IRBIS has:
- more detection range than any other radar in the world
- much better search angels than any other radar in the world
What is this based on?
Of course it is feasible Irkut could have converted to single seat production, but let me remind you the state of things in the 90s. Nobody had time or funds to change the tooling and production line, they had hard enough time modernizing Su-30 and producing it in time. Add to that conflict with Sukohi and KNAAPO....it would not have been easy, nor useful at all. Su-30 family was the logical path for export.
I remember reading a while ago that KnAAPO and and IAPO had a non written agreement. The former would produce the single seater variants and the latter the two seaters. This was broken when KnAAPO signed a contract with China for Su-30MK.
Kinda hard to say that Su-35 is a failure because of previous Flanker success no? Because if it is better than previous flankers, then it should sell better than these previous flankers. It is a great fighter imo, but it just seems odd about its failure in the international market. Yet, Su-30 still sells quite well, even with its lack capabilities compared to Su-35. Seems odd, since it is supposed to be the better plane.
Circumstances are different. Major clients that could be interested already operate Su-30. The logical thing to do would be to upgrade these and not acquire Su-35.
The Russian Military certainly seem to be buying the Su-30s as trainers and for other missions where two crew would be useful as there is no two seat Su-35.
The advantage of buying of Su-30MKI versions is that they have beel built in large quantities, thus price is lower.