Su-30 for Russian Air Force #2

George1 wrote:

AMCXXL wrote:https://iz.ru/1158724/anton-lavrov-roman-kretcul/aviapolku-pribylo-iug-rossii-i-kavkaz-ukrepiat-istrebiteliami-su-35?utm_source=yxnews&utm_medium=desktop
The latest Su-35S will equip the squadron of the 31st Fighter Aviation Regiment in Millerovo, Rostov Region, sources in the defense department told Izvestia. Pilot training for them has already begun. Previously, there were no aircraft of this type in the Southern Military District (YuVO). Now the air regiment is armed with Su-30SM fighters.

This could indicate the replacement of the Su-30SM in the VKS by the Su-35.

In other words, the Southern District would have already received all the necessary Su-30SMs (20 in Millerovo and 12 in Saki)

Now Millerovo would begin to receive the Su-35, while in Su-30SM it would be sent to modernize to the SM2 standard.
Once modernized, 12 would go to Saki to complete the 43rd regiment, while others would remain as doubles for the Su-35 regiment in Millerovo. There is probably more Su-30SM than necesary here, since Belbek should also receive Su-35s in the future with also some Su-30SM2 as doubles.

If you see the west district also received 32 Su-30SM (24 Kursk and 8 Kaliningrad)
then can follow the same way and send some Su-30 to the navy and then, Kursk will receive the Su-35 (one dozen of which are already in 790º regiment)
The east district can transfer the 24 S-30SM of Domna to Pacific Fleet, replacng with Su-34,  and North fleet will receive the new contracted 21 Su-30SM2 , conting with two already in 279º regiment and two remainng from the old contract

then the Su-30SM2 will be mainly in the Navy, and the Air Force will have mainly Su-57 and Su-35

This hypothesis could explain recent announcements about new aircraft deliveries in certain regiments, which otherwise would not be understood.
This would also mean that the final number of Su-57 regiments would be higher than 3, since the 3 Su-30SM regiments would disappear from the VKS.

so all 110+ Su-30SMs will be assigned to the Navy??

Isos wrote:Quite normal. Su-30 was a good improvement over soviet air force jets but quite useless when compared to su-35 and 57 which are way better.

Only advantage is two guys in the plane which make it easier to fly and operate but that's costly.

It was also good to buy because it had lot of foreign operators which dicrease the cost but now they are all switching for su-35/57.

They will do it step by step but production will stop in the next years. They may not even upgrade all of them to keep money for su-57.

Most of them are only 2 squadrons or they could increase the number of squadrons and also the number of forward bases.

PapaDragon wrote:
Any option of Navy purchasing Su-34s?

PapaDragon wrote:
Any option of Navy purchasing Su-34s?

The Russian defense ministry wants to strengthen the Baltic Fleet with additional modern Su-30SM fighters, the Izvestia daily reported on Wednesday. Their exact delivery is not known, but it is expected that by the end of 2022, the Russian Navy is expected to receive the 21 newest fighters, some of which will be in Kaliningrad. Currently, the 4th assault aviation regiment stationed there has one Su-30SM squadron.

"Strengthening the Western Military District this year has been recognized as a priority task against the background of NATO activation in the region and the Alliance's large Baltops exercises," emphasizes Izvestia.

Most likely, these will be the Su-30SM2, which are the target of the Russian Ministry of Defense and by the end of 2022 in the number of 21 copies, which, among other things, could complement the aviation of the Baltic Fleet.

Military expert Dmitry Boltenkov expressed his assumption that the new Su-30SM2 would probably be added to another unit of the 4th assault aviation regiment. They can also - he reserved - be sent to the 689th Fighter Regiment. The 4th regiment receives the Su-30SM in its basic version from December 2016, the existing squadron has up to 12 machines.

Both the Su-30SM and the older Su-24M belonging to the naval aviation in the Kaliningrad Oblast are actively practicing attacking not only sea targets, but also land targets - "Izvestia" emphasizes. These machines train the firing of "intelligent" missiles, and even such a complicated preparation element as air refueling.

Overall, the Su-30SM multi-role fighters have already become the most mass machine among the new combat aircraft, estimates Izvestia. The armed forces of Russia (navy and air-space forces) have received about 130 of these aircraft so far. Russia also supplies the Su-30SM abroad: to Armenia, Kazakhstan and Belarus. In various variants, the Su-30SM went to China, India and Vietnam.

At present, the Russian naval aviation has 30 Su-30SM aircraft in the Crimea, Kaliningrad and in the Northern Fleet. The newest variant of the SM2, starting with the SM version, uses AL-41F-1C engines with a variable thrust vector. The new equipment also includes the Irbis radar, which has been added, among others due to the progressive unification of devices in Russian aircraft.

By
Guest Author
June 11, 2021
A Russian Sukhoi Su 30-SM fighter jet and two F-35-A Lightning II aircraft of the Italian Air Force were involved in an aerial interception over the Baltic Sea, according to reports.

A video shared on Instagram showed a Russian Su-30SM Flanker and two US-made F-35s flying alongside somewhere off Estonia, the location where these Italian stealth jets are deployed to conduct Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) as a part of the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission.

It is believed the F-35s took over NATO’s Baltic mission from the German Air Force Eurofighter unit, which had previously been stationed there.

The F-35A fighter jets can be seen approaching a Russian An-12 transport aircraft which was escorted by a Su 30-SM fighter jet to Kaliningrad.

As soon as the F-35A was flying in close range of the An-12 transport aircraft, the Russian Su 30SM suddenly flew close to the Italian fighter forcing it to retreat.

The F-35A fighter jets involved in this intercept came from Amendola Air Base in southeastern Italy.

This was the first unit of the Aeronautica Militare to obtain the Lightning II aircraft in 2016 and the first in Europe to receive Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in 2018, according to The Aviationist.

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is an American fifth-generation single-engine, all-weather stealth multirole fighter jet. Considered the most technologically advanced airplane ever built, it combines high-end stealth with unmatched situational awareness.

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program is the most expensive weapons program of the US military. Supported by advanced data capturing and a robust communication suite, it can conduct mission operations electronically, The EurAsian Times reported earlier.

The Su-30SM is a modernized 4+ generation version of the original Russian Su-30 fighter aircraft. It is a super-maneuverable multi-role fighter that was created according to the specifications of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

The current generation Su-30SM and their variants have the AL-31F engine on board which provides a maximum thrust of 12,500 kilogram-force. Being a super-maneuverable jet, it is one of the world’s finest dogfighters with upgrades being done to equip it with credible BVR engagement options (beyond visual range).

The Su-30SM is considered a combat-ready fighter, although its production has been halted in favor of the more competent Su-30SM2 which is at present starting its service in the Russian Air Force.

There is speculation that the decision to send a Su-30SM to escort a basic transport over the Baltics may have been based on intelligence that an F-35 would be present to provide an opportunity to run in with the American-built fighter, according to an analysis published by militarywatchmagazine.

The upcoming version will receive new engines and radars, as well as guided bombs and missiles, in order to make the 30-year-old fighter jet a “bird” to be reckoned with in modern warfare.
According to Russian media reports, the Su-30SM fighter jet will be upgraded with the CM2 ‘Super-Sukhoi’ modification. It will receive an engine of increased maneuverability, as well as unique radars. In addition, its arsenal will be significantly expanded. It will include the latest guided bombs and missiles. According to experts, such modernization will significantly increase the potential of Russian combat aviation.

It is planned that the work will be completed by 2027. Not only fighters of the Aerospace Forces, but also naval aviation will fall under the upgrade.

However, the exact number of Su-30SM fighter jets that will receive these modifications is still to be determined in the coming months.

What will be different
Since 2015, Russian engineers have been working to increase the combat capabilities of the Su-30SM. In particular, it was decided to unify the Su-30SM and Su-35S as much as possible. For this purpose, the preparation of the Su-30SM model with a new engine began, as well as the study of the possibility of installing a much more powerful ‘Irbis’ radar, instead of the current system.

As part of the modernization, developers are solving the problem of installing the AL-41F-1C engine in the Su-30SM2, which the super-maneuverable Su-35S fighters use. Compared to the current Su-30SM power plant, the thrust of the new engine will increase by 16.

“The life of the aircraft engine has doubled at once, up to 4 thousand hours, without increasing the weight and dimensions. Equipped with a plasma ignition system, the AL-41F-1C is more economical than the AL-31FP currently installed on the ‘thirty’. With the same amount of fuel, the fighter will be able to stay in the air longer. In addition, the onboard electronics, radar and optical-location station have been improved,” says Vadim Kozulin, a professor at the Academy of Military Science.

According to him, these modifications will increase the jet’s range of fire - an essential part in modern aerial battles.

“The updated propulsion system, firstly, reduces fuel consumption and, secondly, due to this, with the same fuel supply, the flight range increases. The improved radar enhances the ability to accurately determine and detect the enemy's range,” the expert adds.

The Su-30SM for the Russian Armed Forces was created on the basis of a well-developed export version of the Su-30MK, which became a hit on the international arms market at the turn of the century. More than 300 aircraft of this type were delivered to India, Algeria and Malaysia. The use of such a platform made it possible to quickly create modifications and quickly launch mass production.

Finty wrote:https://eurasiantimes.com/watch-russian-su-30-fighter-forces-f-35-stealth-jets-to-retreat-in-their-first-ever-encounter/EUROPE

By
Guest Author
June 11, 2021
A Russian Sukhoi Su 30-SM fighter jet and two  F-35-A Lightning II aircraft of the Italian Air Force were involved in an aerial interception over the Baltic Sea, according to reports.

Very funny post this

First they claim that the F-35 is "considered the most technologically advanced airplane ever built, it combines high-end stealth with unmatched situational awareness."
Then they claim that the Su-30SM is considered to be a "combat-ready fighter" (that's really nice of them to give that kind of recognition )
Then they more or less admit that Su-30SM surprised them by "suddenly" flying close to the Italian fighter with it's "unmatched situational awareness"
They then realize their mistake and followed it up with "There is speculation that the decision to send a Su-30SM to escort a basic transport over the Baltics may have been based on intelligence that an F-35 would be present to provide an opportunity to run in with the American-built fighter"

From all that it is clear to me that they weren't able to track the Su-30, but the Russians had no problem tracking this super "high-end stealth" fighter.