The Russian naval air arm will acquire more than 50 Sukhoi Su-30SM combat jets, its commander General Major Igor Kozhin told reporters at the MAKS’2015 show at Zhukovsky. The Su-30SM is similar to the Su-30MK series exported to Algeria, India and Malaysia, but with modifications for the Russian armed forces. Three were displayed at MAKS in Russian Navy markings. The Russian air force has ordered 60 Su-30SMs, of which 16 have been delivered to date.
Kozhin praised the Su-30SM’s long range and its capacity to perform aerial refueling, as well as its ability to carry guided weapons. The first three entered service with the navy in July 2014, with two more following this month and three more due for delivery this year. According to Kozhin, the entry into service of the land-based Su-30SM “enabled us to expand capabilities of the naval air arm.” Deliveries will continue through to 2020, he added.
The Russian air force has deployed a number of Su-30SMs on the peninsula of Crimea, and the navy intends to do the same, likely at Saki (Novofedorovka) air base.
According to BrahMos CEO Sudhir Kumar Mishra speaking to AIN at IMDS’2015, the Indo-Russian company is halfway through preparations for the first test-firing of the air-launched supersonic Brahmos PJ-10 cruise missile. It will take place in India from an Su-30MKI by the end of this year. This is two years later than first predicted by the joint=venture company, due to the need to modify the Flanker airframe to carry the 2.5-metric-ton missile. The Russian navy also wants to use the missile on its Su-30SMs. The Russian ship-launched version is known as the P-800 Onix, and the air-launched version as Alpha.
Contrary to expectations, the Russian air force did not announce any orders for the big Sukhoi twinjet at MAKS’2015. But UAC president Yuri Slyusar told the media that shipments of 48 Su-35S multirole fighters under a 2011 contract are “about to be completed.” He expects a follow-on order for another 48 to be signed by year-end. “The Su-35S was developed for export as an industry initiative, but found launch customers in Russia. If the Russian MoD awards us a follow-on order, it will give a clear sign to potential foreign buyers that the launch customer is happy with this aircraft. Besides, the expected follow-on order for the Su-35Ss will help provide the factory in Komsomolsk-on-Amur with work until 2020, which is important for the plant and UAC in these turbulent times.”
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