot down in a combat mission by a Russian Su-30.
On 2 February 2025, a Ukrainian Air Force Sukhoi Su-27 was shot down in the area of Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast. Russian sources claimed it was shot down by an R-37M missile fired from a Su-30SM2. The pilot, kapitan Ivan Bolotov of the 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade, did not survive.
On 2 May 2025, a Ukrainian HUR Magura V7 naval drone shot down a Russian Su-30 using an AIM-9X missile, 50 km west of Novorossiysk. The crew of two ended up in the Black Sea, where a civilian ship later recovered them. HUR claimed it was the first time a maritime drone shot down an aircraft.