Are you Familiar with the Sukhoi Su-27 and its Followers?

In December 1984 he was assigned to the Soviet Air Force fighter Su-27, which came in NATO code the nickname Flanker. Unlike the smaller MiG-29, however, the collapse of the Soviet Union exported and remained not only the best aircraft for fighting Soviet air superiority and escorting bombers, but also for the rest of the world's great unknown.

Refueling and other innovations: Su-27PD and Su-27PU
Su-27PD , single version of the Su-27, whose main innovation was the possibility of refueling. In mass production, according to available information, the aircraft never got, but it is often mentioned in connection with the next version of the aircraft.

And by the Su-27PU alias Su-30 (NATO code as Flanker-C) . As well as a version of PD was able to refuel aircraft in flight, but brought a host of other enhancements that partially followed the pure fighter Su-27P.

The basic variant of the Su-30, however, was developed as a full-fledged multi-role combat aircraft . Su-30 was built without design just the Su-27UB two-seater - in this case, the pilot can concentrate fully on driving, while the operator is responsible for weapons systems.

Su-30 itself was introduced in 1996 from its predecessor and brought a number of changes for the better. Besides the ability to refuel in flight were increased internal fuel tanks, so the range with one refueling, increased to 5200 km. Was also used innovative avionics, flight system and a new more powerful engines AL-31F Ljulka with higher tension.


Multi-purpose aircraft for export: Su-30M / C (I)
It turned out that the concept of the Su-30 is indeed very hilarious, also the Russians needed to help my arms industry in crisis 90th years. Therefore, they decided that the number of aircraft Su-30 will begin to export.

In the mid-nineties, it also exports opponents could use the argument that this decision would worsen Russia's military security. Basic export variant became the Su-30K and it's, all the others, though varied according to individual customers.

The largest customer became India, which draws version of Su-30MKI code in NATO Flanker-H . Late last year, while it produced 137 aircraft version of the Su-30MKI.

MKI version, however, not just in name but also the integration of its own (Indian) weapon systems, the presence of duck delta wings and built-vektorovatelných nozzles for greater maneuverability.

Another customer has become China that collects version of Su-30MKK (Modernizirovannyi, Kommercheskiy, Kitaysk). The service has about a hundred of these aircraft in two versions - MKK and MK2.

Further cooperation between Russia and China, however, is considerably complicated, since China has simply copied the drought. The result is the Shenyang J-11 , which would like the spitting image of his Russian master Su-27/30. A significant problem, however, are Chinese jet engines far below the quality of Russian.

Really interesting approach to Indonesia. It is ordered from Russia only 5 aircraft Su-30MK2 . They are primarily intended for the same time discharge antiship missiles, which could be justified by a very small number of aircraft purchased.


By the way, Su-30MK2 is very popular in, say, less advanced air forces. 6 of these aircraft received Uganda, 24 and 16 Venezuela Vietnam (while the contract was signed for the delivery of 20 aircraft).

A similar version of the aircraft is the Su-30MKV , which was supplied by Venezuela in the number of 12 aircraft. They then added the Venezuelan Air Force just 24 aircraft Su-30MK2. Su-30MK2 machines are retrofitted yet again on weapons systems for combat ships and upgraded electronics. The exact differences between the Su-Su-30MK2 and 30MKV unfortunately unknown and very likely to be minimal, if any.

On the contrary, Belarus used the Su-27P, and later decided to upgrade to a higher standard, namely the Su-30kN . To date, however, the Belarusian Sukhoi used more original designation and thus will not likely upgrade reach such a level as in the case of new aircraft in the above-mentioned customers dry.

Domestic alternatives Su-30
Even the Russians themselves were included in their weapons aircraft Su-30, and converted from the original Su-27 variants and entirely new. Specifically, have in their arsenal 15 aircraft Su-30/M/M2 . Although it is a relatively new aircraft, like the old Su-27 with the difference that they are used to export technology from the Su-30.

On the basis of the established performance Su-30SM , which is specific to the presence vektorovatelných jets. It has allegedly used much of the systems of Indian MKI variant and be able to use the most modern Russian weapons air-to-air and air-earth. The equipment is planned while the inclusion of 30 aircraft, which will expand the number of the Russian Air Force Su-30/M2/SM to 45.


Maintaining the viability of the original aircraft: SU-27SMSM2/SM3
The reason why the Russians themselves do not produce as many new aircraft to its customers is simple - they have a surplus of the first Su-27 still in the eighties and early nineties. There is no need further to say, after the collapse of the Soviet Union was a sharp decline in funding the military as a whole, including the Air Force. The simplest, cheapest and most sensible way to simultaneously maintain combat aircraft in operation are of course various modernization.