Russian Navy Naval Aviation to Receive More than 50 New Sukhoi Su-30SM by 2020

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Naval Aviation News - Russia
 
 
 
Russian Navy Naval Aviation to Receive More than 50 New Sukhoi Su-30SM by 2020
 
According to state-operated domestic Russian-language news agency RIA Novosti, the chief of naval aviation of the Russian Navy, Major General Igor Kozhin said, that his units are set to receive more than 50 Su-30SM by the year 2020.
     
According to state-operated domestic Russian-language news agency RIA Novosti, the chief of naval aviation of the Russian Navy, Major General Igor Kozhin said, that his units are set to receive more than 50 Su-30SM by the year 2020.According to the chief of naval aviation of the Russian Navy, the procurement of Su-30SM will significantly enhance the ability of the Russian naval aviation groups.
Picture: Alexei Korshunov / russianplanes.net

     
"Su-30SM entered operational service with the naval aviation of Russian Navy in July 2014. Last year the Navy Naval aviation has inducted three Su-30SM, two more aircraft entered service on August 17 this year, three more will enter service in September and October 2015. It is planned that by 2020 Naval aviation of the Russian Navy will receive more than 50 Su-30SM" told Major General Igor Kozhin to RIA Novosti.

According to Kozhin, the procurement of Su-30SM will significantly enhance the ability of the Russian naval aviation groups. "With their great range, their air-refueling ability, their ability to deal with high-precision weapons for AAW, ASuW and air to ground, these Su-30SM fullfil the needs of naval aviation of the Russian Navy," - he said.
     
Su-30SM of the Russian Navy Black Sea Fleet 43rd Independent Naval Shturmovik (Assault) Air Squadron in CrimeaSu-30SM of the Russian Navy Black Sea Fleet 43rd Independent Naval Shturmovik (Assault) Air Squadron in Crimea
     
Based on the Su-30MKM and MKI variant for export, the Su-30SM is a specific variant for the Russian military produced by Irkut Corporation. The new version has been upgraded according to Russian military requirements with a new Bars-R AESA radar and specific radio communications systems, friend-or-foe identification system, ejection seats, weapons, wide-angle HUD and other aircraft systems.

According to Irkut Corporation, Su-30SM are super maneuverable twin engine jets, equipped with phased array radar, thrust vectoring engines and canards. The fighter is able to use modern "air-to-air" and "air-to-surface" high-precision weapons.

The Russian Navy Su-30SM are not intended for the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov but operate from naval aviation bases on land. They have a two-tone dark gray camouflage and bear a St. Andrew's flag (Russian Navy Ensign) painting by the cockpit.

Procurement of these aircraft follow both a political and pragmatic decision from Russian autorities:
- Political because it provides some work to the factory (Irkut Corporation)
- Pragmatic because Russian Air Force procured the same type of aircraft, Su-33 carrier borne aircraft are not in production anymore, Mig-29K carrier borne aircraft do not have as much range as Su-30SM, Russian Navy naval aviation needed to replace its ageing Su-24 and finally, as state by the chief of Russian naval aviation, Su-30SM offers long range and can deploy all weapons already integrated in the "Su" family of aircraft.