Undoubted leaders among modern Russian combat aircraft, both in the number of aircraft produced and in the variety of modifications. In addition, Sushki has achieved truly outstanding success on the world market - the aircraft were purchased by nine countries, including India, from which the largest orders were received.
Despite the fact that all large-scale modifications of the Su-30 have already been created in Russia, the aircraft was born back in Soviet times. In 1988, work began on a two-seat interceptor based on the combat training Su-27UB, and on October 4, the modified aircraft (board 10PU-5) made its first flight. The vehicle, equipped with an in-flight refueling system, advanced navigation and weapons control systems, was intended for long-term patrols in order to provide air defense.
With the exception of the above, this modification, which did not have its own letter index, did not differ from ordinary “sparks”. The first production Su-30 took off on April 14, 1992.
Mass production was prevented by the collapse of the USSR - only nine such vehicles were produced, of which the Ministry of Defense bought only five for the needs of air defense aviation.
The rest were used at the plant and Sukhoi Design Bureau as demonstrator aircraft, participated in international air shows, and then were further developed as prototypes for future modifications.
Board 10PU-5
The reason for the cessation of production of the “original” Su-30 was the clearly incomplete implementation of the potential inherent in the aircraft. First of all, in the field of expanding the capabilities of hitting ground targets: an aircraft with two crew members, with a large combat load and flight range could turn into a first-class attack vehicle.
However, the basic Su-27UB and the first Su-30 were capable of using only unguided air-to-ground weapons, which was already completely unsatisfactory in the 90s.
The main thing is that at that time there were no foreign buyers for such an aircraft. In 1992, work began on the Su-30MK (“Modernized Commercial”). In 1996, the first success was achieved - a contract was signed with India for the supply of 40 Su-30MKI (I - “Indian”). The Su-30MKIs were already significantly different from the “sparks”: they had a front horizontal tail (FH), based on the experience of the deck-based Su-33; the aircraft were equipped with significantly improved avionics (including the ability to integrate foreign systems) and engines with thrust vector control (TCV).
The result was a vehicle with unique maneuverability and the ability to hit ground targets with precision weapons - an exemplary representative modern class multirole fighters.
The Su-30MKI prototype made its first flight on July 1, 1997. Since the creation of the aircraft took several years, India purchased the first 18 aircraft in the Su-30K version - the “original” Su-30 of the early 90s, equipped with a GPS navigation system. These aircraft were later replaced by the Su-30MKI, modernized in Belarus and sold to Angola in 2013.
Deliveries of “real” Su-30MKI to India began in 2002. Since then, the Indians have repeatedly ordered additional batches and mastered licensed production. The Su-30MKI is the backbone of the Indian Air Force. On at the moment The total volume of orders is 272 aircraft!
Su-30MKI
At the end of the 90s, the nascent Su-30 family was divided into two branches. The first Su-30s were produced at the Irkutsk Aviation Industrial Association (IAPO). However, the country's second largest aircraft plant, the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Production Association (KnAAPO), also produced Sukhoi - at that time mostly for China. When the PRC requested a strike modification of the Su-27, it was decided to develop it on the basis of the Su-30K and put it into production at KnAAPO.
Work on the Su-30MKK (K - “Chinese”) began in 1998. Most of the improvements compared to the “conventional” ones concerned avionics; the aircraft was not equipped with PGO or engines with UHT. The easiest way to visually distinguish the Su-30MKK from the Su-27UB is by slightly higher keels with a horizontal, rather than beveled, upper edge towards the stern.
The first Su-30MKK flew on May 20, 1999. The work was carried out at high speed and the first aircraft were delivered to the customer at the end of 2000. Based on the Su-30MKK, also originally for China, in 2002 they created a modification with even more advanced avionics - the Su-30MK2. China has purchased a total of 76 Su-30MKK and 24 Su-30MK2.
The Indian and Chinese contracts became the starting point for two branches of development, but the matter was not limited to them. Irkutsk aircraft were purchased by Algeria (44 Su-30MKI(A)) and Malaysia (18 Su-30MKM). "Komsomol" - Venezuela (24 Su-30MK2V), Vietnam (60 Su-30MK2V), Indonesia (2 Su-30MK and 9 Su-30MK2), Uganda (6 Su-30MK2). Thus, the total volume of foreign orders for Su-30 family aircraft exceeds five hundred aircraft, and this is in just a decade and a half!
Su-30MKK
However, the crowning achievement of both families is the aircraft for the Russian Air Force.
After many years “without fish,” the domestic Air Force began to renew its fleet and, naturally, the choice fell on a “jack of all trades” capable of fighting for air supremacy, effectively hitting ground targets and even serving as a training machine.
It is important that the aircraft was completely ready, tested in production and free of childhood diseases (and for the money of foreigners). The more advanced “Irkutsk” version under the designation Su-30SM (“Serial modernized”) was chosen as the main multi-role fighter. Production of the Su-30SM for the Russian Air Force has been ongoing since 2012, the first aircraft have also been purchased for the resurgent naval aviation, the total volume of contracts already concluded is 72 vehicles, and more will undoubtedly follow.
The “Komsomolsk” version has also found its place in the domestic Air Force - the aircraft under the symbol Su-30M2 is purchased to replace the exhausted Su-27UB twins. A total of 20 Su-30M2s have been ordered, with the first delivered in 2010.
Structurally, the aircraft of the Su-30 family are a development of the Su-27UB with varying degrees of differences from the original in terms of design (the maximum is for aircraft of the Su-30MKI/SM family with PGO and AL-31FP engines with UVT) and significantly improved avionics. The aircraft are equipped with a modernized radar - some modifications have a phased array antenna (PAA), plans include equipping a radar with an active phased array, and the possibility of suspending sighting and navigation containers is provided.
Taken together, this not only significantly increases the capabilities of conducting air combat, but also allows the use of almost the entire domestic range of air-to-ground guided weapons - from adjustable bombs of various calibers to supersonic anti-ship and anti-radar missiles of the X-31 family.
Weight of combat load is 8 tons. Built-in weapons are traditional for modern domestic fighters- 30 mm single-barrel gun GSh-301.
The flight characteristics are generally close to the Su-27, however, the aircraft of the Su-30MKI/SM family are significantly superior to them in maneuverability, and due to being equipped with an in-flight refueling system, all Su-30s potentially have the ability to fly at significantly greater ranges.
The Su-30SM is a Russian heavy multi-role fighter of the 4++ generation, designed primarily to gain air superiority. Essentially, it is a modification of the Su-30MKI intended for the Russian Air Force. The Su-30SM fighter made its first flight in 2012.
The Su-30MKI began to be developed in the mid-90s specifically for the Indian Air Force (MKI - “modernized, commercial, Indian”). In turn, the Su-30 fighter is the result of a deep modernization of the Su-27 fighter, which began in the Soviet Union (1988).
Today the Su-30SM is considered one of the best fighters in the world, it has excellent characteristics; this aircraft can rightfully be called the pinnacle of development of the Su-27 line of aircraft.
The Su-30SM fighter is capable of operating day and night, in any weather conditions, it can not only shoot down enemy aircraft, but also destroy ground targets, as well as conduct aerial reconnaissance and provide target designation to other aircraft of the group (including Su-34 bombers) .
The first flight of the Su-30SM took place on September 21, 2012. At the end of the same year, the aircraft was put into service and the Russian Ministry of Defense signed a contract for the supply of 30 fighters by the end of 2016. As of 2014, the Russian Air Force has ordered 60 fighters, with additional contracts awarded in 2019 and 2019. As of November 2019, 71 Su-30SM were sent to combat units. Another four Su-30SM will be manufactured for the Kazakh Air Force.
Currently, several Su-30SM aircraft are taking part in military operations in Syria.
History of creation
Operation of the Soviet multirole fighter Su-27 began in 1986. The rapid development of technology has changed not only the on-board equipment of fighter aircraft and their technical specifications, but also the very concept of air combat. The use of an active phased array radar allowed fighters not only to conduct air combat, but also to control a group of combat vehicles, taking on some of the functions of an AWACS aircraft.
Based on this, the air defense command wanted to get a new aircraft that could not only perform the tasks of an interceptor fighter, but also be used as a flying command post for a Su-27 group. Considering the enormous length of the borders Soviet Union, and also large number undeveloped areas with a small number of suitable airfields, such a machine was simply absolutely necessary.
The military believed that a two-seat fighter would be better suited to perform such tasks; the Su-27UB was cited as an example - a combat training vehicle with duplicate controls, but at the same time retaining the combat capabilities of a single-seat aircraft.
Modern radar and electronic on-board equipment of a fighter aircraft is so complex and multifunctional that it is quite difficult for one pilot to fully realize its capabilities in a fleeting, maneuverable air battle. Additionally, having a second crew member provides significant psychological benefits during long patrols.
It was assumed that one of the pilots could control the aircraft, conduct close-range combat, and the second could monitor the air situation and direct the actions of the battle group.
Work on the creation of a two-seat fighter-interceptor began at the Sukhoi Design Bureau in the late 80s. The Su-27UB combat training aircraft was chosen as the base vehicle for modernization. It had a two-seater cabin, a significant fuel system capacity, and ten points for mounting weapons. To further increase the flight range of the future fighter, the designers decided to equip it with an in-flight refueling system. Its development began in 1987. The first prototype of the new Su-30 fighter was designated T-10U-5.
The fighter received new system remote monitoring and navigation complex. The group commander's seat was located in the rear cockpit of the aircraft; it was equipped with a wide-format indicator, which displayed all the information about the current location of the group, target movement characteristics and other data on the air situation.
Externally, the new aircraft was not much different from the basic modification - the Su-27UB fighter; it had almost the same technical characteristics, excellent reliability and good controllability. The new vehicle received the designation Su-30, and its serial production began in Irkutsk in 1991.
However, then came the collapse of the Soviet Union, which became a disaster for all enterprises of the military-industrial complex.
Due to the almost complete stop in the purchase of new equipment Russian Ministry defense, the management of the Sukhoi Design Bureau began searching for foreign customers for its products. IN as soon as possible The Su-30MK was created - a multi-purpose two-seat aircraft, the first flight of which took place in 1993. The range of the vehicle’s weapons was significantly expanded, its take-off weight increased from 30 to 38.8 tons, combat load has doubled, the resource has increased significantly power plant and a glider.
The new fighter was offered to India, the traditional customer of the Soviet military equipment and weapons. Already in April 1994, the first meeting of the Russian-Indian working group, which studied the possibility of supplying the Su-30MK to India, as well as organizing the production of new fighters in this country. At the end of 1996, a contract was signed for the construction of forty Su-30MK combat vehicles for the Indian Air Force.
At the beginning of the new millennium, designers of the Sukhoi Design Bureau developed new modification fighter - Su-30MKI. It was created specifically for the Indian Air Force. In essence, the Su-30MKI is a new generation aircraft. The aircraft was equipped with engines with variable thrust vectoring and a front horizontal tail, which significantly improved the maneuverability of the fighter in all flight modes.
Soviet (Russian) combat aircraft they were almost always inferior to their Western competitors in the quality of avionics. To eliminate this drawback, the avionics for the new fighter was developed in broad international cooperation with the participation of companies from France, Israel and India. As a result, the Su-30MKI received a new radar with a passive phased array.
The fighter turned out to be so successful that the Russian defense department became interested in it. In September 2012, the Su-30SM, manufactured by order of the Russian Ministry of Defense, took to the skies for the first time. By the end of the year, two new vehicles were transferred to the Russian Air Force.
Such a decision does not seem surprising. Firstly, the Su-30SM has truly excellent technical characteristics; it surpasses all others in maneuverability foreign analogues. Secondly, the creators paid a lot of attention to the fighter’s avionics: thanks to the use of foreign systems, the Su-30SM is in no way inferior to the best Western combat vehicles. However, there is another explanation for the interest of the Ministry of Defense: this aircraft has been mass-produced for many years, its production has been completely polished, the “childhood” diseases of the aircraft have been eliminated, and all the wishes of the pilots have been taken into account.
Su-30SM is a multi-role aircraft. It is capable of not only conducting air combat and hitting modern and advanced enemy aircraft, but also striking at enemy ground mobile or stationary targets. The Su-30SM is capable of accompanying and covering strike aviation groups and countering enemy systems electronic warfare, give target designation to the aircraft of your group. This fighter can also be used in naval theaters of combat: the Su-30SM is capable of detecting and destroying surface ships enemy independently or as part of a group of aircraft.
Device
The Su-30SM is a two-seat heavy fighter equipped with two AL-31FP bypass engines with variable thrust vectoring and a front horizontal tail. In general, its dimensions and fuselage layout are completely identical to the Su-30 and Su-30MKI fighters. The pilots are seated in tandem in the cockpit.
One of the main advantages of the Su-30SM is its super-maneuverability: the aircraft is unstable in the longitudinal channel, so its flight is ensured by a fly-by-wire control system (EDCS), which controls the rudders and rotary engine nozzles. A high degree of maneuverability of the aircraft is achieved due to the PGO and engines with controlled thrust vectoring.
The aircraft's power plant includes two AL-31FP engines located at an angle of 32 degrees to each other. Their nozzles can deviate in the vertical plane by ±16° and up to ±15° in any direction. This allows you to direct the thrust vector in yaw and pitch. The nozzles can be deflected both together with the control planes of the aircraft, and separately from them.
However, the main highlight of the Su-30SM is its cabin. The aircraft is equipped with a phased array avionics system, which allows it to detect and track fifteen air targets and simultaneously attack four of them. The Su-30SM uses a helmet-mounted target designation system, as well as a heads-up display. In addition, the cockpits are equipped with multifunctional LCD screens. All this provides pilots with the highest level of air situation awareness.
The Su-30SM can be equipped with suspended containers with laser and infrared sighting equipment. The fighter is equipped with an inertial navigation system with a satellite signal receiver from the GLONASS system, this ensures high accuracy of following the route. The Su-30SM can fly automatically in different modes, including low-altitude flight, landing approach, and also during attacks against ground and surface targets. The system providing automatic control is connected to the navigation system.
The Su-30SM belongs to the fourth generation of fighters; its design does not use stealth technology. Installed on the aircraft electronic warfare systems“Sorption” and “Khibiny”, which are not only capable of suppressing the relatively low-power radar of fighters, but also neutralizing ground-based radar systems.
If we talk about the electronic content of the Su-30SM, it should be noted that it is built according to the concept of “open board architecture”. This makes it possible to easily include new systems of domestic and foreign production into the avionics. This is what determines the high versatility of the Su-30SM, which allows the interceptor fighter to be converted into an attack aircraft in the shortest possible time.
The combat load of the Su-30SM fighter is 8 thousand kg. The aircraft has twelve hardpoints, which can accommodate a wide range of missile and bomb weapons. These could be six guided missiles for air combat at medium or short distances, unguided aerial bombs weighing 500 or 250 kg, or containers with NAR. In addition, the aircraft is armed by default with a 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon.
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"Military Parity". The Russian Air Force is simultaneously armed with three “slightly different” modifications of the Su-27 fighter developed by Sukhoi from two manufacturers, reports medium.com (article by expert Thomas Newdick dated February 21 - approx. “VP”).
It's a little weird and wasteful. For example, the US Air Force is buying only one new type of fighter - the F-35A, of which it intends to purchase more than 1,763 units to replace most existing tactical aircraft and theoretically achieve maximum efficiency fleet of fighter and attack aircraft.
Russia is acquiring several dozen fighters of the Su-30M2, Su-30SM and Su-35S models - these are modernizations of the basic Su-27, which appeared in the 1970s and is known in NATO as the Flanker. This decision is likely related to keeping two factories afloat amid a decline in export supplies.
The Su-30M2 were the first to enter service with these versions. In December 2011, aircraft were spotted at base 6972 in Krymsk (southern Krasnodar region).
The first three Su-30SM arrived at base 6982 in Domna (Siberia) in November 2013. By the end of this year, there were already more than 10 cars of this modification. Another 10 aircraft are expected to arrive in 2014.
The first operational Su-35S entered service with the 23rd Fighter Aviation Regiment at base 6883 in Dzemgi (Khabarovsk Territory in the far east of the country). _
Su-30M2
Of these three versions, the least complex is the two-seat Su-30M2, developed from the export version of the Su-30MKK for China. The aircraft are manufactured at KNAAPO (Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Production Association, Far East countries). The vehicle is considered a further development of the Su-30MK, which was produced at the Irkut plant (Irkutsk region, Siberia). Su-30MK2 aircraft manufactured by KNAAPO were supplied to Vietnam, Indonesia, Venezuela and Uganda.
In the summer of 2009, the first order for the Su-30M2 was concluded for the Russian Air Force. The aircraft have much in common with the single-seat Su-27SM (KNAAPO), which, in turn, is a modernization of the first generation Su-27.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has ordered four Su-30M2 and 12 Su-27SM3; the two-seaters are likely to serve as all-weather strike aircraft. It is likely that the total number of orders for the Su-30M2 will reach 20 units, but as of December 2013, only four have been spotted.
Su-30SM
Very similar to the Su-30M2, the two-seat model Su-30SM is a product of the Irkut plant, a competitor of KNAAPO. This machine is the Russian version of the Su-30MK, which had a stunning export success (India became the first client, then Malaysia and Algeria joined).
Compared to the Su-30MKK from KNAAPO, the export Su-30MK was a more advanced machine, in particular, it had the ability to integrate Western avionics. Customers could order equipment components of Russian, Ukrainian, French, Indian and Israeli production. The aircraft has a front horizontal tail, a power plant with controlled thrust vectoring and a more advanced fly-by-wire control system (EDCS).
A surprise was the order of the Russian Ministry of Defense for 30 aircraft in March 2012; in December the purchase of 60 aircraft was announced. Russian media report that all 60 aircraft will be delivered to the customer by the end of 2015, although as of December 2013 the Air Force had received only 16 fighters. The Russian version will have exclusively Russian equipment (Indian and Israeli components have been replaced). Interestingly, some of the vehicles will be transferred to the Navy aviation.
While the Su-30M2 uses the N001B airborne radar (an upgrade of the basic Su-27 radar), the Su-30SM is equipped with the N011M Bars-R radar with passive phased array, which significantly increases its capabilities. These aircraft should be armed with modern air-to-air missiles RVV-SD and RVV-MD.
Su-35S
The Su-35 differs from the Su-30 in that it is a single-seat aircraft, development, full-scale development has been carried out since the early 2000s. The vehicles are manufactured at KNAAPO and have a new airframe, avionics, power plant (AL-41F1S with thrust vector control), advanced electric propulsion system and a new forward-looking optical-electronic station. The vehicle does not have a PGO, since even without it the Su-35S is super maneuverable.
Russia has not yet publicly presented a radar with active phased array; it will probably be equipped on fifth-generation T-50 fighters. The Su-35S is equipped with the N135 Irbis radar with passive phased array (a development of the Barca).
Media reports about the possible delivery of Su-35S to China, although there is no actual evidence that the Chinese are interested in such a deal. Instead of export deliveries, in 2009 the Russian Air Force ordered 22 vehicles, 12 of which are based in Dzemga. Delivery of the first batch of 48 aircraft is likely to be completed in 2015, and a second contract for the same number of aircraft should be expected.
Thanks to modern equipment and the capabilities of the power plant, the Su-35 is perhaps the most effective interim aircraft awaiting the entry into service of the new generation T-50 fighters. According to media reports, the Su-35S is capable of using ultra-long-range RVV-BD air combat missiles (up to 200 km), as a result of which it can occupy the niche of long-range MiG-31 interceptors.
Russian mystery
Why did the Russian Air Force need three versions of the Su-27?
While the Su-27 family enjoyed success in the export market, the presence of two assembly plants - KNAAPO and Irkut - was not a big problem. But today export orders threaten to dry up completely. The Indian Air Force is building licensed Su-30MKI, China is building unlicensed ones based on the Su-27/Su-30MKK.
Malaysia has decided not to purchase any more Su-30MKM, Indonesia is unlikely to order a significant number to replace the F-5.
The most likely reason why Moscow decided to purchase three different versions from two manufacturers at once is the desire to support the business of these factories. In addition, the adoption of the Su-30M2, Su-30SM and Su-35S should increase their export attractiveness.
Meanwhile, the Russian Air Force urgently needs new fighters. The T-50 needs several more years of fine-tuning; in addition, a serious redesign of the aircraft cannot be ruled out, as the famous expert Piotr Butowski writes about this.
The schedule for the T-50 to enter service is constantly being pushed back. The Russian Air Force initially said that the aircraft would arrive at the flight test center in Akhtubinsk this year, but state acceptance of the aircraft may be delayed. Difficulties in the program could derail plans to achieve initial operational capability in the second half of 2016 and the start of full-scale production from the end of 2016. The optimistic scenario is the delivery of the first 60 vehicles in the period 2016-2020, but now this seems unlikely to be feasible. As a result, the Air Force is in dire need of intermediate aircraft.
Of the hundreds of Russian Air Force fighters, most are outdated. The collapse of the USSR and the subsequent economic crisis reduced the production of combat aircraft to a minimum. Only in recent years has Moscow had the resources to purchase a significant number of new-built aircraft.
But even dozens of Su-30M2, Su-30SM and Su-35S are not capable of completely renewing the fighter aircraft fleet. The Russian Air Force has only about 30 modernized MiG-29 fighters, which Algeria abandoned. The MiG-31 heavy interceptors still remain in service at six bases, but only a small number have been upgraded to the MiG-31BM level. There is no evidence that the interceptors received new missiles.
A planned modernization of the MiG-29 is unlikely to be planned, a successor to the MiG-31 is not in sight, and it seems that it is the Sukhoi Design Bureau fighters that will have to defend the skies of Russia in the long term. Whether the Russian Ministry of Defense will continue to acquire the above versions of the Su-27, time will tell. Hopes for a fifth-generation fighter depend on the T-50 program.
The name Su-35 has long been known in the aviation world. Under this name, since 1992, modernized fighters, the Su-27M, which were created at one time by order of the domestic Air Force, have been repeatedly demonstrated at international air shows. At the turn of the new millennium, Su-35 fighters participated in tenders of the Korean and Brazilian Air Forces, and the same aircraft produced in the first half of the 90s acted as demonstrator aircraft.
Over time, it became obvious that in order to successfully advance to the world market and ensure competitiveness with modern and promising foreign fighters, the aircraft requires radical modernization, which should affect not only the complexes of on-board equipment and weapons, but also the airframe of the aircraft itself, as well as its power plant. The latter was supposed to provide a significant increase in the resources and service life of the fighter.
As a result, by the middle of the first decade of the new century, the concept of a deeply modernized aircraft had generally been formed, for which the name Su-35 was retained (sometimes the Su-35BM (Great Modernization) was used.
Design features
So, what's new in the design of the Su-35? Firstly, the fighter will receive an improved airframe with a reinforced structure, which will allow for a significant increase in the aircraft’s service life - up to 6,000 hours or 30 years of operation (the service life before the first inspection and restoration repair and the time between overhauls has been increased to 1,500 hours or 10 years of operation). By aerodynamic design it is similar to the Su-27 aircraft - unlike the Su-30MKI, it will no longer have a front horizontal tail, while all three channels will use fly-by-wire control, without mechanical wiring.
The use of a new integrated control system KSU-35, developed by MNPK Avionika and performing the functions of several systems previously used on Su-27 aircraft (systems remote control, automatic control systems, limit signals, air signals, braking control of landing gear wheels, control of the rotation of the nose gear) will increase the aerobatic and maneuverable capabilities of the fighter. KSU-35 will simultaneously perform active safety functions.
From design features It should also be noted that there is no upper brake flap, traditional for Su-27 aircraft - its functions are transferred to differentially deflectable rudders. Due to the increase in take-off weight on the Su-35, the landing gear has been strengthened, and the front landing gear has been made two-wheeled. When manufacturing an aircraft airframe, radar visibility reduction technologies are implemented, which reduce its reflectivity in the X-band radio waves in the 60-degree angle sector.
Externally, the new Su-35 (T-10BM) is closer to the regular Su-27 than to the old Su-35 (T-10M): it does not have a pre-propelled gun, and the tail boom is shortened. The wings correspond to those used on the naval Su-33 with large flaperons occupying the entire trailing edge.
The airframe's design has been somewhat strengthened, allowing the maximum take-off weight to be increased to 38,800 kg. However, due to the reduction in the weight of the avionics, the weight of the empty aircraft remained almost unchanged (16,500 kg).
In addition, the area of the vertical tail has been reduced, which reduces radar visibility, and the volume of the cockpit compartment has been reduced (thanks to modern and compact avionics). The cockpit canopy has undergone minor changes.
In relation to the airframe of the Su-35 aircraft, it is appropriate to use the term “gentle mode of modernization”. This is due to the desire of designers to avoid or minimize the amount of expensive statistical testing, as well as to make full use of existing serial equipment.
The design of the Su-35 airframe ensures an increase in internal fuel reserves by more than 20% - when fully refueled, it reaches 11,500 kg compared to 9,400 kg for serial Su-27s. In addition, the aircraft is equipped with two external fuel tanks with a capacity of 1800 liters each, suspended from underwing points. With external tanks, the total fuel supply will reach 14,300 kg. The aircraft is also equipped with an in-flight refueling system using a “hose-cone” configuration with a retractable rod on the left side of the head of the fuselage. The rate of fuel pumping during refueling reaches 1100 l/min.
Engines
An important difference between the Su-35 and its predecessor Su-27 family aircraft is the use of new engines with increased thrust in its power plant. They were developed at NPO Saturn and are known as “117C”.
In terms of design, these engines are a deep development of the serial AL-31F using fifth-generation technologies. They use a new fan with a diameter increased by 3% (932 mm versus 905 mm), new high and low pressure turbines, and a new digital control system. The engine is designed to use a nozzle with a controlled thrust vector (as on the AL-31FP).
As a result of the modernization, the engine thrust in a special mode was increased by 16% - up to 14,500 kgf, in the maximum afterburning mode it reaches 8,800 kgf. Compared to the current AL-31F, service life indicators will increase significantly - 2-2.7 times: the overhaul life will increase from 500 to 1000 hours (lifetime before the first overhaul– 1500 hours), and the appointed one – from 1500 to 4000 hours.
According to the testing and development program for “product 117C”, five prototype engines were built. The first of them is undergoing bench tests in 2003, and two more have undergone flight testing as part of the power plant of a flying laboratory - a prototype Su-27M aircraft. Test flights began in March 2004. At the first stage of flight testing, about 30 flights of this flying laboratory with new engines were carried out, incl. five - with two engines. The fourth prototype then replaced the very first prototype on the stand, and the fifth was used as a backup during flight testing.
The bench tests carried out showed that the implemented measures made it possible to significantly improve the parameters of the “117C” engine compared to the prototype and exceed the parameters terms of reference in terms of thrust and specific fuel consumption. At the branch of NPO Saturn on Lytkarinsky machine-building plant(Moscow region) in the spring of this year, bench life tests of the “117S” engine began to support the first flight of the Su-35. In addition, at the stand in Lytkarno there is another engine of this type, which is intended for a set of special tests.
Serial production of “117C” engines will be carried out in cooperation with the Ufa Engine Building production association(UMPO, Ufa) and NPO “Saturn” (Rybinsk). According to the decision of the partner companies, all work on the 117C engine will be divided between NPO Saturn and UM PO on a parity basis, 50 to 50%.
The first two production Izdeliye 117S engines for flight testing as part of the first prototype Su-35 aircraft were manufactured at NPO Saturn and delivered to KnAAPO at the beginning of this year.
Equipment
Perhaps the main one distinctive feature The Su-35 will use a fundamentally new set of on-board equipment. It is based on an information and control system (ICS), designed for functional, logical, information and software linking of on-board equipment systems into a single integrated system and ensuring interaction between the crew and the equipment. The ICS includes two central digital computers, means of switching and converting information, and an indication system that implements the “glass cockpit” concept.
The basis of the information and control field of the Su-35 cockpit consists of two huge color multifunctional LCDs of the MFI-35 type, a multifunctional remote control with a built-in display processor, a wide-angle collimator indicator against the background of the windshield IKSh-1M and a control and display panel.
Cockpit of a Su-35 fighter
Multifunctional indicators MFI-35 with a built-in display processor have a size of 9x12 inches (diagonal - 15 inches) and a resolution of 1400x1050 pixels. They are designed to receive, process and display in multi-window mode
graphic, alphanumeric and symbolic information, displaying television information from on-board television sensors with the superimposition of alphanumeric and symbolic synthesized information on it, as well as generating and issuing a video signal in digital form into the video recording system. A multifunctional remote control with a built-in display processor is designed to display the necessary information and issue commands by pressing buttons on the frame at all stages of the flight.
The IKSh-1M collimator aviation indicator with a built-in processor is designed to provide observation of the collimator image of information generated in accordance with control signals against the background of the out-of-cockpit space. It has a 20x30 field of view.
Control of on-board equipment, systems and weapons in the new Su-35 cockpit is provided by buttons and switches on the aircraft control stick and engine control levers, as well as push-button frames of multifunction indicators. Thus, the HOTAS concept is implemented on the aircraft. The development of indicators and a number of other avionics systems for the Su-35 aircraft is provided by the Ramenskoye Instrument Engineering Design Bureau and other enterprises of the Technocomplex Research and Production Center.
Weapon control systems
The basis of the Su-35 weapons control system is a new radar system control system (RLSU) with a phased antenna array “Irbis-E”, which has unique characteristics for today in terms of target detection range. It was developed by JSC Research Institute of Instrument Making named after. V.V. Tikhomirov” (NIIP) as a further development of the Bars radar system used on the Su-30MKI and Su-30MKM aircraft, and is structurally a multifunctional X-band radar with a passive phased array with a diameter of 900 mm, placed on a two-stage electric hydraulic drive (according to azimuth and roll), equipped with an advanced computer system with a Solo-35 digital computer.
The antenna device scans when electronic control beam in azimuth and elevation in sectors of at least 60 degrees. In addition, a two-stage electric hydraulic drive mechanically rotates the antenna in azimuth by an angle of up to 60 degrees and in roll by an angle of 120 degrees. Thanks to this, the maximum beam deflection angle in azimuth with electronic control and mechanical rotation of the antenna increases to 120 degrees.
Radar control system "Irbis-E"
The Irbis-E radar system allows you to detect and track up to 30 air targets while maintaining continuity of space coverage, and simultaneously fire at up to eight air targets. The complex provides detection, selection and tracking of up to four ground targets in several mapping modes with varying degrees of resolution at a range of up to 400 km while maintaining control over airspace.
The Irbis-E radar system can detect air targets with an image intensifier of 3 m 2 on a collision course at a distance of up to 350-400 km (within a viewing area of 100 degrees). This is a unique indicator for modern aviation radar stations. In a wider viewing area (300 degrees), similar targets are guaranteed to be detected at a distance of up to 200 km in the front hemisphere (against the ground - up to 170 km) and up to 80 km in the rear hemisphere (up to 50 km against the ground). “Ultra-stealthy” targets with an image intensifier of 0.01 m2 are detected by the Irbis at ranges of up to 90 km.
The detection range of ground (surface) targets is: for an “aircraft carrier” type target (EOP 50,000 m2) – 400 km, “ railway bridge” (1000 m 2) - 150-200 km, “boat” (200 m 2) - 100-120 km, “installation of operational-tactical missiles” and “group of tanks” (30 m 2) - 60-70 km.
Being a logical development of the Bars, the Irbis radar system thus has significantly higher characteristics: an expanded (more than double) operating frequency band, an increased zone for detecting and tracking air targets in azimuth from 70 to 120″, significantly (by 2 -2.5 times) increased range, improved noise immunity, etc. According to these indicators, Irbis is at the level of the most modern foreign developments in this area, surpassing most American and Western European radars with passive and active phased arrays.
The development of the Irbis radar control system has been carried out at NIIP since 2004. To date, prototypes of the system have passed the necessary bench tests, and the first of them was installed on board the Su-30MK2 flying laboratory No. 503 and is undergoing flight tests. The first flight of a flying laboratory with the inclusion of the Irbis at the Flight Research Institute named after. MM. Gromov took place at the beginning of this year and demonstrated the high performance of the new radar in air-to-surface mode. In April, the flying laboratory was relocated to Akhtubinsk to conduct comprehensive flight testing of the new radar. The main objectives of the first stage of testing the Irbis on board the aircraft are to test new computing tools, evaluate new operating modes, and confirm the calculated characteristics of the detection range. This stage of testing is planned to be completed before the end of the year.
Meanwhile, NIIP, together with the serial State Ryazan instrument factory is preparing the first standard Irbis kits for installation on experimental Su-35 aircraft. Two radars are being prepared for placement on board the second and fourth copies of the new fighter. The work should be completed this year.
Optical location station OLS-35
Another new subsystem of the Su-35 aircraft's weapons control system is the OLS-35 optical-location station, which combines a thermal direction finder, a laser rangefinder-target designator and a television channel. Application of modern element base, new algorithms and software determine the superiority of the OLS-35 over the OLS of other aircraft of the Su-27 and Su-30 family in terms of range and accuracy, as well as reliability.
The area of review, detection and automatic target tracking by the optical location station is 90″ in azimuth and +60…-15″ in elevation. The detection range of an air target by a heat direction finder in the front hemisphere is at least 50 km, in the rear hemisphere – at least 90 km. The laser rangefinder measures the distance to an air target in a range of up to 20 km, and to a ground target – up to 30 km. measurement accuracy 5 m.
In addition, to ensure effective combat use in the “air-to-surface” mode, the aircraft can be equipped with a suspended optical-electronic container - a laser-television sighting station that provides detection, tracking, ranging and laser illumination of ground targets. With its help, in particular, laser-guided guided bombs can be used.
The development of built-in and suspended optical-electronic systems that can be used on the Su-35 is carried out by two enterprises - the Moscow Scientific Research Institute of Precision Instrumentation (similar systems of the Scientific Research Institute of PP are already used on the MiG-29 K/KUB ship-based fighters, created by the MiG PCK for the Navy India, and are planned for installation in promising fighter MiG-35) and the Ural Optical-Mechanical Plant named after. E.S. Yalamov (UOMZ optical location stations are traditionally used on aircraft of the Su-27 and MiG-29 family).
Other new on-board equipment systems of the Su-35 include modern navigation and radio communications equipment, systems that support group actions of fighters, as well as a highly effective electronic countermeasures complex, the specific composition of which and the configuration of certain jamming means can be determined at the request of the customer.
Means of destruction
A total of 10 external hardpoints are used to accommodate weapons. Two more wing end units are used to accommodate electronic warfare containers. The armament of the Su-35, in addition to the already known medium-range air-to-air missiles R-27ER1 (8 pcs.), R-27ET1 and R-27EP1 (4 pcs. each), RVV-AE (up to 12 pcs., including a twin suspension of four missiles under the fuselage) and R-73E close-in missiles (6 pcs.), will include five new long-range missiles.
The range of air-to-surface guided weapons includes six tactical missiles Kh-29TE or Kh-29L, six anti-ship and anti-radar missiles Kh-31A and Kh-31P, five new long-range anti-ship missiles Kh-59MK, as well as new items: five anti-radar extended-range missiles of the Kh-58USHE type, three long-range missiles of the “Club” (“Caliber-A”) system and one heavy anti-ship missile long-range "Yakhont" type.
Among the adjustable bombs used are up to eight KAB-500Kr (OD) bombs with television homing, the latest KAB-500S-E with a satellite guidance system, as well as up to three 1500 kg caliber bombs - KAB-1500Kr or KAB-1500L G with television or laser guidance. According to the nomenclature of bomber and unguided missile weapons The Su-35 is generally no different from today’s Su-30MK, but in the future it will be able to use improved and new models of 500 and 250 kg caliber bombs and 80, 122 and 266/420 mm caliber missiles, incl. with laser correction. The maximum combat load weight of the Su-35 is 8000 kg, it is placed on 12 suspension points.
More information
The first flight model of the Su-35 aircraft was fully assembled at KnAAPO by August 2007. On the eve of MAKS-2007, it was transported by An-124 “Ruslan” transport aircraft to Moscow, to the airfield of the LII named after. MM. Gromov in Zhukovsky, where, after the demonstration at the air show, the final stages of ground testing will continue before the start of flight tests. Its first flight should take place in the very near future; Yuri Vashuk has been appointed as the leading test pilot of the aircraft. Following the first prototype, two more prototype Su-35s (the second and fourth prototypes) are being assembled at KnAAPO, which will join the test program during the second half of 2007 - early 2008.
In parallel, several flying laboratories, created on the basis of various modifications of Su-27 aircraft, are involved in testing. The Su-30MK2 “503” flying laboratory is being tested new radar“Irbis-E” and a new optical location station, on the Su-27M flying laboratory No. 710 - new “1I7C” engines, on the Su-27M flying laboratory - a new integrated control system KSU-35, etc.
Test flights on flying laboratories under the Su-35 program are performed by Sukhoi Design Bureau test pilots Yuri Vashuk, Sergei Bogdan, Sergei Kostin and others. It is expected that serial production and deliveries of the Su-35 to customers can begin as early as 2009 and continue until before the fifth generation fighter enters the market. The aircraft is also included in State program weapons for the period until 2015, which plans to supply Su-35 fighters to the Russian Air Force.
Russian military and defense officials are considering the possibility of equipping Su-30SM fighters with AL-41F-1S engines, currently used on the Su-35S fighter. Information about this development is contained in competition work for the implementation of the state defense order submitted by the Ufa Engine Production Association for the “Aircraft Builder of the Year” competition..
Various "Dry"
Once upon a time, the aircraft of the Irkutsk and Komsomolsk aircraft factories were simply two modifications of one fighter: single-seat Su-27P and Su-27S were built in Komsomolsk, and combat training “sparks” Su-27UB were built in Irkutsk. At the end of the Soviet Union, the first Su-30 was created on the basis of the Su-27UB, which was then conceived as a promising command aircraft for fighter aircraft of the USSR Air Defense Forces.
Deliveries of serial Su-30s began in 1992, but the landslide reduction in military spending did not allow large-scale production to be launched, and development began at the design bureau export options cars. Further development family T-10 (“in-house” designation of the Su-27 and its modifications) in itself deserves separate multi-volume studies, as well as a description of the transformation production structures, but one way or another, the paths of the “Irkutsk” and “Komsomol” cars diverged.
The main aircraft of the Irkutsk plant eventually became the Su-30MKI - a version created in the late 1990s for the Indian Air Force, and modifications of this machine, including the Su-30SM supplied today to the Russian Aerospace Forces. Komsomolsk continued the production and modernization of Su-27 fighters, supplied to China, Vietnam, Indonesia and other countries. In addition, the Su-30MKK was built in Komsomolsk - a simplified version of the machine compared to the Indian version, also intended for China. Modifications of this vehicle under the designation Su-30MK2 were supplied to Vietnam and Venezuela; in addition, with some modifications, they were also purchased by the Russian military under the designation Su-30M2.
At the same time, in Komsomolsk, which ended up in the same holding with the parent design bureau, work was underway for the future: the creation of an “ultimate” machine in the geometry of the Su-27, which led to the appearance of the serial Su-35S, and, finally, preparations for the release of the fifth generation fighter T- 50 (Su-57). In Irkutsk, since the mid-2000s, as promising direction The development of a passenger vehicle was chosen - the MS-21 medium-haul airliner, currently undergoing flight tests.
The independent development of the Su-30MKI and Su-35 took them quite far from each other. The vehicles also differ in appearance - in addition to the difference between the single and double cabins, the presence of “wings” of the front horizontal tail and a number of other, less noticeable differences on the Su-30MKI and its modifications are striking.
Inside, both cars are even more different. They are installed with different radar stations: N011M "Bars" - on the Su-30MKI and its modifications and more modern N035 "Irbis" - on the Su-35S. The avionics are different, and finally, the vehicles have different engines. The Su-30MKI uses AL-31FP engines - a modernized version of the original AL-31F for the Su-27, which received controlled thrust vectoring and a number of other improvements. Su-35S - AL-41F-1S, aka “product 117S”. These engines, among other things, are distinguished by a noticeably higher thrust (plus 1.5 t/s on each turbine) compared to the AL-31FP, and their use, in turn, required a number of changes to the design, in particular, an increase in the cross-section of the air intakes. The rest of the design elements have also changed significantly: the share of light alloys and composites in the Su-35 has increased significantly.
In general, the Su-35S, which is very similar in appearance to the Su-27, has essentially retained only its general appearance from its “ancestor.” In fact, it is a transitional machine, combining the fourth-generation platform with systems and equipment created as part of the development of the fifth-generation machine.
State order and “Super-30”
In 2009, the Ministry of Defense, which decided to resume serial purchases of aircraft, signed the first contracts for the supply of Su-35S and Su-30M2. However, problems with the development of mass production of the Su-35S, which were resolved only by the mid-2010s, led to the order in 2012 of Su-30SM fighters - the above-mentioned modification of the Indian Su-30MKI for the Russian Ministry of Defense.
The Su-30SM eventually became the main fighter: in total, the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Navy aviation contracted 116 machines of this type, more than 100 of which have already been delivered. More than 80 Su-35 units have been delivered to the Russian Aerospace Forces; in addition, China is receiving vehicles of this type, and deliveries to Indonesia are expected to begin.
The prospects for new major contracts for these aircraft are being discussed, and at the same time a change in their appearance is being discussed. The roots of the discussion, among other things, go back to the Super-30 project - a proposed upgrade option for the already delivered Su-30MKI to the Indian Air Force. Among other changes, the possible installation of AL-41 engines on the updated vehicle is mentioned.
Export development eventually attracted the interest of the Russian military, who also needed to improve their aircraft and, moreover, to unify them. The “bringing together” of the Su-30SM and Su-35S - in particular, due to the use of identical engines - should simplify the maintenance of aircraft and reduce the cost of production of the AL-41 due to an increase in its volumes.
In addition, in addition to the direct increase in flight characteristics, the installation of the AL-41F-1S on the Su-30SM fighter will improve the electronic equipment of these fighters - in particular, using more modern radars H035, characterized by significantly higher energy consumption.
How might events develop in the future? The following options are presumably possible.
1. The Su-30SM fleet is undergoing modernization, while the Russian Aerospace Forces continue to purchase Komsomol-made Su-35S, while Irkut is curtailing fighter production and preparing a series of passenger aircraft.
2. The Su-30SM fleet is undergoing modernization, and, in addition, a contract is being concluded for a new batch of these machines in an improved form due to their lower cost compared to the Su-35S. At the same time, Komsomolsk-on-Amur continues production of the Su-35 for export and is gradually launching mass production of the fifth generation fighter Su-57.
3. The modernization of the Su-30SM is accompanied by serial purchases of fighters at both plants.
The third option is most likely unlikely, given the reduction in military spending and, in addition, the presence of serial production of the Su-34 bomber in Novosibirsk, which is also vying for a share in the state defense order of the 2020s. We will probably find out which of the first two will be implemented in the next 1.5–2 years.
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