Russia expands Su-30SM fleet
Acquisition of the Su-30SM multirole fighter has become main priority of the Russian MoD, even in the current fiscal situation that has impacted aircraft modernisation and recapitalisation plans. The Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST), a Moscow-based think tank, estimated that Irkut supplied 17 Su-30SMs to the Russian military in 2016, while all other Russian military aircraft, such as the Su-35S, MiG-29SMT, and Su-34, were acquired in smaller numbers. In addition, the Russian MoD signed new Su-30SM contracts with Irkut in 2016, which CAST experts say have take Irkut’s order book for the type to 116 aircraft. More than half this number are already delivered and operational. Once deliveries under current contracts are completed, the Su-30SM will become the most numerous modern fighter of the Russian armed forces, where it is operated by both the Russian Aerospace Forces as well as Russian Naval Aviation.
Judging by 2016 deliveries, Russian Naval Aviation has elected to make Su-30SM its primary land-based fighter, with these being delivered to three of four regional commands of the Russian Navy. One of reasons for this increased Su-30SM procurement has been assessment of the type’s performance during combat operations in Syria. General Sergey Shoygu, the Russian Defence Minister, said in December 2016 that the Su-30SM was among a number of Russian military systems that “have demonstrated high efficacy in combat operations in Syria.”
Su-30SM fighters are being delivered not just to regular units, but to some of Russia’s premier aerobatic teams, namely the ‘Russian Knights’ and ‘Falcons of Russia.’ The two teams traded legacy Su-27s for all-new Su-30SMs in 2016. Display pilots from these teams have explained their choice in favour of the Su-30SM, saying that the new aircraft benefits from being a modern fighter with contemporary avionics systems. The Su-30SM has a better nav-attack system than the Su-27, which allows it to make long-range flights without a ‘pathfinding’ aircraft, while an increase in internal fuel capacity and an in-flight refueling probe make its flight range essentially unlimited, dictated only by the physical limitations of the aircrew.
The Su-30SM is a localised development of the Indo-Russian Su-30MKI, which forms the majority of the IAF’s combat fleet. Deliveries to the Russian Air Force commenced in 2012, after which it was decided to allow exports to Russian allies under regional military-political organisations. Kazakhstan became the first foreign customer of the Su-30SM, and Belarus has also repeatedly expressed interest in the fighter a number of times in the past year.
Despite the fact that the Su-30SM is a relatively new aircraft with first deliveries only five years ago, there are already discussions in Russia concerning future upgrades for the aircraft. Experts note that some Su-30SMs are equipped with pylons for future ‘RVV-SD’ missiles, while Yuri Bely, CEO of the Tikhomirov Instrumentmaking Institute, which is developing the radar for the Su-35 as well as the PAK-FA (Sukhoi T-50), has stated that the Su-30SM’s radar could benefit from an upgrade.
“The Su-30SM fighter has huge upgrade potential,” stated Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Rostec Corporation, one of the most leading Russian defence companies, as he spoke on Russian MoD plans to pursue a serious upgrade programme for the Su-30SM.