tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079542914418629632023-06-20T06:13:55.735-07:00Sukhoi FighterMyNuclearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379651050289841088noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707954291441862963.post-81779695232716747752009-01-08T05:58:00.000-08:002009-01-08T06:06:26.517-08:00Sukhoi Su-35<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;" id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading">Sukhoi Su-35</h1><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: left;" id="siteSub"><br /></h3><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> <!-- start content --> </div><table class="infobox" style="width: 315px; border-spacing: 2px; text-align: left; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: auto;"> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: large; padding-bottom: 0.3em;">Su-35</th> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em;"> <div style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170);"> <div class="center"> <div class="floatnone"><span class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Sukhoi_Su-35.jpg/300px-Sukhoi_Su-35.jpg" width="300" border="0" height="200" /></span></div> </div> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); text-align: center;">Su-35 accompanied by Russian Airborne Troops</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Role</th> <td>Air superiority fighter</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Manufacturer</th> <td>Sukhoi</td> </tr> <tr> <th>First flight</th> <td>May 1988</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Status</th> <td>In production</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Primary user</th> <td>Russian Air Force</td> </tr> <tr> <th><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Number built</span></th> <td>12<sup id="cite_ref-warfare.ru_Su-35_0-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></td> </tr> <tr> <th><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Unit cost</span></th> <td>US $65 million (estimate)<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></td> </tr> <tr> <th><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Developed from</span></th> <td>Sukhoi Su-30</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Variants</th> <td>Sukhoi Su-35BM</td> </tr> </tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;">The <b>Sukhoi Su-35</b> (formerly Su-27M)<sup id="cite_ref-Su-35_2-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> (NATO designation: Flanker-E) is a 4.5 generation heavy class, long-range, multi-role, air superiority fighter and strike fighter. Due to the similar features and components it contains, the Sukhoi Su-35 is considered to be a close cousin of the Sukhoi Su-30MKI, a specialized version of the Su-30.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> It has been further developed into the Su-35BM.<sup id="cite_ref-Aviapedia_Su-35BM_4-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The Su-35 is in service in small numbers with the Russian Air Force with 12 in service as of 2008.<sup id="cite_ref-warfare.ru_Su-35_0-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if (window.showTocToggle) { var tocShowText = "show"; var tocHideText = "hide"; showTocToggle(); } //]]> </script> </div><p style="text-align: left;"><a name="Design_and_development" id="Design_and_development"></a></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Design and development</span></h2><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;">The Su-35 is an advanced Su-27 derivative and was initially designated Su-27M. The Su-27M development began in the early 1980s.<sup id="cite_ref-Eden_5-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> A Su-27M prototype (T-10S-70) first flew in 1988. Changes from the Su-27 include canards, upgraded engines, new radar, and a digital fly by wire flight control system.<sup id="cite_ref-Frawley_mil_6-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Sukhoi changed Su-27M's designatation to Su-35 in 1993. Later Su-35 prototypes added glass cockpits and modified tailfins.<sup id="cite_ref-Eden_5-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;">The first prototype was publicly displayed in 1992 at the Farnborough Airshow.<sup id="cite_ref-Gordon_p31_7-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Ten prototypes Su-35s were built with four being converted Su-27s and the others being new-builds.<sup id="cite_ref-Gordon_p30-31_8-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The prototypes were built through 1994, with service slated for 1995.<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since December 2008" style="white-space: nowrap;"></span></sup> The Russian Air Force received three Su-35s for evaluation in 1996.<sup id="cite_ref-Gordon_p33_9-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;">Subsequently, the first test flights of an improved Su-35, the <b>Su-37 "Flanker-F"</b>, began in 1996 and the transfer of existing Su-35 prototypes to this program appeared to suggest the end of the Su-35 development. Instead, the Su-37 aircraft were eventually reconverted to Su-35s.<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since December 2008" style="white-space: nowrap;"><i><br /></i></span></sup></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;">The Su-35 shares larger wings and more powerful engines with the Su-27K naval variant and later the Su-33. Other changes from the Su-27 and Su-30 were canards, a larger nose, the greater use of <span class="mw-redirect">carbon fibre</span> and aluminium-lithium alloy in the airframe, along with larger, "square-off" tail fins.<sup id="cite_ref-Gordon_p29_10-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p><p style="text-align: left;"><sup id="cite_ref-Gordon_p29_10-0" class="reference"><span></span></sup><span class="editsection"></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><span class="mw-headline">Modernization</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;">Sukhoi began modernizing the Su-35 in the mid-2000s to provide 4.5 type generation fighter making use of current technologies. The modernised Su-35 will be interim design until the fifth generation PAK FA (T-50).<sup id="cite_ref-Sukhoi_page_11-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup><sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The first modernised Su-35 was recently presented at the MAKS-2007 air show in August 2007. The new Su-35 version first flew on 19 February 2008. The version is now in production with deliveries to customers to begin in 2009.<sup id="cite_ref-Sukhoi_page_11-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The modernised Su-35 has been referred to as "Su-35BM" (Bolshaya Modernizatsiya - Big Modernization) by some sources,<sup id="cite_ref-Aviapedia_Su-35BM_4-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Global_Sec_Su-35BM_13-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> but Sukhoi simply refers to the fighter as "Su-35".<sup id="cite_ref-Sukhoi_page_11-2" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;">The new Su-35 omits the canards and speedbrake flap from the original Su-35 design. The new design has a reinforced airframe for longer service life and has a reduced radar signature from the front.<sup id="cite_ref-Sukhoi_page_11-3" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The modernised Su-35's new nose holds an improved passive electronically scanned array radar and the aircraft featured many other upgrades to its avionics and electronic systems, including digital <span class="mw-redirect">fly-by-wire</span> and a rear-looking radar for firing <span class="mw-redirect">Semi-Active Radar</span> missiles. A two-dimensional asymmetric thrust vectoring system was tested on the Su-35 and seems to be the basis for the development of the Su-37. A new type of 2D thrust vectoring engine, the <span class="mw-redirect">117S</span>, has been developed and replaces the current AL-35 or AL-31F.<sup id="cite_ref-Russian_technology_14-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The Su-35 radar has an average power output of 5 <span class="mw-redirect">kW</span> and a peak output of 20 kW. When the H035 radar was tested on Su-30MK No. 503, the detection range was as far as 290 kilometers with 1 kW power output.<sup id="cite_ref-Russian_technology_14-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The radar system can track up to 30 aerial targets and engage up to 8 of them simultaneously. Or 4 ground targets together with mapping and aerial space tracking. Can detect aerial targets with effective echoing ratio as small as 3 m<sup>2</sup> on 400 km distance.<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since December 2008" style="white-space: nowrap;"><i><br /></i></span></sup></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;">In July 2008, Russia has offered the Su-35 for sale to India,<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Malaysia and Algeria.<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The Venezuelan government has shown interest in acquiring several Su-35.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;"><a name="Variants" id="Variants"></a></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Variants</span></h2><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;" class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><span class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Su-35UB.jpeg/180px-Su-35UB.jpeg" class="thumbimage" width="180" border="0" height="119" /></span> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><span class="internal"><br /></span></div> Su-35UB landing.</div> </div> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><dl style="text-align: left;"><dt>Su-35 </dt><dd>Single-seat fighter.</dd><dt>Su-35UB </dt><dd>Two-seat fighter and trainer.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Features taller vertical stabilizers and a forward fuselage similar to a Su-30.</dd><dt>Su-35BM </dt><dd>Single-seat fighter SU-27SM2 export designation is Su-35BM with upgraded avionics and various modifications to the airframe.</dd></dl><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;"><a name="Operators" id="Operators"></a></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Operators</span></h2><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><dl style="text-align: left;"><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Flag_of_Russia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Russia.svg.png" class="thumbborder" width="22" border="0" height="15" /></span> </span>Russia</dt></dl><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Russian Air Force</li></ul><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;"><a name="Specifications_.28Su-35.29" id="Specifications_.28Su-35.29"></a></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Specifications (Su-35)</span></h2><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;"><big><b>General characteristics</b></big></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Crew:</b> 1</li><li><b>Length:</b> 21.9 m (72.9 ft)</li><li><b>Wingspan:</b> 15.3 m (50.2 ft)</li><li><b>Height:</b> 5.90 m (19.4 ft)</li><li><b>Wing area:</b> 62.0 m² (667 ft²)</li><li><b>Empty weight:</b> 17,500 kg (38,600 lb)</li><li><b>Loaded weight:</b> 25,300 kg (56,660 lb)</li><li><b>Max takeoff weight:</b> 34,500 kg (76,060 lb)</li><li><b>Powerplant:</b> 2× Saturn 117S with <span class="mw-redirect">TVC</span> nozzles turbofans <ul><li><b>Dry thrust:</b> 8,800 kgf<sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><span>[</span>24<span>]</span></sup> (86.3 kN, 19,400 lbf) each</li><li><b>Thrust with afterburner:</b> 14,500 kgf (142 kN, 31,900 lbf) each</li></ul> </li></ul><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;"><big><b>Performance</b></big></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Maximum speed:</b> Mach 2.25<sup id="cite_ref-knaapo_Su-35_1_19-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> (2,700 km/h,<sup id="cite_ref-MAKS_2007_22-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> 1,680 mph) at altitude</li><li><b>Range:</b> 3,600 km (1,940 nmi) ; (1,580 km, 850 nmi near ground level)</li><li><b><span class="mw-redirect">Ferry range</span>:</b> 4,500 km (2,430 nmi) with external fuel tanks</li><li><b>Service ceiling</b> 18,000 m (59,100 ft)</li><li><b>Rate of climb:</b> >280 m/s (>55,100 ft/min)</li><li><b>Wing loading:</b> 408 kg/m² (84.9 lb/ft²)</li><li><b>Thrust/weight:</b> 1.1</li></ul><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;"><big><b>Armament</b></big><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><ul><li style="text-align: left;">1× 30 mm <span class="mw-redirect">GSh-30</span> cannon with 150 rounds</li><li style="text-align: left;">2× wingtip rails for R-73 (AA-11 "Archer") air-to-air missiles or ECM pods</li><li><div style="text-align: left;">12× wing and fuselage stations for up to 8,000 kg (17,630 lb) of ordnance, including: </div><ul><li style="text-align: left;">Air-to-Air Missiles <ul><li>AA-12 <i>Adder</i> (R-77)</li><li>AA-11 <i>Archer</i> (R-73)</li><li>AA-10 <i>Alamo</i> (R-27)</li></ul> </li><li style="text-align: left;">Air-to-Surface Missiles <ul><li>AS-17 <i>Krypton</i> (Kh-31)</li><li>AS-16 <i>Kickback</i> (Kh-15)</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">AS-10 <i>Karen</i> (Kh-25ML)</span></li><li>AS-14 <i>Kedge</i> (Kh-29)</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">AS-15 <i>Kent</i> (Kh-55)</span></li><li>AS-13 <i>Kingbolt</i> (Kh-59)</li></ul> </li><li><div style="text-align: left;">Bombs </div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>KAB-500L</li><li><span class="new">KAB-1500</span> laser/TV Guided Bomb</li><li>FAB-100/250/500/750/1000</li></ul> </li></ul> </li></ul> <p style="text-align: left;"><big><b>Avionics</b></big><br />Passive phased antenna array.</p><br /></div>MyNuclearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379651050289841088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707954291441862963.post-20457331528408461142009-01-07T06:25:00.000-08:002009-01-08T06:32:05.587-08:00Sukhoi Su-30<h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading">Sukhoi Su-30</h1><!-- start content --><table class="infobox" style="width: 315px; border-spacing: 2px; text-align: left; font-size: 90%;"> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: large; padding-bottom: 0.3em;"><br />Su-30</th> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em;"> <div style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170);"> <div class="center"> <div class="floatnone"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SU-30MKI_India.jpg" class="image" title="SU-30MKI India.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/SU-30MKI_India.jpg/300px-SU-30MKI_India.jpg" width="300" border="0" height="197" /></a></div> </div> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); text-align: center;">Indian Air Force Su-30K landing with an airbrake.</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Role</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_superiority_fighter" title="Air superiority fighter">Air superiority fighter</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strike_fighter" title="Strike fighter">Strike fighter</a></td> </tr> <tr> <th>Manufacturer</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi" title="Sukhoi">Sukhoi</a></td> </tr> <tr> <th>First flight</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_in_aviation" title="1989 in aviation">1989</a></td> </tr> <tr> <th>Introduction</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_in_aviation" title="1996 in aviation">1996</a></td> </tr> <tr> <th>Status</th> <td>Operational</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Primary users</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Air_Force" title="Russian Air Force">Russian Air Force</a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Air_Force" title="Indian Air Force">Indian Air Force</a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algerian_Air_Force" title="Algerian Air Force">Algerian Air Force</a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Liberation_Army_Air_Force" title="People's Liberation Army Air Force">PLA Air Force (China)</a></td> </tr> <tr> <th><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Unit cost</span></th> <td>US$33-$45 million</td> </tr> <tr> <th><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Developed from</span></th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-27" title="Sukhoi Su-27">Sukhoi Su-27</a></td> </tr> <tr> <th>Variants</th> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-30MKI" title="Sukhoi Su-30MKI">Sukhoi Su-30MKI</a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-30MKK" title="Sukhoi Su-30MKK">Sukhoi Su-30MKK</a></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p>The <b>Sukhoi Su-30</b> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_reporting_name" title="NATO reporting name">NATO reporting name</a> <b>"Flanker-C"</b>) is a twin-engine <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_aircraft" title="Military aircraft">military aircraft</a> developed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia" title="Russia">Russia</a>'s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi" title="Sukhoi">Sukhoi Aviation Corporation</a> and introduced into operational service in 1996. It is a multi-role strike fighter that can perform both air superiority and ground attack missions.</p> <p>The aircraft is a modernized version of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-27" title="Sukhoi Su-27">Su-27UB</a> and has several variants. The Su-30K and Su-30MK series have had commercial success. The variants are manufactured by competing organizations: <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=KNAAPO&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="KNAAPO (page does not exist)">KNAAPO</a></b> and the <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irkut_%28company%29" title="Irkut (company)">IRKUT Corporation</a></b>, both of which come under the Sukhoi group's umbrella. KNAAPO manufactures the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-30MKK" title="Sukhoi Su-30MKK">Su-30MKK</a> and the Su-30MK2, which were designed for and sold to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Republic_of_China" title="People's Republic of China">China</a> and later <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia" title="Indonesia">Indonesia</a>. Irkut makes the long-range, multirole Su-30MK series. The series includes the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-30MKI" title="Sukhoi Su-30MKI">Su-30MKI</a> developed for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Air_Force" title="Indian Air Force">Indian Air Force</a> and its derivatives, the MKM, MKA and MKV for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia" title="Malaysia">Malaysia</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algeria" title="Algeria">Algeria</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuela" title="Venezuela">Venezuela</a> respectively.</p><p><br /></p><script type="text/javascript">//<![CDATA[ if (window.showTocToggle) { var tocShowText = "show"; var tocHideText = "hide"; showTocToggle(); } //]]> </script> <p><a name="Development" id="Development"></a></p> <h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline">Development</span></h2> <p><a name="Su-27PU_long-range_interceptor" id="Su-27PU_long-range_interceptor"></a></p> <h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline">Su-27PU long-range interceptor</span></h3> <p>While the original Su-27 had good range, it still did not have enough for certain air-defense tasks required by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Anti-Air_Defense" title="Soviet Anti-Air Defense" class="mw-redirect">PVO Strany</a> ("PVO" being short for <i>Protivo-Vozdushnaya Oborona</i> — "Air Defense") whose requirements spanned the need to cover the vast expanse of the Soviet Union. Hence, development began in 1986 on the Su-27PU, an improved-capability variant of the Su-27 capable of serving as a long-range interceptor or airborne command post. The two-seat Su-27UB combat trainer was selected as the basis for the Su-27PU, because it had the performance of a single-seat Su-27 and long-range missions require two crewmen. A "proof-of-concept" demonstrator flew <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_6" title="June 6">6 June</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987" title="1987">1987</a>, and this success led to the kick-off of development work on two Su-27PU prototypes. The first Su-27PU flew at Irkutsk on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_31" title="December 31">31 December</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989" title="1989">1989</a>, and the first of three pre-series models flew in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_14" title="April 14">14 April</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992" title="1992">1992</a>.</p> <p>To adapt the Su-27UB to its new role, the aircraft was fitted with a retractable <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-flight_refueling" title="In-flight refueling" class="mw-redirect">in-flight refueling</a> probe to increase range; the probe is offset to the left side of the nose and, to accommodate it, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRST" title="IRST" class="mw-redirect">IRST</a> was offset to the right. The aircraft's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avionics" title="Avionics">avionics</a> were changed, fitting special communications and guidance equipment to command formation flights of single-seat Su-27 interceptors. The rear cockpit received a large <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathode_Ray_Tube" title="Cathode Ray Tube" class="mw-redirect">CRT display</a> which provides the formation leader with tactical information regarding targets and interceptors. The navigation and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly-by-wire" title="Fly-by-wire" class="mw-redirect">fly-by-wire</a> systems were also upgraded. It was fitted with an updated <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tikhomirov_Scientific_Research_Institute_of_Instrument_Design" title="Tikhomirov Scientific Research Institute of Instrument Design">NIIP</a> N001 radar, providing some ability for air-to-ground attack and to track and engage multiple aerial targets simultaneously.</p> <p>Sukhoi offered the Su-27PU to be used as a "fighter controller", a sort of mini-AWACS, with the back-seater using the radar and data links to control other fighters. However, the PVO was not interested in buying the Su-27PU. All five Su-27PUs, with the new designation of "Su-30", ended up in PVO service in the training role. Deliveries to the 54th Interceptor Air Regiment at the advanced training base at Savostleyka began in 1996.</p> <p>A Su-30M two-seat multirole variant was proposed for Russian use and a few may have been built in the mid-1990s for evaluation.</p> <p>Sukhoi proposed an export variant, Su-30MK, where "MK" stood for "Modernizirovannyi Kommercheskiy" (Modernized Commercial). Sukhoi displayed a Su-30MK demonstrator at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Air_Show" title="Paris Air Show">Paris Air Show</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993_in_aviation" title="1993 in aviation">1993</a>. A much more optimized Su-30MK demonstrator, rebuilt from the first production Su-27PU, was displayed in 1994.</p> <p><a name="Design" id="Design"></a></p> <h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline">Design</span></h2> <p>The Su-30 is a mult-role fighter. It has a two seat cockpit with an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_brake_%28aircraft%29" title="Air brake (aircraft)">airbrake</a> behind the canopy.</p> <p><a name="Highly_flexible_multi-role_fighter" id="Highly_flexible_multi-role_fighter"></a></p> <h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline">Highly flexible multi-role fighter</span></h3> <p>The Su-30MK is capable of accomplishing a wide variety of combat missions at significant distances from the home base, in any weather conditions and in severe <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamming" title="Jamming">jamming</a> environment, both by day and by night.</p> <p>This multirole aircraft is adequately fitted for the entire spectrum of tactical and operational combat employment scenarios, varying from counter-air tasks (ie. gaining <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_superiority" title="Air superiority">air superiority</a>, air defense, air patrol and escort) to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_attack" title="Ground attack" class="mw-redirect">ground attack</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEAD" title="SEAD">suppression of enemy air defenses</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_interdiction" title="Air interdiction">air interdiction</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_air_support" title="Close air support">close air support</a> and maritime attack. Additionally, the Su-30MK can perform <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ECCM" title="ECCM" class="mw-redirect">ECCM</a> and early warning tasks, as well as exercise command-and-control over a group of aerial combat assets performing joint missions.</p> <p><a name="Angle_of_attack" id="Angle_of_attack"></a></p> <h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline">Angle of attack</span></h3> <p>The Su-30MK's aerodynamic configuration is an unstable-in-longitude triplane (see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relaxed_stability" title="Relaxed stability">relaxed stability</a>). To increase lifting effectiveness and enhance maneuverability of the aircraft, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canard_%28aeronautics%29" title="Canard (aeronautics)">canards</a> are installed. They are deflected automatically to ensure controlled flight at high angles-of-attack. Canards, however, are installed only in some Su-30 variants like the Su-30MKI.</p> <p><a name="Pugachev.27s_Cobra_maneuver" id="Pugachev.27s_Cobra_maneuver"></a></p> <h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline">Pugachev's Cobra maneuver</span></h3> <p>The integrated aerodynamic configuration, combined with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrust_vectoring" title="Thrust vectoring">thrust vectoring</a> control ability, results in unprecedented maneuverability and unique takeoff and landing characteristics. Equipped with a digital fly-by-wire system, the Su-30MK is able to perform some very advanced maneuvers. They include the well-known <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pugachev%E2%80%99s_Cobra" title="Pugachev’s Cobra">Pugachev’s Cobra</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_tailslide" title="Bell tailslide">Bell</a>. This allows the aircraft to rapidly strip airspeed, causing a pursuing fighter to overshoot.<sup id="cite_ref-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-30#cite_note-0" title=""><span></span><span></span></a></sup> While performing a somersault maneuver the aircraft makes 360-degree turn in the pitch plane without any loss of altitude. In the Controlled Flat Spin maneuver the aircraft performs several full turns in the horizontal plane, with zero forward speed, virtually on the spot.</p> <p><a name="Power_plant" id="Power_plant"></a></p> <h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline">Power plant</span></h3> <p>The aircraft's power plant incorporates two Saturn <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AL-31" title="AL-31" class="mw-redirect">AL-31</a>FP <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afterburner" title="Afterburner">afterburning</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-bypass_turbofan" title="Low-bypass turbofan" class="mw-redirect">low-bypass turbofan</a> engines. A total afterburning thrust of 25,000 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kgf" title="Kgf" class="mw-redirect">kgf</a> (245 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton" title="Newton">kN</a>) ensures <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mach" title="Mach">Mach</a> 2 horizontal flight speed, 1,350 km/h speed at low altitude, and a 230 m/s climbing rate.</p> <p>With a normal fuel reserve of 5,270 kg, the Su-30MK is capable of performing a 4.5-hour combat mission with a range of 3,000 km. An in-flight refueling system increases the flight duration up to 10 hours with a range of 8,000 km at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cruise_altitude&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Cruise altitude (page does not exist)">cruise altitudes</a> of 11 to 13 km.</p> <p>The long range significantly increases deployment options. The missions vary from prolonged patrols and escorts to long-range intercepts and air-to-ground strikes.</p> <p><a name="Diagonally_2D_thrust_vectoring_control" id="Diagonally_2D_thrust_vectoring_control"></a></p> <h4><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline">Diagonally 2D thrust vectoring control</span></h4> <p>Differential ±15-degree deflection of the engines' asymmetric nozzles (with turn axes positioned at 32-deg angle to each other) enables pitch/yaw thrust vectoring control. Depending on the maneuver to be performed, nozzles deflections can be synchronized with or differ from the deflections of horizontal tail planes.</p> <p><a name="Two-member_crew" id="Two-member_crew"></a></p> <h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline">Two-member crew</span></h3> <p>A two-member crew configuration contributes significantly to enhanced combat capabilities, due to rational distribution of workload between crewmembers. While the first pilot flies the aircraft, controls weapons and performs manoeuvring dogfight, the co-pilot employs <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BVR" title="BVR" class="mw-redirect">BVR</a> air-to-air and air-to-ground guided weapons in long-range engagements, monitors tactical environment to ensure situational awareness, and performs command-and-control tasks in group missions.</p> <p><a name="Avionics" id="Avionics"></a></p> <h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline">Avionics</span></h3> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar" title="Radar">Radar</a>: Either a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=N001VE&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="N001VE (page does not exist)">N001VE</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phazotron" title="Phazotron">Phazotron</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N010_Zhuk" title="N010 Zhuk" class="mw-redirect">N010 Zhuk</a>-27 or an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=N011M_BARS&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="N011M BARS (page does not exist)">N011M BARS</a> pulse Doppler <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_electronically_scanned_array" title="Passive electronically scanned array">passive electronically scanned array</a> radar. Capable of detecting and tracking up to 15 air targets, while concurrently attacking four of them. The N011M BARS radar (featuring a 20-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M" title="M">m</a> (65.6 ft) resolution) ensures detection of large sea-surface targets at a distance of up to 400 km (248.5 mi), and small-size ones at a distance of up to 120 km (74.5 mi).</li><li>Other avionics include an integrated optronic sighting-and-navigation system with a laser gyro navigation system; helmet-mounted displays, a head-up-display, multi-function color <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LCD" title="LCD" class="mw-redirect">LCDs</a> with image mixing ability; and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPS" title="GPS" class="mw-redirect">GPS</a> system (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GLONASS" title="GLONASS">GLONASS</a>/<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAVSTAR" title="NAVSTAR" class="mw-redirect">NAVSTAR</a> compatible).</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared" title="Infrared">IR</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser" title="Laser">laser</a> sighting pods to detect and engage small-size ground targets are available for installation. The aircraft is provided with an ECCM facility intended to subvert hostile electronic and electro-optical countermeasures.</li><li>The aircraft features <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopilot" title="Autopilot">autopilot</a> ability at all flight stages including low-altitude flight in terrain-following mode, and individual and group combat employment against air and ground/sea-surface targets. Automatic control system interconnected with the navigation system ensures route flight, target approach, recovery to airfield and landing approach in automatic mode.</li></ul> <p><a name="Unit_Costs" id="Unit_Costs"></a></p> <h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline">Unit Costs</span></h3> <ul><li>A standard Su-30K is estimated at US$34 million.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-30#cite_note-1" title=""><span></span><span></span></a></sup></li><li>A <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Su-30MKK" title="Su-30MKK" class="mw-redirect">Su-30MKK</a> variant is estimated at US$53 million.</li><li><br /></li></ul> <p><a name="Variants" id="Variants"></a><span class="editsection"></span> <span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mw-headline">Variants</span></span></p> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:F-15_Su30_Mir2000.jpg" class="image" title="Indian Su-30K with Mirage 2000 and USAF F-15 during Cope India '04 exercises"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/F-15_Su30_Mir2000.jpg/180px-F-15_Su30_Mir2000.jpg" class="thumbimage" width="180" border="0" height="145" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:F-15_Su30_Mir2000.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><br /></a></div> Indian Su-30K with Mirage 2000 and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USAF" title="USAF" class="mw-redirect">USAF</a> F-15 during <i>Cope India '04</i> exercises<br /><br /></div> </div> </div> <dl><dt>Su-27PU</dt><dd>Long range interceptor based on two-seater Su-27UB trainer. Later renamed Su-30.</dd><dt>Su-30</dt><dd>Testbed fighter with canards added.</dd><dt>Su-30K</dt><dd>Commercial version of the basic Su-30. 50 units sold to India and later upgraded to Su-30MKI.</dd><dt>Su-30KI</dt><dd>Sukhoi proposal for upgrading Russian AF single seat Su-27S. Also proposed export version for Indonesia, 24 was ordered but subsequently cancelled due to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_Asian_Financial_Crisis" title="1997 Asian Financial Crisis">1997 Asian Financial Crisis</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-FLANKER_OPS_2-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-30#cite_note-FLANKER_OPS-2" title=""><span></span><span></span></a></sup> the only single seat in Su-30 family.</dd><dt>Su-30KN</dt><dd>Upgrade for operational two-seat fighters, the Su-27UB, Su-30 and Su-30K.</dd><dt>Su-30M</dt><dd>Basically an upgraded Su-27PU, first real multi-role aircraft in Su-27 family.</dd><dt><br /></dt></dl> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Su-30-mk2.jpg" class="image" title="Su-30MK of the Indonesian Airforce"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/ec/Su-30-mk2.jpg/180px-Su-30-mk2.jpg" class="thumbimage" width="180" border="0" height="123" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Su-30-mk2.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><br /></a></div> Su-30MK of the Indonesian Airforce<br /><br /></div> </div> </div> <dl><dt>Su-30MK</dt><dd>The commercial version of Su-30M first revealed in 1993.</dd><dt>Su-30M2</dt><dd>Upgraded Su-30MK with canards and TVC.</dd><dt><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-30MKI" title="Sukhoi Su-30MKI">Su-30MKI</a></dt><dd>MKI stands for "Modernizirovannyi Kommercheskiy Indiski" meaning "Modernized Commercial India". Jointly-developed with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India" title="India">India</a>'s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindustan_Aeronautics_Limited" title="Hindustan Aeronautics Limited">Hindustan Aeronautics Limited</a> for the Indian Air Force. Includes <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrust_Vectoring" title="Thrust Vectoring" class="mw-redirect">Thrust Vectoring</a> Control (TVC) and canards. Equipped with a multi-national avionics complex sourced from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel" title="Israel">Israel</a>, India, Russia and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France" title="France">France</a>. <sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-30#cite_note-3" title=""><span></span><span></span></a></sup></dd><dt><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-30MKK" title="Sukhoi Su-30MKK">Su-30MKK</a></dt><dd>Export version for China.</dd><dt>Su-30MKM</dt><dd>Based on the MKI, a highly specialised version for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Malaysian_Air_Force" title="Royal Malaysian Air Force">Royal Malaysian Air Force</a> with the same platform but a French, South African and Russian combination of avionics. It will feature head-up displays (HUD), navigational forward-looking IR system (NAVFLIR) and Damocles Laser Designation pod (LDP) from Thales Group of France, MAW-300 missile approach warning sensor (MAWS) and laser warning sensor (LWS) from SAAB AVITRONICS (South Africa), as well as the Russian NIIP N011M BARS PESA radar, electronic warfare (EW) system, optical-location system (OLS) and a glass cockpit.</dd><dt>Su-30MKV</dt><dd>Export version for Venezuela is most likely to be similar to the Su-30MK2. This is based on the presence of two such demonstrator models (No. 0460 and No. 1259) from the KNAAPO facility that took part in July 2006 national day parade in Caracas. The latest news confirm that the Su-30 purchased by Venezuela are indeed Su-30MK2.</dd><dt>Su-30MK2</dt><dd>Su-30MKK with upgraded electronics that enabled support for anti-ship missiles</dd><dt>Su-30MK2V</dt><dd>Su-30MK2 variant for Vietnam with minor modifications.</dd><dt>Su-30MK3</dt><dd>Su-30MKK with Zhuk MSE radar and Support for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kh-59" title="Kh-59">Kh-59</a>MK anti-ship missile.</dd><dt>Su-30MKA</dt><dd>Highly specialised version for Algeria is similar to the MKI, but will principally be equipped with French and Russian avionics. It will feature head-up and multifunction displays from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thales_Group" title="Thales Group">Thales Group</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagem" title="Sagem" class="mw-redirect">Sagem</a> of France.</dd></dl> <p><a name="Operators" id="Operators"></a></p> <h2><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline">Operators</span></h2> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 352px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Operators_of_the_Su-30.png" class="image" title="Military operators of the Su-30"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/81/Operators_of_the_Su-30.png/350px-Operators_of_the_Su-30.png" class="thumbimage" width="350" border="0" height="154" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Operators_of_the_Su-30.png" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><br /></a></div> Military operators of the Su-30<br /><br /></div> </div> </div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sheeju_sukh.JPG" class="image" title="Sukhoi-30MKI, Indian Air Force, Aeroindia 05."><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Sheeju_sukh.JPG/180px-Sheeju_sukh.JPG" class="thumbimage" width="180" border="0" height="135" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sheeju_sukh.JPG" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><br /></a></div> Sukhoi-30MKI, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Air_Force" title="Indian Air Force">Indian Air Force</a>, Aeroindia 05.<br /><br /></div> </div> </div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Venezuelan_Su-30.jpg" class="image" title="Sukhoi Su-30Mk2 Venezuelan Air Force"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/30/Venezuelan_Su-30.jpg/180px-Venezuelan_Su-30.jpg" class="thumbimage" width="180" border="0" height="62" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Venezuelan_Su-30.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><br /></a></div> Sukhoi Su-30Mk2 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuelan_Air_Force" title="Venezuelan Air Force">Venezuelan Air Force</a><br /><br /></div> </div> </div> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Algeria.svg" class="image" title="Flag of Algeria.svg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Flag_of_Algeria.svg/22px-Flag_of_Algeria.svg.png" class="thumbborder" width="22" border="0" height="15" /></a> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algeria" title="Algeria">Algeria</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algerian_Air_Force" title="Algerian Air Force">Algerian Air Force</a> operates 44 Su-30MKA version.<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since July 2008" style="white-space: nowrap;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><br /></a></i></span></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China.svg" class="image" title="Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Flag_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China.svg.png" class="thumbborder" width="22" border="0" height="15" /></a> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Republic_of_China" title="People's Republic of China">People's Republic of China</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Liberation_Army_Air_Force" title="People's Liberation Army Air Force">People's Liberation Army Air Force</a> operates 76 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-30MKK" title="Sukhoi Su-30MKK">Su-30MKK</a> (Russian: <i>Modernizirovannyi Kommercheskiy Kitaya</i>; Modernized Commercial China). The PLAAF was already operating the Su-27. The first batch of 38 were delivered between <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_20" title="December 20">December 20</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000" title="2000">2000</a> and the end of 2001. The second batch of 38 were ordered in 2001 and thought to have been delivered by 2003.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Liberation_Army_Naval_Air_Force" title="People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force">People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force</a> operates 24 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-30MKK#Su-30MK2" title="Sukhoi Su-30MKK">Su-30MK2</a>. They were ordered in January 2003 and delivered by August 2004.</li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_India.svg" class="image" title="Flag of India.svg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Flag_of_India.svg/22px-Flag_of_India.svg.png" class="thumbborder" width="22" border="0" height="15" /></a> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India" title="India">India</a></dt></dl> <ul><li>Indian Air Force, after years of negotiations, decided to purchase 50 Su-30 aircraft and acquired the licence from Sukhoi and Russia to manufacture an additional 140 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-30MKI" title="Sukhoi Su-30MKI">Su-30MKI</a> aircraft. India is expected to eventually acquire a total of 230 aircraft. Currently 116 Sukhoi-30MKI are in service.</li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Indonesia.svg" class="image" title="Flag of Indonesia.svg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Flag_of_Indonesia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Indonesia.svg.png" class="thumbborder" width="22" border="0" height="15" /></a> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia" title="Indonesia">Indonesia</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesian_Air_Force" title="Indonesian Air Force">Indonesian Air Force</a> operates 2 Su-27SK, and 2 Su-30MK aircraft.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-30#cite_note-4" title=""><span></span><span></span></a></sup> Indonesia ordered 3 Su-27SKM and 3 Su-30MK2 aircraft and signed an agreement for a possible order for six more aircraft.<sup id="cite_ref-FLANKER_OPS_2-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-30#cite_note-FLANKER_OPS-2" title=""><span></span><span></span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Malaysia.svg" class="image" title="Flag of Malaysia.svg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Flag_of_Malaysia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Malaysia.svg.png" class="thumbborder" width="22" border="0" height="11" /></a> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia" title="Malaysia">Malaysia</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Malaysian_Air_Force" title="Royal Malaysian Air Force">Royal Malaysian Air Force</a> after a close visit to India's Su-30MKI, signed a deal to purchase 18 of Su-30MKM (M for Malaysia) in May 2003. The first 2 Su-30MKMs were formally handed over in Irkutsk on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_23" title="May 23">23 May</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007" title="2007">2007</a>, later arrived in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gong_Kedak" title="Gong Kedak">Gong Kedak</a> airbase on 21 June. Full squadron of 18 aircraft will be operational by the end of 2008. As part of the deal, the Russians will send a Malaysian astronaut to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Space_Station" title="International Space Station">ISS</a>.</li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Russia.svg" class="image" title="Flag of Russia.svg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Flag_of_Russia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Russia.svg.png" class="thumbborder" width="22" border="0" height="15" /></a> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia" title="Russia">Russia</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Air_Force" title="Russian Air Force">Russian Air Force</a> Operates at least 19 which are all in service with the Russian Air Force VVS</li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Venezuela.svg" class="image" title="Flag of Venezuela.svg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Flag_of_Venezuela.svg/22px-Flag_of_Venezuela.svg.png" class="thumbborder" width="22" border="0" height="15" /></a> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuela" title="Venezuela">Venezuela</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuelan_Air_Force" title="Venezuelan Air Force">Venezuelan Air Force</a> and the government of Venezuela on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_14" title="June 14">14 June</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006" title="2006">2006</a>, announced the purchase of 24 units of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-30MKK#Su-30MK2" title="Sukhoi Su-30MKK">Su-30MK2</a> aircraft. The first two Su-30MK2s arrived in the first week of December 2006 while another 8 were commissioned during 2007, fourteen more units have arrived in 2008 with the last 4 being delivered in August.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-30#cite_note-5" title=""><span></span><span></span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-30#cite_note-6" title=""><span></span><span></span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Vietnam.svg" class="image" title="Flag of Vietnam.svg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Flag_of_Vietnam.svg/22px-Flag_of_Vietnam.svg.png" class="thumbborder" width="22" border="0" height="15" /></a> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam" title="Vietnam">Vietnam</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_People%27s_Air_Force" title="Vietnam People's Air Force" class="mw-redirect">Vietnam People's Air Force</a> operates 15 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-30MKK#Su-30MK2" title="Sukhoi Su-30MKK">Su-30MK2V</a> version.</li></ul>MyNuclearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379651050289841088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707954291441862963.post-71659368743166055732009-01-07T06:17:00.000-08:002009-01-08T06:23:12.142-08:00Sukhoi Su-33<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sukhoi Su-33<br /><br /></span></span> <table class="infobox" style="width: 315px; border-spacing: 2px; text-align: left; font-size: 90%;"> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: large; padding-bottom: 0.3em;">Su-33</th> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em;"> <div style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170);"> <div class="center"> <div class="floatnone"><span class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Su27K_%28Su33%29_DD-SD-99-06153.jpg/300px-Su27K_%28Su33%29_DD-SD-99-06153.jpg" width="300" border="0" height="210" /></span></div> </div> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); text-align: center;">An Su-33 on board <span class="mw-redirect"><i>Admiral Kuznetsov</i></span>.</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Role</th> <td>Multirole fighter</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Manufacturer</th> <td>Sukhoi</td> </tr> <tr> <th>First flight</th> <td>May 1985</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Introduction</th> <td>1994</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Status</th> <td>Operational</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Primary user</th> <td>Russian Naval Aviation</td> </tr> <tr> <th><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Number built</span></th> <td>24+</td> </tr> <tr> <th><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Developed from</span></th> <td>Sukhoi Su-27</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p>The <b>Sukhoi Su-33</b> (NATO reporting name ‘Flanker-D’) is a carrier-based multi-role fighter aircraft produced by Russian firm Sukhoi beginning in 1982. It is a derivative of the Su-27 ‘Flanker’ and was initially known as the <b>Su-27K</b>. The main differences from the Su-27 are that the Su-33 can operate from aircraft carriers and is capable of aerial refueling.</p><script type="text/javascript">//<![CDATA[ if (window.showTocToggle) { var tocShowText = "show"; var tocHideText = "hide"; showTocToggle(); } //]]> </script> <p><a name="Development" id="Development"></a> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><span class="mw-headline">Development</span></span></p> <p>Full scale design development of the Su-33 started in 1984 as T10K, under Konstantin Marbashev. N.F. Sadovnikov was appointed the Design Bureau's chief test pilot for the programme. Conceptual design had the passed critical design review by November 1984, with the detailed design finalized in 1985. The Su-33 first flew in May 1985, and entered service in the Russian Navy in 1994. An air regiment comprising 24 fighters of the type was formed upon the Russian Navy’s only operating aircraft carrier, <span class="mw-redirect"><i>Admiral Kuznetsov</i></span>.</p> <p>During testing, each pilot made 400 landings on a concrete runway matching the size, and shape of the carrier deck (the <span class="new">NITKA</span>), in order to practice no-flare landing technique before making an actual landing on a carrier deck. Despite this, at one point a minor accident occurred during a touch-and-go. During a landing, the wind blew at 45 degrees to the port beam causing the prototype (then called T-10K), piloted by Victor Pugachev, to drift 3 meters off course, nearly causing an accident. As the aircraft cleared the deck, a landing gear oleo struck several struts on the lower hull sponson. The struts buckled but the aircraft was undamaged. The pilots of both the <span class="mw-redirect">MiG-29K ‘Fulcrum-D’</span> and Su-27K had all already seen the struts but did not complain about the placement because they were below flight deck level, their only objection being the turbulence generated by the sponson, which was later fixed.</p> <p>The first actual carrier landing did not pass without incident, as would be hoped. It was discovered that despite the shortening of the fighter, it was still too tall to fit through the hangar door, and special clamps had to be fitted to the landing gear to squeeze it through the hangar.</p> <div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><span class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/MAKS-2007-Su-33-2.jpg/180px-MAKS-2007-Su-33-2.jpg" class="thumbimage" width="180" border="0" height="135" /></span> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><span class="internal"><br /></span></div> Su-33 at MAKS Airshow 2007.</div> </div> </div> <p>The next day, it was found prior to takeoff, that when the water cooled jet blast deflectors were set at their normal setting of 60 degrees, they were too close to the engine nozzles. They were ordered to be set at 45 degrees, but the actuator could not hold them in that position. The crew then improvised makeshift braces out of steel pipe to hold the deflector in position. Unfortunately, the welders neglected to clear the metal fragments that resulted from their work, and these fragments pelted observers. Then to make matters worse, the pop-up detents would not retract when ordered, and the prototype sat in front of the shield for 8 seconds longer than the maximum safe time of 6 seconds. This then caused the shield's water pipes to explode, blowing apart the shield. Some observers believed the fighters fuel lines had ruptured and ran, fearing an explosion. Pugachev, who was piloting, was then ordered to throttle back his engines which resulted in the detents retracting, causing the fighter to jerk forward. Pugachev reacted quickly and stood on the brakes and shut off the engines. The fighter was towed to another position and Pugachev took off without using jet blast deflectors, or detents, climbed steeply, performed the Pugachev’s Cobra and flew away. From then on, a Kamov Ka-27PS search-and-rescue helicopter was flown close to the carrier in the event of an accident.</p> <p><a name="Design" id="Design"></a></p> <h2><span class="mw-headline">Design</span></h2> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><span class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Sukhoi_Su-33_on_Admiral_Kuznetsov-2.jpg/180px-Sukhoi_Su-33_on_Admiral_Kuznetsov-2.jpg" class="thumbimage" width="180" border="0" height="120" /></span> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><span class="internal"><br /></span></div> Su-33 being prepared for take-off on the <i>Admiral Kuznetsov</i>.</div> </div> </div> <p>Unlike comparable American carrier-borne fighters like the F-14 Tomcat, the Su-33 is designed to use a ski-jump instead of catapult for carrier takeoff. The ski jump provides many advantages over a catapult launch. The most evident is that a ski jump does not put stress on the airframe and pilot, allowing lower weight because less structural reinforcement is required and prevents G-LOC (G-induced loss of consciousness.) Also, with a ski jump launch, the aircraft can engage full afterburner earlier than a catapult launch, because the aircraft is restrained by pop-up detents rather than a catapult shoe. Once in the air the aircraft has a positive AOA as well as pitch angular speed which increases during acceleration, and assists the climb. This method does require an aircraft that is more stable and maneuverable at low speeds. On the down side, an aircraft launched off a ski jump cannot launch at maximum takeoff weight (unless MTOW is very light to begin with, as in the BAe Harrier and its family), so either combat load or range will suffer <i>vis à vis</i> a catapulted aircraft. Large aircraft cannot launch off a ski jump at all, restricting a ski jump-equipped carrier to <span class="new">tactical aviation</span> only.</p> <p>The Su-33 sports canards that shorten the take-off distance and improve maneuverability, but required reshaping of the leading edge extensions. The canards counter pitch-down force generated by leading and trailing edge flaps reducing approach speed by 1.5 times; they also act as destabilizers in supersonic flight, by reducing pitch trim drag. The wing area was also increased, though the span remained unchanged. The wings were fitted with power-assisted folding, and the vertical tails were shortened to allow the fighter to fit in the typically crowded hangars of an aircraft carrier. The rear radome was shortened and reshaped to allow for the tail hook, as well as to save space inside the hangars. The IRST was moved to provide better downward visibility and an L-shaped retractable refuelling probe was fitted to increase range.</p> <p>The Su-33 carries guided missiles such as the Kh-25MP, Kh-31 and Kh-41. The plane can be used in both night and day operations at sea. It can operate under assistance of the command center ship, or in conjunction with a Kamov Ka-31 (a variant of the Ka-27) early-warning helicopter. The R-27EM missiles provide it the capability to intercept antiship missiles.</p> <p>Other than air defence, the duties of the Su-33 include destruction of enemy ASW, <span class="mw-redirect">AWACS</span>, and transport aircraft, anti-shipping strike, support of amphibious landing, escort, reconnaissance, and laying of <span class="mw-redirect">minefields</span>.</p> <p><a name="Operators" id="Operators"></a></p> <h2><span class="mw-headline">Operators</span></h2> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Flag_of_Russia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Russia.svg.png" class="thumbborder" width="22" border="0" height="15" /></span> </span>Russia</dt></dl> <ul><li>Russian Naval Aviation</li></ul> <p><a name="Former" id="Former"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline">Former</span></h3> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Flag_of_Ukraine.svg/22px-Flag_of_Ukraine.svg.png" class="thumbborder" width="22" border="0" height="15" /></span> </span>Ukraine</dt></dl> <ul><li>Ukrainian Air Force</li></ul> <p><a name="Potential_operators" id="Potential_operators"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline">Potential operators</span></h3> <p>The state-run company Rosoboronexport is finishing negotiations with the People’s Republic of China to ship up to 50 aircraft totalling US$2.5 billion dollars. China would initially acquire 2 aircraft worth US$100 million dollars for testing and then have further options to acquire an additional 12-48 aircraft. The fighters are intended to be used with the fledgling Chinese aircraft carrier program.</p> <p>At the sixth Zhuhai Airshow in fall 2006, the first deputy director of the Military Technological Cooperation Bureau of Russian Federation, <span class="mw-redirect">lieutenant general</span> Aleksander Denisov of the Russian Air Force, confirmed at the news conference to the public that China had approached Russia for the possible purchase of Su-33, and negotiation was to start in 2007. The Xinhua News Agency subsequently published the information on its military website on the same day on November 1, 2006 and this is the only known official Chinese governmental acknowledgment on this matter, but neither the Russian general nor the Chinese reporters disclosed any information on whether the deal was direct purchase, license assembly or technology transfer, but simply stating that China had planned to "introduce Su-33".<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since April 2007" style="white-space: nowrap;"><i><br /></i></span></sup></p> <p><a name="Specifications_.28Su-33.29" id="Specifications_.28Su-33.29"></a></p> <h2><span class="mw-headline">Specifications (Su-33)</span></h2> <p style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0.2em; font-size: 90%;"><i>Data from</i> KNAAPO Su-33 page, Sukhoi Su-30MK page, Gordon and Davison</p> <p><big><b>General characteristics</b></big></p> <ul><li><b>Crew:</b> 1</li><li><b>Length:</b> 21.94 m (72 ft)</li><li><b>Wingspan:</b> 14.70 m (48.25 ft)</li><li><b>Height:</b> 5.93 m (19.5 ft)</li><li><b>Wing area:</b> 62.0 m² (667 ft²)</li><li><b>Empty weight:</b> 18,400 kg (40,600 lb)</li><li><b>Loaded weight:</b> 29,940 kg (66,010 lb)</li><li><b>Max takeoff weight:</b> 33,000 kg (72,750 lb)</li><li><b>Powerplant:</b> 2× AL-31F afterburning turbofans <ul><li><b>Dry thrust:</b> 7,600 kgf (74.5 kN, 16,750 lbf) each</li><li><b>Thrust with afterburner:</b> 12,500 kgf (122.6 kN, 27,560 lbf) each</li></ul> </li><li><b>Wingspan, wings folded:</b> 7.40 m (24.25 ft)</li></ul> <p><big><b>Performance</b></big></p> <ul><li><b>Maximum speed:</b> Mach 2.17 (2,300 km/h, 1,430 mph) at 10,000 m (33,000 ft) altitude</li><li><b><span class="mw-redirect">Stall speed</span>:</b> 240 km/h (150 mp/h)</li><li><b>Range:</b> 3,000 km (1,860 mi)</li><li><b>Service ceiling</b> 17,000 m (55,800 ft)</li><li><b>Rate of climb:</b> 325 m/s (64,350 ft/min)</li><li><b>Wing loading:</b> 483 kg/m²; (98.9 lb/ft²)</li><li><b>Thrust/weight:</b> 0.83</li></ul> <ul><li><b>Maximum turn:</b> +8 <i>g</i> (+78 m/s²)</li><li><b>Landing speed:</b> 235-250 km/h (145-155 mph)</li></ul> <p><big><b>Armament</b></big><br /></p> <ul><li>1x 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon with 150 rounds</li><li>Up to 6,500 kg (14,300 lb) of munitions on twelve external hardpoints, including: <ul><li>R-27/R-73 air-to-air missiles</li><li>Various bombs and rockets</li><li>ECM pods</li></ul> </li></ul><br /></div>MyNuclearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379651050289841088noreply@blogger.com