Sukhoi Su-30SM Fighter Jet: Specs, Price, Cockpit & Details. Su-30SM is a multirole fighter aircraft created due to the Sukhoi Design Bureau for the Russian Air Force. This is a sophisticated derivative of the family of Su-30MK fighters. Su-30SM fighter planes are made according to the requirements of the Russian Air Force. It is being produced by IRKUT, a company based in Russia. The first Su-30SM fighter aircraft created for the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) made its maiden flight in September 2012.
Su-30MK fighters operate with the Algerian Air Force, Indian Air Force (IAF), Indonesian Air Force, People’s Liberation Army Air Force, Malaysian Air Force, Ugandan Air Force, Uganda Air Force, Venezuelan Air Force and Vietnam People’s Air Force.
Multirole Su-30SM could be used in airstrikes, land missions and sea missions. This can do electronic countermeasures and early warning tasks. The aircraft also acts as a command-and-control platform in the fleet of fighter aircraft carrying out joint missions.
Sukhoi Su-30SM Specs
Su-30SM fuselage is made of titanium and high strength aluminum alloy. This is based on the Su-30MKI aircraft which was established jointly due to the IRKUT and Sukhoi Design Bureau, for the IAF.
The head of the aircraft has a cockpit, radar parts and avionics bay. High maneuverability is achieved through essential aerodynamic forms combined with thrust vectoring features.
Su-30SM is outfitted with a hydraulically rolltop tricycle type landing gear. The main landing units are outfitted with a single wheel. Each unit retreats through 90 ° to pull forward into the bay at root-wing.
The main landing gear has carbon disc brakes that function hydraulically which are outfitted with an electric brake cooling fan and an anti-skid mechanism. A single nose wheel that may be pulled forward may be adjusted hydraulically. The cones on the stern of the fuselage integrate the brake parachute compartment.
Sukhoi Su-30SM Cockpit and Avionics
The glass cockpit accommodates two pilots in a tandem configuration. The crew is outfitted with ejection seats. The cockpit combines a sophisticated avionics suit that integrates the head-up display and multifunctional liquid crystal display.
Su-30SM is outfitted with identification of friends or opponents, a global positioning system and an inertial navigation system. Open architectural design enables the integration of modern avionics, including new radar systems, radios and recognition systems, and other support systems.
Sukhoi Su-30SM Engine
The Su-30SM is powered by two AL-31FP by-pass turbojet engines. The engine produces total thrust after burning 25,000 kgf. The power plant provides a horizontal flight speed of Mach 2.
The maximum unrefined flight range of the Su-30SM is 3,000 km. The aircraft is also furnished with a probe and flight refueling system.
Sukhoi Su-30SM Weapons System
Su-30SM is qualified of carrying sophisticated weapons weighing up to 8t. The aircraft may be armed with gatling gun, bombs, air-to-air missiles, and Onik (Yakhont) supersonic anti-ship and ground attack missiles. Created by NPO Mashinostroyeniya, Oniks is the basis for the BrahMos supersonic missiles. Oniks has an operational range of 120 km to 300 km depending on altitude.
This aircraft can carry out air, land and sea level targets by using directed/ not directed air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons. It may be geared up with anti-surface weapons such as rockets and rocket pods to carry out ground attack operations.
Sukhoi Su-30SM Price and Orders
The price of a new Su-30SM fighter aircraft is around US $ 37.5 Million. The IRKUT and the Russian Ministry of Protection signed contracts for 30 Su-30SM multirole fighters in March 2012. The Ministry of Protection plans to replace the Su-24 fleet with Su-30SM fighter aircraft.
The Ministry of Protection placed orders for the second batch of 30 Su-30SM fighters in December 2012. The IRKUT sent the first two Su-30SM fighters to the Russian Air Force in November 2012.
The Russian Air Force obtained four Su-30SM aircraft in February 2016 and the Russian Knight, the Russian Air Force aerobatics demonstration team, obtained eight units that year. IRKUT sent four units to the Kursk Flight Regiment from the Western Military District (ZVO) in July 2017. The company currently produces 12 Su-30SM fighter planes for the Russian Air Force and two for the Russian Navy.
The company turned over the first batch of Su-30SM multirole fighter aircraft to the Kazakhstan Air Force in April 2015. The Kazakhstan Ministry of Defence signed a contract with IRKUT for another batch of Su-30SM aircraft in May 2018. Aircraft shipments are expected to become finished by 2020.
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