IAF chiefs dont travel so far for just 12 Su 30s
Even a Joint Secretary in MoD can sign a Repeat Follow on Order
Something is Cooking here
Sukhoi Su-30MKI
- Thread starter Ashwin
- Start date
IAF chiefs dont travel so far for just 12 Su 30s
Even a Joint Secretary in MoD can sign a Repeat Follow on Order
Something is Cooking here
In Russia, will create a new version of the Su-30SM
Moscow. July 13. INTERFAX.RU - A new modification of the Su-30SM multi-role fighter is being developed in Russia, a source in the aviation industry told Interfax on Saturday.
According to the agency’s interlocutor, the Sukhoi Experimental Design Bureau began development work on the creation of a modernized fighter aircraft under the code Su-30SMD. This modification will receive the most modern engine, the AL-41F-1C ( product 117C ), which is now being installed on production Su-35 aircraft.
According to him, the work is being carried out jointly with the Irkut Corporation, which mass-produced Su-30SM fighters.
Test flights of the Su-30SMD with a new engine should take place in 2020, the source said. According to the results of the development work, respectively, it will be decided whether to equip all the combatant fighters of this type with this engine, he noted.
Moscow. July 13. INTERFAX.RU - A new modification of the Su-30SM multi-role fighter is being developed in Russia, a source in the aviation industry told Interfax on Saturday.
According to the agency’s interlocutor, the Sukhoi Experimental Design Bureau began development work on the creation of a modernized fighter aircraft under the code Su-30SMD. This modification will receive the most modern engine, the AL-41F-1C ( product 117C ), which is now being installed on production Su-35 aircraft.
According to him, the work is being carried out jointly with the Irkut Corporation, which mass-produced Su-30SM fighters.
Test flights of the Su-30SMD with a new engine should take place in 2020, the source said. According to the results of the development work, respectively, it will be decided whether to equip all the combatant fighters of this type with this engine, he noted.
As i said before. Super sukhoi program doesn't exist. For that, we need to invest money and work with them. (Since most of the upgrades will be Indian.) Super Sukhoi is a marketing term coined by russians when they offered MLU for MKI. So there is no 'prototype' without our commitment.
They are upgrading to AL-41 for obvious reasons.
- Commonality with Su-35 fleet with SM fleet.
- Far better engine to maintain and performance.
- For future SU-30 orders
- A possible option to upgrade for current operators. (Aka super 30)
I suspect most of the groundwork for the so called Super Sukhoi would already have been undertaken by both the Russians & us with respect to the equipment to go into such an upgrade, the make, the scope of work, etc
The only missing link was the power plant. If I'm not mistaken PKS speculated that the power plant for the Su 57 and the Super Sukhoi would be the same. I could be mistaken here. Or perhaps he hinted that the power plant for the Su 35 and the Super Sukhoi would be similar.
They are doing it for their own need. But it will naturally become the skeleton for our MLU program.
Interesting twist this :
Local Production of Sukhoi-35 will lower cost of Su-30MKI Upgrade: Russia
Published July 20, 2019 | By admin SOURCE: **** NEWS NETWORK
Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa on his goodwill visit to Russia from July 9 to July 12 had visited the MiG-35 complex at the Kubinka facility near Moscow, where the modernized variant of the MiG-29 fighter, which has been in service with the Indian Air Force for over three decades on offer to the Indian Air Force in a contract for 114 fighters was pushed for possible deal with India.
While the key focus remained on MiG-35, which was previously rejected by IAF in previous MMRCA tender in 2011. A small team of Russian Defence officials also made the pitch for the other Russian fighter jet in the race and briefed Air Chief about potential savings if IAF decides to select Sukhoi-35 fighter jets for local manufacturing and how it will also help lower costs for modernization of the 270+ Su-30MKI Upgrade already in the service with IAF.
Sources close to **** have confirmed that Russia has briefed India about its plans to upgrade its Su-30SM fleet in lines with the Su-35 aircraft to maintain commonality between the two jets and have offered the same upgrade road-map to India for its Su-30MKI fleet which is similar to Su-30SM fleet operated by Russian Air force.
Local Production of Sukhoi-35 after the closure of the Su-30MKI production line will mean HAL or any other selected manufacturing partner selected by India will be able to use same logistics and heavy machinery used to manufacture components of the Su-30MKI jets and since both jets will share common electronic cockpit layout, avionics, and new AL-41F engines which will further reduce cost of operations and will reduce logistics issues which comes with induction of new type in the fleet.
Upgraded Su-30SM will be powered by same AL-41F engine used to power Sukhoi-35 jet and a modified AL-41F engine will be developed and tested onboard Su-30SM by end of this year by Irkut. AL-41F engine already has been offered to India which due to additional thrusts will further improve the performance of the jet.
While India is keen to upgrade its Su-30MKI jets which are already in their 18th year of service with IAF. India also has been offered 5th generation Su-57E by Russia and IAF is not so keen on letting Russian aircraft dominate a large chunk of Indian fighter fleet and Dassault Rafale jet offered by France continues to remain favorites to win the race for 114 units by IAF.
Local Production of Sukhoi-35 will lower cost of Su-30MKI Upgrade: Russia – Indian Defence Research Wing .
Local Production of Sukhoi-35 will lower cost of Su-30MKI Upgrade: Russia
Published July 20, 2019 | By admin SOURCE: **** NEWS NETWORK
Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa on his goodwill visit to Russia from July 9 to July 12 had visited the MiG-35 complex at the Kubinka facility near Moscow, where the modernized variant of the MiG-29 fighter, which has been in service with the Indian Air Force for over three decades on offer to the Indian Air Force in a contract for 114 fighters was pushed for possible deal with India.
While the key focus remained on MiG-35, which was previously rejected by IAF in previous MMRCA tender in 2011. A small team of Russian Defence officials also made the pitch for the other Russian fighter jet in the race and briefed Air Chief about potential savings if IAF decides to select Sukhoi-35 fighter jets for local manufacturing and how it will also help lower costs for modernization of the 270+ Su-30MKI Upgrade already in the service with IAF.
Sources close to **** have confirmed that Russia has briefed India about its plans to upgrade its Su-30SM fleet in lines with the Su-35 aircraft to maintain commonality between the two jets and have offered the same upgrade road-map to India for its Su-30MKI fleet which is similar to Su-30SM fleet operated by Russian Air force.
Local Production of Sukhoi-35 after the closure of the Su-30MKI production line will mean HAL or any other selected manufacturing partner selected by India will be able to use same logistics and heavy machinery used to manufacture components of the Su-30MKI jets and since both jets will share common electronic cockpit layout, avionics, and new AL-41F engines which will further reduce cost of operations and will reduce logistics issues which comes with induction of new type in the fleet.
Upgraded Su-30SM will be powered by same AL-41F engine used to power Sukhoi-35 jet and a modified AL-41F engine will be developed and tested onboard Su-30SM by end of this year by Irkut. AL-41F engine already has been offered to India which due to additional thrusts will further improve the performance of the jet.
While India is keen to upgrade its Su-30MKI jets which are already in their 18th year of service with IAF. India also has been offered 5th generation Su-57E by Russia and IAF is not so keen on letting Russian aircraft dominate a large chunk of Indian fighter fleet and Dassault Rafale jet offered by France continues to remain favorites to win the race for 114 units by IAF.
Local Production of Sukhoi-35 will lower cost of Su-30MKI Upgrade: Russia – Indian Defence Research Wing .
Life cycle cost has to be less for Su 35, and also we ll having almost heavy fighters in our inventory. Won't be able to accommodate in FOB s.
But yes Su 30 mki upgrade cost can be marginally lessless if select Su35 as mmrca,
But what about FOB accommodation, maintenance cost, overhauls gaps, airframe life time.. Etc.
F16 with 12,000 fly hour life in forward base seems better than Su 35 at rear base with No shelter.
Best option will be Mk1A + MWF if it's available that is.. In FOBs.
Flying & fighting in the Sukhoi Su-30 ‘Flanker’: A pilot interview
Edit:
Described as a ‘royal merciless game-changer’, the Sukhoi Su-30 ‘Flanker’ is a monster: a long-ranged, well armed, unbeatably manoeuvrable fighter uniquely equipped with 3D thrust-vectoring control (TVC) enabling it to perform seemingly impossible aerobatics in the sky. We spoke to IAF Gp Capt Anurag Sharma to learn more about flying and fighting in the Russian superfighter.
What were your first impressions of the Su-30?
“I was awestruck at the size of this monster! I caught a glimpse of it at Bangalore Airshow in 1997 (I was part of the inaugural day fly past in a Jaguar formation). There it stood in the lineup….. majestic, mighty and muscular! Head and shoulders above the crowd! Even the Air Display by the Russian Test Pilot was a show stopper. The M2000, F-16 etc were just no match for this beauty.”
“Another mission that stand out is a group combat mission that was pitching a Su-30…against three F-16… End score one F-16 claimed without loss.”
What’s the difference between a K and MKI and which is better?
“Su-30K was basically the Su-27 UB (trainer version) modified to be a two-seater fighter and the Su-30 MKI is a two seater upgraded version of Su-30K. While the two maybe classified into the same family and have few physical differences (canards, nosewheel, thrust vectoring and glass cockpit); the operational philosophy of the two aircraft is vastly different because of the much-upgraded operational capability of the MKI.
The Su-30 K was basically an air defence fighter of the 3.5 Gen that could drop dumb bombs (albeit in large quantities). But the MKI is a multirole fighter in the real sense of the word. The enhanced avionics package, weapons, near AESA airborne interception radar that permits simultaneous Air-to-air and air-to-ground targeting puts the MKI in a league of its own. The fly-by-wire system of the MKI allows carefree handling viz-a-viz Su-30K. The Su-30 K was handling with care especially in the low speed regime whereas the MKI is carefree handling all the way!
Personally, my heart is with the Su-30K! perhaps because I grew up on it. Attempting to master the Su-30K was a challenge in itself because you had to develop “seat of the pants feeling” in an aircraft that was not carefree handling (as you would expect a FBW aircraft to be). The avionics package, information presentation was rudimentary and presented great challenges as an operator. I think that is what made it special. The skill of the pilot counted more on that type.
But given a choice, I would pick the MKI for a combat fight. The total package of the MKI is a force multiplier in combat!!! Hands down!!
Which three words best describe it?
“Royal, merciless, game-changer.”
5. What is the best thing about it?
Ans. As a fighter pilot, you look to emerge victorious in every battle; the Su-30 gives you that confidence. Rest is up to you!
And the worst thing?
“Haven’t found one yet!”
How you rate the Su-30 in the following categories?
“A. Instantaneous turn– at high speeds, a shade slow, but once you get her to 650-709 Kmph- as goos as any. With thrust vectoring- unparalleled!
B. Sustained turn– depends upon the load and altitude. At medium altitudes with AA loads only very good and matches any other 4/5 gen fighter ac.
C. High alpha- Exceptional! Requires skill but once you know what to do- she’s a beauty!
D. Acceleration. The Su-30K was faster because it was lighter but the MKI is good when it comes to low speed combat against F-16/F-18/ Mirage 2000 class of aircraft. Acceleration also depends upon the load carried.”
Interview with IAF MiG-25 pilot here
Climb rate
The Su-30K had a greater reserve of power; even in the MKI, ROC is very good for its huge size. You can feel the acceleration when she climbs!
What was your most memorable mission?
“Well there have been many over the years but a few that stand out are as follows: –
(a) DACT with F-16 Block 60 of Royal Singapore Air Force.
The strongest adversary that we could possibly face in our life as a fighter pilot was the F-16 of PAF (for obvious reasons). So the excitement of facing an F-16, even in a mock combat was unbelievable. The weight of the mission was overbearing! Perhaps that’s what makes it special. As the combat commenced, we manoeuvred for our lives and in very little time the situation was in our favour! The desperate calls from the F-16, “Flare, Flare, Flare!” are very distinctly audible in my ears even today! From that day, the anxiety that prevailed over facing an F-16 in combat was gone forever…. Vanished! It was clear what the outcome would be!”
“Another mission that stand out is a group combat mission that was pitching a Su-30 & one MiG-21 BISON against three F-16 . As luck would have it, the BISON did not get airborne and now the game was one Su-30 vs three F-16 in a BVR scenario. Again, we pushed the envelope, manoeuvred between 3000 ft to 32000 ft, pulling up to 8 g, turning, tumbling, firing and escaping missiles in a simulated engagement. The crew co-ord between us in the cockpit and the fighter controller on the ground was the best that I have ever seen! The results in a mock combat are always contentious but with ACMI, they are more reliable. End score one F-16 claimed without loss. When we got out of the cockpit we were thoroughly drenched in sweat and tired from the continuous high G manoeuvring but all smiles for the ecstasy that we had just experienced.”
Which aircraft have you flown DACT against and which was the most challenging?
“In the Su-30 I have flown DACT with RSAF (Royal Singapore Air Force) F-16, M-2000 H /5[ FAF], MiG -29 amongst the ASFs. I think the most challenging was the M2000 in France. The carefree manoeuvrability of the Mirage its nose profile and avionics package perhaps gave it an edge over the others. The F-16 beyond the initial turn loses steam, the MiG -29 is very powerful but conventional controls maybe …. . A good Mirage guy can manoeuvre more carefree.”
Typhoon pilots say they ‘trounced’ the Su-30 in DACT exercises, yet Su-30 say the reverse? What is the truth?
“Well I wasn’t part of that exercise but some close friends were. The story goes both ways especially when you are engaged in friendly exercises with fixed rules of engagements! I think it’s an even fight and the man behind the machine would make the difference! Such a contest gets any fighter jock drooling!”
How easy is to fly? What is the hardest thing about flying it?
“Basic flying is not very difficult including exercises such as AA refueling. But it’s a Herculean task to reach a level where you can exploit it to its fullest especially in large Force Engagements (LFE) The capability of the aircraft outruns you by miles. In fact, at times even 7 Multi-Function Displays (MFD) and two aircrew are insufficient to achieve what she can do for you!”
Is TVC useful in air combat? If so, how should it be used?
“Most people think that it’s not! My suspicion is that’s because it requires skill to put it to good use. Once two beasts of this kind engage in combat, it goes down to the wire and in the low speed regime the TVC allows you just the edge you’ve been looking for. Just 300m is enough to get to the right angle and Boom!”
How would you rate the cockpit?
The cockpit is Russian! hey don’t build the aircraft around the pilot like the western manufacturers do! So the ergonomics leave a lot to be desired. The HOTAS could be designed much better. But ask anyone who hasn’t flown other types and he’s okay with this!
Have you fired live weapons- if so, what was it like?
Yes,! AA missiles, LGB, and Runway denial weapons. Weapon delivery is really exciting! The adrenaline rush, the cold sweat that trickles down your temples when you press the trigger are a different feeling altogether. They are really expensive and hence the opportunity comes rarely. The thing that worries you most is that you don’t want to be the dumbass when it comes to firing Smart Weapons
I think the AA missile is the best! When the weapon leaves your wing, the plume, noise and shear power of the accelerating missile is breathtaking.
How confident would a Su-30 pilot feel going against a modern USAF F-15C?
“As far as the platform is concerned, he’s got a better baby in his hands. No doubt!”
What is the greatest myth about the Su-30?
“That it’s too big to manoeuvre!”
How combat effective is the Su-30?
“A game changer!”
How reliable and easy to maintain is it?
“Reliable – yes! Maintenance- extensive!
What tips would you give new pilots coming onto the Su-30?
“It’s like a Tapasya (Sanskrit word meaning total selfless commitment. Dedication, commitment and patient hard work will reveal the true pleasures of flying to you! Early days are tough, just hang in there, get over the hump and you will experience heavenly pleasure that only fighter pilots have been blessed with.
How much post-stall manoeuvring can the average squadron pilot do? Is this a rare skill?
“Independent manoeuvres – they do it from day one (it’s that easy!). Relative manoeuvring in relation to an adversary in the sky requires extensive training and skill development! The manoeuvres can be counter productive in not done correctly.”
What is the hardest manoeuvre to pull off in a Su-30?
“A downward combat manoeuvre with TVC at low levels against a manoeuvring target.”
As a personal opinion: What should the Indian Air Force procure and what should it get rid of?
“Well, the Old Gen’ aircraft are already being phased out and The IAF is in the process of procuring the Rafale (a great choice!) The LCA development and large-scale induction into the IAF is no-brainer! It must be done but the platform should be a qualitative addition as well! Just adding numbers is not the right answer. Self-dependency is critical for India’s growth and rise as a major power on the World stage. There is a huge prospect of joint development with other major manufactures around the world such as BAE that have been traditional defence suppliers for IAF.”
Interview with an IAF MiG-27 pilot here
Tell me something I don’t know about the Su-30?
“The Su-30 MKI has perhaps as many players as the Typhoon! The Russians provide most of the hardware; Indian , French, Israeli industries provide software, avionics and weapons! The Russians won’t give their knowhow to Israelis and the French won’t give it to Russians. So it’s is a great achievement to get these components talking to each other! The Heart of the avionics system that communicates with all these various systems is Indian.
What should I have asked you about the Su-30?
“A fighter pilot has a unique relation with his aircraft. A unique bonding; much like the Avatar with his Ikran*! . Sharing that feeling with another occupant in the cockpit is not easy! Especially when your WSO is not fixed.
Loosing that privacy or rather intimacy is not easy! While you learnt to live with it, I personally consider a huge loss as a fighter pilot. But alas there is no way out! With such competent platforms; perhaps two crew are indispensable!”
*the dragon in the Avatar film
The R-73 is an old missile- What do you think about the idea of adding ASRAAM to the Su-30?
“The Su-30 is getting upgrades continuously and plans are in place to enhance the weapon inventory. So it’s a cat and mouse game with the adversary being payed all the time.”
How good is the helmet mounted sight – is it used much in air-to-air training?
“Very good! It allows off bore targeting and that coupled with TVC gives a good angular advantage to the Su-30 in combat!”
Credits :
Hush-Kit
The alternative aviation magazine
Edit:
Described as a ‘royal merciless game-changer’, the Sukhoi Su-30 ‘Flanker’ is a monster: a long-ranged, well armed, unbeatably manoeuvrable fighter uniquely equipped with 3D thrust-vectoring control (TVC) enabling it to perform seemingly impossible aerobatics in the sky. We spoke to IAF Gp Capt Anurag Sharma to learn more about flying and fighting in the Russian superfighter.
What were your first impressions of the Su-30?
“I was awestruck at the size of this monster! I caught a glimpse of it at Bangalore Airshow in 1997 (I was part of the inaugural day fly past in a Jaguar formation). There it stood in the lineup….. majestic, mighty and muscular! Head and shoulders above the crowd! Even the Air Display by the Russian Test Pilot was a show stopper. The M2000, F-16 etc were just no match for this beauty.”
“Another mission that stand out is a group combat mission that was pitching a Su-30…against three F-16… End score one F-16 claimed without loss.”
What’s the difference between a K and MKI and which is better?
“Su-30K was basically the Su-27 UB (trainer version) modified to be a two-seater fighter and the Su-30 MKI is a two seater upgraded version of Su-30K. While the two maybe classified into the same family and have few physical differences (canards, nosewheel, thrust vectoring and glass cockpit); the operational philosophy of the two aircraft is vastly different because of the much-upgraded operational capability of the MKI.
The Su-30 K was basically an air defence fighter of the 3.5 Gen that could drop dumb bombs (albeit in large quantities). But the MKI is a multirole fighter in the real sense of the word. The enhanced avionics package, weapons, near AESA airborne interception radar that permits simultaneous Air-to-air and air-to-ground targeting puts the MKI in a league of its own. The fly-by-wire system of the MKI allows carefree handling viz-a-viz Su-30K. The Su-30 K was handling with care especially in the low speed regime whereas the MKI is carefree handling all the way!
Personally, my heart is with the Su-30K! perhaps because I grew up on it. Attempting to master the Su-30K was a challenge in itself because you had to develop “seat of the pants feeling” in an aircraft that was not carefree handling (as you would expect a FBW aircraft to be). The avionics package, information presentation was rudimentary and presented great challenges as an operator. I think that is what made it special. The skill of the pilot counted more on that type.
But given a choice, I would pick the MKI for a combat fight. The total package of the MKI is a force multiplier in combat!!! Hands down!!
Which three words best describe it?
“Royal, merciless, game-changer.”
5. What is the best thing about it?
Ans. As a fighter pilot, you look to emerge victorious in every battle; the Su-30 gives you that confidence. Rest is up to you!
And the worst thing?
“Haven’t found one yet!”
How you rate the Su-30 in the following categories?
“A. Instantaneous turn– at high speeds, a shade slow, but once you get her to 650-709 Kmph- as goos as any. With thrust vectoring- unparalleled!
B. Sustained turn– depends upon the load and altitude. At medium altitudes with AA loads only very good and matches any other 4/5 gen fighter ac.
C. High alpha- Exceptional! Requires skill but once you know what to do- she’s a beauty!
D. Acceleration. The Su-30K was faster because it was lighter but the MKI is good when it comes to low speed combat against F-16/F-18/ Mirage 2000 class of aircraft. Acceleration also depends upon the load carried.”
Interview with IAF MiG-25 pilot here
Climb rate
The Su-30K had a greater reserve of power; even in the MKI, ROC is very good for its huge size. You can feel the acceleration when she climbs!
What was your most memorable mission?
“Well there have been many over the years but a few that stand out are as follows: –
(a) DACT with F-16 Block 60 of Royal Singapore Air Force.
The strongest adversary that we could possibly face in our life as a fighter pilot was the F-16 of PAF (for obvious reasons). So the excitement of facing an F-16, even in a mock combat was unbelievable. The weight of the mission was overbearing! Perhaps that’s what makes it special. As the combat commenced, we manoeuvred for our lives and in very little time the situation was in our favour! The desperate calls from the F-16, “Flare, Flare, Flare!” are very distinctly audible in my ears even today! From that day, the anxiety that prevailed over facing an F-16 in combat was gone forever…. Vanished! It was clear what the outcome would be!”
“Another mission that stand out is a group combat mission that was pitching a Su-30 & one MiG-21 BISON against three F-16 . As luck would have it, the BISON did not get airborne and now the game was one Su-30 vs three F-16 in a BVR scenario. Again, we pushed the envelope, manoeuvred between 3000 ft to 32000 ft, pulling up to 8 g, turning, tumbling, firing and escaping missiles in a simulated engagement. The crew co-ord between us in the cockpit and the fighter controller on the ground was the best that I have ever seen! The results in a mock combat are always contentious but with ACMI, they are more reliable. End score one F-16 claimed without loss. When we got out of the cockpit we were thoroughly drenched in sweat and tired from the continuous high G manoeuvring but all smiles for the ecstasy that we had just experienced.”
Which aircraft have you flown DACT against and which was the most challenging?
“In the Su-30 I have flown DACT with RSAF (Royal Singapore Air Force) F-16, M-2000 H /5[ FAF], MiG -29 amongst the ASFs. I think the most challenging was the M2000 in France. The carefree manoeuvrability of the Mirage its nose profile and avionics package perhaps gave it an edge over the others. The F-16 beyond the initial turn loses steam, the MiG -29 is very powerful but conventional controls maybe …. . A good Mirage guy can manoeuvre more carefree.”
Typhoon pilots say they ‘trounced’ the Su-30 in DACT exercises, yet Su-30 say the reverse? What is the truth?
“Well I wasn’t part of that exercise but some close friends were. The story goes both ways especially when you are engaged in friendly exercises with fixed rules of engagements! I think it’s an even fight and the man behind the machine would make the difference! Such a contest gets any fighter jock drooling!”
How easy is to fly? What is the hardest thing about flying it?
“Basic flying is not very difficult including exercises such as AA refueling. But it’s a Herculean task to reach a level where you can exploit it to its fullest especially in large Force Engagements (LFE) The capability of the aircraft outruns you by miles. In fact, at times even 7 Multi-Function Displays (MFD) and two aircrew are insufficient to achieve what she can do for you!”
Is TVC useful in air combat? If so, how should it be used?
“Most people think that it’s not! My suspicion is that’s because it requires skill to put it to good use. Once two beasts of this kind engage in combat, it goes down to the wire and in the low speed regime the TVC allows you just the edge you’ve been looking for. Just 300m is enough to get to the right angle and Boom!”
How would you rate the cockpit?
The cockpit is Russian! hey don’t build the aircraft around the pilot like the western manufacturers do! So the ergonomics leave a lot to be desired. The HOTAS could be designed much better. But ask anyone who hasn’t flown other types and he’s okay with this!
Have you fired live weapons- if so, what was it like?
Yes,! AA missiles, LGB, and Runway denial weapons. Weapon delivery is really exciting! The adrenaline rush, the cold sweat that trickles down your temples when you press the trigger are a different feeling altogether. They are really expensive and hence the opportunity comes rarely. The thing that worries you most is that you don’t want to be the dumbass when it comes to firing Smart Weapons
I think the AA missile is the best! When the weapon leaves your wing, the plume, noise and shear power of the accelerating missile is breathtaking.
How confident would a Su-30 pilot feel going against a modern USAF F-15C?
“As far as the platform is concerned, he’s got a better baby in his hands. No doubt!”
What is the greatest myth about the Su-30?
“That it’s too big to manoeuvre!”
How combat effective is the Su-30?
“A game changer!”
How reliable and easy to maintain is it?
“Reliable – yes! Maintenance- extensive!
What tips would you give new pilots coming onto the Su-30?
“It’s like a Tapasya (Sanskrit word meaning total selfless commitment. Dedication, commitment and patient hard work will reveal the true pleasures of flying to you! Early days are tough, just hang in there, get over the hump and you will experience heavenly pleasure that only fighter pilots have been blessed with.
How much post-stall manoeuvring can the average squadron pilot do? Is this a rare skill?
“Independent manoeuvres – they do it from day one (it’s that easy!). Relative manoeuvring in relation to an adversary in the sky requires extensive training and skill development! The manoeuvres can be counter productive in not done correctly.”
What is the hardest manoeuvre to pull off in a Su-30?
“A downward combat manoeuvre with TVC at low levels against a manoeuvring target.”
As a personal opinion: What should the Indian Air Force procure and what should it get rid of?
“Well, the Old Gen’ aircraft are already being phased out and The IAF is in the process of procuring the Rafale (a great choice!) The LCA development and large-scale induction into the IAF is no-brainer! It must be done but the platform should be a qualitative addition as well! Just adding numbers is not the right answer. Self-dependency is critical for India’s growth and rise as a major power on the World stage. There is a huge prospect of joint development with other major manufactures around the world such as BAE that have been traditional defence suppliers for IAF.”
Interview with an IAF MiG-27 pilot here
Tell me something I don’t know about the Su-30?
“The Su-30 MKI has perhaps as many players as the Typhoon! The Russians provide most of the hardware; Indian , French, Israeli industries provide software, avionics and weapons! The Russians won’t give their knowhow to Israelis and the French won’t give it to Russians. So it’s is a great achievement to get these components talking to each other! The Heart of the avionics system that communicates with all these various systems is Indian.
What should I have asked you about the Su-30?
“A fighter pilot has a unique relation with his aircraft. A unique bonding; much like the Avatar with his Ikran*! . Sharing that feeling with another occupant in the cockpit is not easy! Especially when your WSO is not fixed.
Loosing that privacy or rather intimacy is not easy! While you learnt to live with it, I personally consider a huge loss as a fighter pilot. But alas there is no way out! With such competent platforms; perhaps two crew are indispensable!”
*the dragon in the Avatar film
The R-73 is an old missile- What do you think about the idea of adding ASRAAM to the Su-30?
“The Su-30 is getting upgrades continuously and plans are in place to enhance the weapon inventory. So it’s a cat and mouse game with the adversary being payed all the time.”
How good is the helmet mounted sight – is it used much in air-to-air training?
“Very good! It allows off bore targeting and that coupled with TVC gives a good angular advantage to the Su-30 in combat!”
Credits :
Hush-Kit
The alternative aviation magazine
Last edited:
They aren't aiming for that though. The article says license production of Su-35 will be a better option then upgrading Su-30MKI.
They are not aiming for the MMRCA space with the Su-35, they were pitching in the Mig-35 for that remember ?
Why would we make planes that's not in our doctrine.
We don't even buy our own weapons if DRDO makes so without the AoN - acceptance of necessity.
Prahar is the best example.
Its an offer, they are free to make offers. We are free to decide whether to take it or not.
Please Post the entire interview with credits
IAF plans to upgrade and make Sukhoi Su-30 MKIs more lethal with Russia`s help
Zee Media Bureau Jul 23, 2019, 17:42 PM IST
The Su-30MKI aircraft will need new avionics and weapons, said Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa in an interview to Russian Defence Ministry newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda. Russia has already helped India upgrade MiG-21, MiG-27 and MiG-29 fighters.
Indian Air Force (IAF) is planning to upgrade the avionics and weapons systems of its frontline fighter Sukhoi Su-30 MKI aircraft with Russian help to make the jets more lethal. IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, who was in Russia from July 9 to 12, expressed satisfaction with the modernisation and upgrade of the MiG-21, MiG-27 and MiG-29 fighters with Russia's help and is now keen to acquire the best avionics and weapons systems for the over 250 Su-30 MKIs in the air force's fleet.
Speaking to Russian Ministry of Defence's official newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda, Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa said, "We are very pleased with the programme to upgrade the MiG-21, MiG-27 and MiG-29. Now they have more modern weapons systems and avionics. In recent exercises, we used them and were very pleased with the results. Therefore, we are now considering the possibility of upgrading the Su-30, which we have been operating for about 20 years. Accordingly, their avionics and weapons systems also require modernisation. We have requested from the Russian side proposals for modernisation in accordance with current needs."
Russia has been the largest supplier of defence hardware and military equipment to India and the IAF chief said that the two countries can join hands for the production of components and spare parts in India. "Using the example of the Su-30, I can say that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is already producing the Su-30MKI under the original licence. With them, we signed a contract for aftersales service of the Su-30MKI aircraft. For its part, HAL has a contract with Russian companies, and most of the equipment for the Su-30 is now manufactured in India. The other most common type of aircraft in India is the Mi-17, both in the military and in the civilian sector. At the same time, with the support of Russian companies, we have modernised several military hardware, including the MiG-29, and are open to discussing the possibilities of their participation in the production of components and spare parts in India. In our opinion, this will significantly reduce time costs and compact the production cycle."
Calling the S-400 Triumf air defence missile system a gamechanger, Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa said, "Regarding the contract for the supply of the Russian S-400 complex to India, I can say the same thing: it changes the game. This refers to the contract for the supply of complexes of the latest anti-aircraft missile systems, which was signed last year (2018). They significantly improve the operational capabilities of our air force and air defence. This is a very significant moment for me, since I myself had once studied at the Pechora anti-aircraft missile system. Therefore, it was a great event for me to see the latest S-400 and compare it with the air defence system that I used initially."
The IAF chief also said his four-day visit to Russia where he met several top military officers was very fruitful. "It was a very eventful visit, which gave us a wealth of experience. At the invitation of the Russian side, we arrived in Moscow, where we held talks with the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Army General Valery Gerasimov, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Force, Lieutenant General Sergei Dronov, and Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Admiral Nikolai Evmenov."
"We familiarised ourselves with the order of training at the Zhukovsky and Gagarin Air Force Academy, assessed the potential for training specialists in weapons systems that we use. During the visit, I also had a unique opportunity to make an introductory flight on the Yak-130 training aircraft," added ACM Dhanoa.
While he flew in the Yak-130, which is used by the Russian Air Force to train its pilots, and praised its features and capabilities, he ruled out considering the plane for the IAF in the immediate future. "This is a very good new aircraft with excellent visibility from the cockpit and advanced avionics. With the help of screens in the cockpit, as I was told, it is possible to simulate the combat use of different types of aircraft, almost any fighter. On personal experience, I appreciated his manoeuvrability, completing aerobatics with the Russian pilot. But at the moment we have not considered the possibility of acquiring it for the Indian Air Force. We currently use two types of training aircraft for training pilots: PC-7 and HJT-16 (Kiran). HAL is in the process of developing the production of HTT-40 and HJT-36 training aircraft. But if we have such a need, then the Yak-130 is a very good option, which we can consider in perspective."
IAF plans to upgrade and make Sukhoi Su-30 MKIs more lethal with Russia's help | India News
Zee Media Bureau Jul 23, 2019, 17:42 PM IST
The Su-30MKI aircraft will need new avionics and weapons, said Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa in an interview to Russian Defence Ministry newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda. Russia has already helped India upgrade MiG-21, MiG-27 and MiG-29 fighters.
Indian Air Force (IAF) is planning to upgrade the avionics and weapons systems of its frontline fighter Sukhoi Su-30 MKI aircraft with Russian help to make the jets more lethal. IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, who was in Russia from July 9 to 12, expressed satisfaction with the modernisation and upgrade of the MiG-21, MiG-27 and MiG-29 fighters with Russia's help and is now keen to acquire the best avionics and weapons systems for the over 250 Su-30 MKIs in the air force's fleet.
Speaking to Russian Ministry of Defence's official newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda, Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa said, "We are very pleased with the programme to upgrade the MiG-21, MiG-27 and MiG-29. Now they have more modern weapons systems and avionics. In recent exercises, we used them and were very pleased with the results. Therefore, we are now considering the possibility of upgrading the Su-30, which we have been operating for about 20 years. Accordingly, their avionics and weapons systems also require modernisation. We have requested from the Russian side proposals for modernisation in accordance with current needs."
Russia has been the largest supplier of defence hardware and military equipment to India and the IAF chief said that the two countries can join hands for the production of components and spare parts in India. "Using the example of the Su-30, I can say that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is already producing the Su-30MKI under the original licence. With them, we signed a contract for aftersales service of the Su-30MKI aircraft. For its part, HAL has a contract with Russian companies, and most of the equipment for the Su-30 is now manufactured in India. The other most common type of aircraft in India is the Mi-17, both in the military and in the civilian sector. At the same time, with the support of Russian companies, we have modernised several military hardware, including the MiG-29, and are open to discussing the possibilities of their participation in the production of components and spare parts in India. In our opinion, this will significantly reduce time costs and compact the production cycle."
Calling the S-400 Triumf air defence missile system a gamechanger, Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa said, "Regarding the contract for the supply of the Russian S-400 complex to India, I can say the same thing: it changes the game. This refers to the contract for the supply of complexes of the latest anti-aircraft missile systems, which was signed last year (2018). They significantly improve the operational capabilities of our air force and air defence. This is a very significant moment for me, since I myself had once studied at the Pechora anti-aircraft missile system. Therefore, it was a great event for me to see the latest S-400 and compare it with the air defence system that I used initially."
The IAF chief also said his four-day visit to Russia where he met several top military officers was very fruitful. "It was a very eventful visit, which gave us a wealth of experience. At the invitation of the Russian side, we arrived in Moscow, where we held talks with the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Army General Valery Gerasimov, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Force, Lieutenant General Sergei Dronov, and Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Admiral Nikolai Evmenov."
"We familiarised ourselves with the order of training at the Zhukovsky and Gagarin Air Force Academy, assessed the potential for training specialists in weapons systems that we use. During the visit, I also had a unique opportunity to make an introductory flight on the Yak-130 training aircraft," added ACM Dhanoa.
While he flew in the Yak-130, which is used by the Russian Air Force to train its pilots, and praised its features and capabilities, he ruled out considering the plane for the IAF in the immediate future. "This is a very good new aircraft with excellent visibility from the cockpit and advanced avionics. With the help of screens in the cockpit, as I was told, it is possible to simulate the combat use of different types of aircraft, almost any fighter. On personal experience, I appreciated his manoeuvrability, completing aerobatics with the Russian pilot. But at the moment we have not considered the possibility of acquiring it for the Indian Air Force. We currently use two types of training aircraft for training pilots: PC-7 and HJT-16 (Kiran). HAL is in the process of developing the production of HTT-40 and HJT-36 training aircraft. But if we have such a need, then the Yak-130 is a very good option, which we can consider in perspective."
IAF plans to upgrade and make Sukhoi Su-30 MKIs more lethal with Russia's help | India News