Sukhoi Su-30SM Flanker-H: The Aerial-Masterpiece on Steroids

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Sukhoi Su-30SM Flanker-H: The Aerial-Masterpiece on Steroids

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Hi and welcome to my first suggestion, which is about the Su-30SM. :popcorn:

After @EpicBlitzkrieg87 has already made a suggestion for the Su-27S and MiG-29S, other players about Mirage 2000s, Gripen, F-15s, F-16s, Eurofighter, Rafale and more, I thought why not give the Su-30SM a chance too?

First of all:

  • This is a suggestion for an Aircraft we could see in game at some point in the Future , that doesn´t mean next Patch or somewhere in the near Future
  • I don´t want to force Gaijin to rush Top-tier aviation in any way
  • Feel free to share more Data and / or correct me if something is wrong
  • If you want to visit the Su-27S suggestion click here , MiG-29S click here
  • Discuss respectfully, any aggressive kind or verbal abuse will be reported, the Forum rules also apply here
  • FOX-3 on all aircraft in game (when added) could be balanced by limit them to a max. of 2 - 4x missiles and making them not such strong as in RL or DCS (my opinion)

Basic Background:

Due Reductions in the IA PVO´s intercepter fleet, the emergence of more stringent requiremnts for interceptors, the sheer lenght oft he Soviet Union´s northern border and the scracity of airbases in the northern regions of the country as well as airborne comman posts and AEW&C aircraft, were the factots that led the Sokhoi OKB to devlop the Su-27UB trainer into a new specialised interceptor. The works on a two seat interceptor / command „post version“ of the Su-27 began in mid – 1980s with I. V. Yemel´yanov as chief project engineer. The Su-30 was produced and exported in following versions: Su-30 (first called Su-27UP), K, KN, M, MK, MKK, MK2 / 3, MKV, MK2V, M2, MKI, MKM, MKA, SM / 2 and SME. Before some one asks what MKI for e.g. means:

" Modernizirovannyi, Kommercheskiy, Indiski " = Modernized, Commercial, Indian.

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Overall:

Su-30SM itself is a Multi-Role-Two-Seater & heavy-fighter Jet developed by JSC Sukhoi Design and being manufactured by IRKUT, which is the russian version and modification of export Su-30MK, the Indian designation Su-30MKI and the direct replacement of Su-27S air superiority fighter. The Su-30SM has improved Radar, radio communication system, “friend or foe” system, and other systems over export versions. Its first flight has been on 21.09.2012 at the airport of the Irkutsk Aviation Institute. Powered by the very powerful Saturn AL-31FP which comes with 3D-Thrust-Vectoring engine nozzels - a controllable thrust vector is fitted with flexible nozzles that move vertically in plus and minus 16 degrees, and up to 15 degrees plus and minus in the horizontal direction. Each produce a thrust of 122kN on full afterburner and around 74kN non-AB thrust. The Su-30SM comes with the N011M Bars-R Radar which allowes us to detect e.g. a MiG-29 from 160km away, the Radar comes with multiple different search modes, for more check below. As the Su-27S, MiG-29A / S and the already in game existend MiG-23M as well as MIG-23MLD, the Su-30SM comes with a strong IRST; the OLS-30 (Izdeliye 52Sh), with a detection range of up to 90km. The Canards from Su-33 are back tho :D. The glass cockpit accommodates two pilots in a tandem configuration. It combines a sophisticated avionics suit that integrates the head-up display and multifunctional liquid crystal display. Compared to Su-27, the Su-30MKA, MKI, MKM and SM, also Su-35S / BM and Su-34 are coming with a total of 12 Pylons, which allowes the Su-30SM a pretty big arsenal of weapons that can be carried at once. Afterall, performence wise, in battle, it will be similar to Mirage 2000C, Gripen A / C, F-14D, F-15C and F/A-18C. It’s probably the deadliest Dogfighter right after the Su-35S, especially in the merge it should be feared. The Su-30SM and its big bother, SM2, are very dangerous machines in the right hands.

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Export:

The Su-30MK(I) series are in service with the Algerian, Angolan, Armenian, Belarusian, Indian (IAF), Indonesian, PLAAF, People’s Liberation Army Naval Air Force, Royal Malaysian, Ugandan, Venezuelan and Vietnam People’s Air Forces. Su-30SM was delievered to the Russian Naval and Air Forces, Belarus, Armenia and Kazakhstan, while Myanmar ordered 6 Su-30SME in 2018. (SME is downgraded SM for export).

Armament of Su-30SM (game relevant):

I hope we will see costumizable Loudouts. On jets with 6 or more Pylons, it can be tricky to give us all possible options, as well as loadouts we wish to have. Here is a great suggestion to fix this problem.

Spoiler
Guns: 1x GSh-30-1 (30 x 165mm, 150 rounds)
    1500 – 1800 rpm
    muzzle velocity of 870 m/s (1800m range)
AAM, up to (12 Pylons):
    8x R-27ER
    2x R-27ET
    6x R-73 RMD-1 / M
    10x R-77 / -1
Bombs / guided Bombs, up to:
    6x KAB 500KR
    3x KAB-1500KR /L
    8x FAB-500T
    28x OFAB-250-270
    32x FAB-100-120
Air-to-Ground Missiles, up to:
    6x Kh-29T / TE / L
    6x Kh-31AD (upgraded Anti-Ship missile)
    6x Kh-31PD (upgraded Anti-Radiation missile)
    2x Kh-59ME* / MK (*requires APK-9ME Datalink pod)
    4x S-25L
Unguided Rockets (in total), up to:
    80x S-8 (4 pods)
    20x S-13 (4 pods)
    4x S-25 (2x twin pod)

Note: Distribution on 12 Pylons in total, so here a lil A2A example: 4x R-73 + 2x R-77 + 4x R-27ER (or 2x ER + 2x ET) + 2x ECM wing-tip pods

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Specifications and Internal:

Spoiler
Status: SM2 modification will be in Production soon / SMs will be modernized to SM2
Service introduction Su-30SM: 12th January 2018 (doesnt matter anyway)
    more than 600 Su-30s (all variants) built so far (120-130 Su-30SM in Russian Air and Naval Forces service so far)

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Length: 21.935 m
Wingspan: 14.7 m
Height: 6.36 m
Wing area: 62.0 m2
Empty weight: 17,700 kg
Loaded weight: 24,900 kg (without external fuel tanks)
Max. takeoff weight: 34,500 kg
Powerplant: 2 × AL-31FP
    (static) Dry thrust: 74,5kN  each
    (static) Thrust with afterburner: 122,58kN each
Fuel capacity: 5.264 kg (enough for 1,96 hours without refueling)

Performance

Maximum speed is Mach 1.9:
    1350km/h at sea level
    2100km/h at altitude
Operation celling is set at 17.300m
Range (4 missiles loaded):
    1270km at sea level
    3,000 km at altitude
Service ceiling: 17,300 m
Rate of climb: 230 m/s
Wing loading: 401 kg/m2 with 5.264 kg fuel (468.3 kg/m2 with full internal fuel)
Thrust/weight:
    With external fuel tanks (9.400 kg): 0.86
    With (100%) 5.264 kg fuel: 1.00
Maximum g-load: +9g / -3g

Note: The AL-31FP was only 110Kg heavier and 0.4 m longer than the AL-31F (engine used in Su-27S and many other of the Su-27 family), while the thrust remains the same. Machines with AL-31F can be upgraded to AL-31FP without any changes to the airframe.

Countermessures:
    HC-30MK (APP-50*) gives the Su-30SM a total 98 Flares / Chaffs, or 196 Flares or Chaffs, of caliber 50mm
    2x L-175M Khibiny-M ECM jammer pods (mounted on wing tips, wing tip pylons for R-73 cant be used while having the ECM pods)



Other:
    IRST OLS-30 (izdeliye 52Sh)
        120° FOV
        Azimuth: +/- 60°
        Elevation: 60° / -15°
        Big search field: 60° x 10°
        Small search field: 20° x 5°
        Close combat mode: 3° x 3° (vertical)
        Detection Range: min. 90km rear-aspect and min. 30km all-aspect
    Laser
        Laser range: up to 8km
        Rangefinder: 0.3 - 10km
    Crew Helmet: SURA-M HMTDS (R-73 allows up to 60° off-bore sight)
    OEPrNK-30SM electro-optic fire controll and navigation system
    Wide-Angle Head-Up-Display IKSh-1M
    SPO-15LM (L006LM)
        Missile Warning System for ARH, SARH, SAM and IR
            laser warning sensors
            ultraviolet irradiation sensors (so you get a warning for any typ of missile thats being fired on you)

*Found an article about “Indonesian Air Force Su-30MK2 released Flare Melepaskan”, they use APP-50 dispenders on thier jets, which means that PPI-50-3-110 and PPR-50 flares / chaffs are in use, high likely that the Russian use them too but just renamed into HC-30MK

AL-31FP Engines and 3D Thrust-Vectoring:

The AL-31FP feature thrust vectoring control in pitch only with deflection angles up to ±15°. Production standard engines centrainly feature thrust vector controll in pitch and yaw. The axisymmetric thrust rotary nozzles have a diiferntial defelction of up to ±15°; the axis of the rotation of each nozzle being arranged at an angle of 32° respective to each other, facilitating the employment of thrust vectorcontrol in both pitch and yaw axis. JSC Corporation Irkut states: “Depending on the upcomming manouevre, the nozzles may vary in synchronism with horizontal tail assambly or sepreatly from it.”

The nozzle angling can apparently generate what is termed a “side force” when differantial defelction is selected, futher increasing low speed manoeuvrebility.

Also thanks to @EpicBlitzkrieg87 for giving me some information :salute:

[Will add more if there are some (more) important / declassified things]

[PM or comment if a Link or Picture isn´t working]

Sources:

Spoiler

Su-30SM – Su-27 Flanker Family

https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/su-30sm-multirole-fighter-aircraft/

Sukhoi Su-30 (Flanker-C) Two-Seat, Twin-Engine Air Superiority / Strike Fighter Aircraft

https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/mini-awacs-the-powerful-n011m-bars-hybrid-radar-system-su-30-mki.256937/

Bars Radar | PDF | Military Technology | Microwave Technology

BVR AESA Radars Give IAF Complete Superiority -- IMR May 2015 Issue | PRLog

Su-30SM/Su-30SM1 Multirole Fighter Aircraft, Russia | Thai Military and Asian Region

https://www.uacrussia.ru/en/aircraft/lineup/military/su-30sm/

http://www.military-today.com/aircraft/su_30.htm

https://en.performancegunworks.com/2161-russian-fighter-su-30sm-history-and-performance-char.html

Sukhoi Su-30SM Fighter Jet: Specs, Price, Cockpit & Details

https://www.deagel.com/Protection Systems/Khibiny/a002981

https://airplanesdaily.com/sukhoi-su-30sm-fighter-jet/

Минобороны запускает программу модернизации строевых истребителей Су-30СМ до уровня Су-30СМ2 (topwar.ru)

Sukhoi Su-30MK2 TNI AU Sukses Uji Flare dengan APP-50 Dispenser

http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-Rus-ASM.html#mozTocId411192

Sukhoi Flankers - The Shifting Balance of Regional Air Power

PDF Document (Russian, used for IRST / OEPS)
PDF Document - The Military Balance 2021
PDF Document - Russian and Chinese Combat Air Trends
[ https://www.tara-aerospace.com/datasheets/datasheet_PPI-50-3-110.pdf ]
Books (sorted by priority):
-Sukhoi Su-30 Super-Manoeuvrable Family: Su-30MKI / MKM / MKI (A) / SM - Hugh Harkins - Publishing 2016
-Sukhoi Su-27 - Yefim Gordon - Midland Publishing 2007
-Soviel Cold War Fighters - Alexander Mladenov - Publishing 2015

9 Likes

L-150-30-SM

HC? It’s UV-30MK in russian.

UV-30MK is not capable to use 26mm catridges

6 Likes

Is there any proof it can carry x6 Kh-29Ts simultaneously?

What sort of targeting pod is available?

1 Like

According to the max weight of 8 tons 3-4 of them should be possible for sure, but dont forget you need to bring some R-73 and BVR weapons aswell id say 2 of them are fine.

Absolutely approve of this awesome gem of a fighter to be added to War Thunder. I’ve played it in Ace Combat 7 it was such a delight! Thumbs up and a yes from me! 😃😃👍

I hope the devs add this as a premium jet. I love it.

Nonsense, belongs in the technology tree

8 Likes

I strongly believe that this legendary jet should be designated as a Premium unit. Not only would this be a great way to honour its historical significance, but it would also serve as valuable support to the developers. By introducing it as a Premium unit, players can enjoy its unique features and contribute to the ongoing development of War Thunder. This would be a win-win situation for both the player community and the development team!

I understand but I still personally disagree with it being a premium, it’s a major variant of the Su-30 aircraft.

6 Likes

I wouldn’t mind maybe giving the Indian or Malaysian Su-30 version as a premium, but this one belongs in the tech tree.

4 Likes

This aircraft can use the R-37M now
https://fixupx.com/clashreport/status/1793294020765987232

1 Like

That’s Su-30SM2, not SM

1 Like

How can you tell?

  1. R-37M presence
  2. russian HUD instead of french
  3. more white color on slats (upgraded RWR set)
1 Like

They can ‘honour its historical significance’ by putting it in the tech tree.

I’ll never understand why people want content locked behind a paywall.

2 Likes

Quick ask, Can su30 use kh38? (I want to try kh38 on su30 soo much).

1 Like

Quick ask, Does Su30 come up with a thermal scope so it can shoot air-to-ground laser-guided bombs and missiles?

I believe we might see it’s arrival this Last Update of 2024

1 Like

Hopefully

1 Like