Russian Su-30SM
The Su-30 is a heavy fighter, developed by the Soviet Sukhoi Design Bureau, and is an improved version of the Su-27. There are many different models of the Su-30, which are equipped with the air forces of different countries, such as the Su-30MKK of the mainland, the Su-30MKI of India, the Su-30SM of Russia, the Su-30MKI of Malaysia, the Su-30MK-2 of Vietnam, and so on. What is the difference between these Su-30s? Believe it or not, there are two completely independent technologies in this, and to be honest, India's Su-30MKI is indeed developing well. Today, let's talk about this Su-30.
Su-27
The origin of the Su-30
We all know that before the Su-27, the main products of the Sukhoi Design Bureau were interceptors used by the long-range aviation of the former Soviet Union, or front-line bombers. After the successful development of the Su-27, thanks to the large fuel tank brought by the spacious fuselage and excellent maneuverability, the Su-27 is very suitable as an interceptor to defend the vast territory of the Soviet Union. But there is a small problem, that is, the single-seat Su 27 has been carrying out air control patrol missions for a long time, and the plane can stand it, but the pilot can't stand it. We know that the MiGs returned in less than an hour on a mission, and there was no problem at all with food, drink, and Lazar, and there was no problem in doing it all by one person. But the fighter plane of the Su-27 is different, flying casually for a few hours or even a dozen hours. It's really a bit of a test of the pilot's will.
Su-27PU
So on the eve of the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Soviet Air Force decided to develop an interceptor model based on the two-seater Su-27UB, codenamed Su-27PU. This is the prototype of the earliest driving of the Su-30, but before the Su-30 joined the Soviet Red Army, the Soviet Union collapsed. In a strong country, without state-owned factories, the only way to make a living is to go out of the road of export. If you want to go out, of course, you can't continue to sell it as an interceptor. In addition, the two-seat heavy fighter showed a very strong all-round strike capability in the Gulf War in the early 90s, so the Su-30, which was introduced to the international market at this time, began to evolve in the direction of a multi-role heavy fighter. Notice that this is where the transformation begins.
Two tech trees for the Su-30
Unlike the military industry of Western countries, the Soviet military industrial system is a national chess game under the planned economy, so although the research and development of the Su-30 is the Sukhoi Design Bureau, the factory that produces the Su-30 is not the only one. Just like our J-6-J-7, at the beginning, they were all products of Shen Fei, but later Cheng Fei was also producing. There are two main factories for the Su-30, one is the Komsomolsk-on-Amur aircraft factory not too far from the mainland, and the other is the Irkutsk aircraft factory, the former is the factory that provides the mainland with the Su-27SK, and the legendary dog fur coat for the Su-27SK started from their home. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, in order to survive, the two factories began their own sales work. In the end, the Komsomolsk-on-Amur aircraft factory got an order from our Air Force and launched the Su-30MKK. And the Irkutsk aircraft factory obtained an order from the Indian Air Force after integrating the technology of the old Su-35 and Su-37, and the technology tree of the Su-30 family has become a state of two flowers, one for each branch.
Su-27SK
Su-30MKK on the mainland
Let's take a look at the Su-30MKK of our army first. The overall design idea of the Su-30MKK basically continues the fuselage design idea of the early Su-30 long-range interceptor, and is based on the Su-27U as a whole for certain upgrades. Through the upgrading of electronic equipment and airborne equipment, the multi-purpose capability of the aircraft and the ground strike capability are emphasized, and by mounting more and more comprehensive ground-to-sea strike weapons than the Su-27, it has become a multi-role heavy fighter with a positioning similar to the US F15E. Because there are not many changes compared to the Su-27UB, the overall design of the Su-30MKK is relatively conservative, the technology is more mature, and the reliability is higher. After achieving a multi-purpose upgrade, the Su-30MKK has also become an important ground-to-sea strike weapon for our navy. And derived the model of the Su-30MKK-2.
China - Su-30MKK
As a customized Chinese model, the number of Su-30MKKs equipped on the mainland is not small. The protagonist of the long-endurance training of our army's aviation during the long-endurance of the air force reported two years ago was the Su-30MKK. The biggest difference between our army's Su-30MKK and Su-27UB is that the vertical tail is flat. Su-27, including our J-16 is sharp, although it is said that the Su-30MKK is customized equipment from the mainland, but because of its stable performance, there are many exports to other countries, for example, the Vietnamese Air Force, which has been following the footsteps of our aviation to purchase equipment, is also equipped with 35 Su-30MK-2. In addition, the air forces of Venezuela, Uganda, and Indonesia have also purchased this series of Su-3 0MK models.
Vietnamese Su-30MK-2
India's Su-30MKI
Let's take a look at the other Susan 0MKI. In fact, the Irkutsk Aircraft Factory, the manufacturer of another Su-30MKI, when the Soviet Union collapsed, the project at hand was not the old Su-30 interceptor, but the upgraded version of the Su-27, the old Su-35. Old military fans should know that in the mid-90s of the last century, domestic military magazines have been reporting on a Su-37 fighter with the number 711 for a long time, in fact, this aircraft is the No. 11 prototype of the old Su-35 project.
Indian Su-30
However, in the end, the mainland did not introduce the Su-37, but concentrated on digesting the technology of the Su-27 and completed the localization of the J-11. The Su-37 not only has no follow-up on the mainland, but also has not received orders from other countries. Just when the Irkutsk aircraft factory was at a loss, India appeared. At this time, the Indian Air Force was also seeking a heavy fighter to complete the transformation, and in the early years, when India introduced the MiG-23, it still had a close relationship with the Irkutsk aircraft factory, so Irkutsk used the technology of the Su-37 to create the Su-3 0MKI for India.
The Su-30MKI and our Su-30MKK are completely different. In a sense, India's Su-30MKI should be called a two-seater version of the old Su-37. In addition to the difference in the two-seat layout, the Indian Su-30MKI is almost identical to the old Su-37, including the addition of a pair of full-motion pressure wings, equipped with binary vector engines, passive phase control radar, and customized Western avionics according to Indian requirements, etc. In this way, in terms of aerodynamic layout, power and avionics system, the Su-30MKI is more advanced than our Su-30MKK, and of course, more radical.
India invests money, and the Irkutsk aircraft factory is responsible for R&D and production, and the subsequent production is carried out by India. To be honest, this deal can be regarded as a rare price in the history of arms sales in India, which has been wronged by the most wronged people, and it can be regarded as a benevolent deal. However, behind the radical technology often means less reliability. As a newly developed fighter, the Indian Su-30MKI is obviously lacking complete technical demonstration, ground tests and test flights in the birth stage, and most of the flight data comes from the test flight of the old Su-37. There are also problems with the matching of subsystems.
For the Indian Air Force, the Su-3 0MKI is basically a process of finding problems and solving problems while equipping. At the same time, coupled with the production level of the Indian aviation industry, the accident rate of the Indian Su-30MKI is considered high in the entire Su-27 family. But we can't deny that India's Su-3 0MKI does have its advanced reason, and the old Su-35 technology has been greatly improved in combat performance after being applied to this aircraft, so we can see that when the Indian Air Force stepped on the Su-30MKI pit. The Irkutsk aircraft factory has created a completely new Su-30SM for the Russian Air Force based on the technology of the Su-30MKI. It is also a three-wing layout and vector engine, but what about the Su-30SM at this time, it does not have the bad problems of the Su-30MKI of the Indian Air Force. Because of its advanced performance, the Su-30MKI, a product of the science and technology tree, has become the mainstream export model of the Su-30. In addition to India and Russia, Malaysia, Belarus, Myanmar, Algeria and other countries are also equipped with this type of Su-30 fighter.
India - Su-30MKI
Su San0's showdown
In general, the Su-30 family has two flowers, one for each branch, and both have developed well. India's Su-30MKI has opened a new technological development route with good air performance, and has now become the bloodline continuation of the Su-30 family. And our Su-30MKK has strengthened its ground strike capability under the needs of our army's strategic development, and its multi-purpose performance is better. The key is that we have the J-16, do you think it looks like it? So self-reliance is the driving force behind the rapid growth of national defense strength.
China - Su-30MKK
So, if the two Su-30s face off, do you know who is stronger? This question is actually difficult to answer, because the design concepts and combat missions of the two Su-30s are different. Our Su-30MKK is better at long-range strikes, and India's Su-30MKI is better at close-range combat. Our Su-30MKK is more stable and reliable, and India's Su-30MKI is more flexible and advanced. Our Su-30MKK is more suitable for the operational environment of our army, and the Indian Su-30MKI is more suitable for India's operational needs. Therefore, the duel between the two Su-30 teams actually has no absolute advantages and disadvantages, only relative adaptation. Of course, if we really want to compare, we still have to look at the level of the pilot, after all, the plane is just a tool, and it is the people who really decide the winner. And from this point of view, I believe that our pilots will not lose to the Indian pilots, because we have better training, stronger will to fight, higher fighting spirit. So, if there is a matchup between the two Su 30 teams, I believe we will definitely win!