Sukhoi Su-30 Flanker-C

The Sukhoi Su-30, designated by Flanker-C by the NATO, Is the most widely used fighter in the Flanker family today. This fighter, with characteristics of flights in any weather condition is a variant of Su-27UB, and was put into operation in year 1996.

The versions of Su-30MK and Su-30MKI were the most commercially successful versions of the Flanker-C, the Su-30 was responsible for introducing the use of datalink in the Russian aircraft.

All Su-30's are made in the KnAAPO factory, except the Sukhoi Su-30MK and the Sukhoi Su-30MKI Flanker-H that are fabricated by the Irkutsk factory, that is considered the most advanced of the Sukhoi fighter factories[1. The Su-30 also was the first aircraft to use the data-link system.

History
Despite the original Su-27 has a good range it was not a fighter air defense in the manner that the Soviet Air Defense Force required. So the interceptor SU-27UB was selected to be used as a demonstrator of new technologies and the success of this demonstrator has ensured the development of a new version of the Flanker, Su-27PU which was later renamed the Su-30.

The Sukhoi proposed a variant of the export fighter, Su-30MK, the letters "MK" means "Modernizirovannyi Kommercheskiy (Modernized Marketing). The company first showed the Su-30MK air show in Paris in 1993.

Maneuverability
The Family Su-27 is known for its excellent maneuverability, especially those fighters with thrust vectoring and Canards, even with the large Su-27 is seen as one of the best fighters for maneuver show. However, the level of training necessary to be able to run all possible maneuvers is extremely high, usually achieved only by the Russian test pilots, already highly trained in the Flanker family. This characteristic often inhibit the purchase of fighter planes by Air Forces around the world.

SU-30MK
The Sukhoi Su-30MK is a modernized version of the Flanker-C, with capacity for air-ground missiles and up to eight tonnes of armaments. This version can download the latest Russian weapons as air-air missile R-27, R-73 and R-77. Version MK - aoe has up to 3,000 km without refueling.

Su-30MKK
The Sukhoi Su-30MKK Flanker-G is version created exclusively for export to China, its cost is estimated at 35 million dollars, this version is different from the version created for the India.

Su-30MKI
The Su-30MKI is a indian version of the Su-30, it has capacity for aerial refueling and can be converted for naval version. This is the most modern version of the Flanker-C, equipped TVC (Thrust Vector) Canards and was jointly developed with Russia, India and with companies from Israel and France.

Su-30MK2
This version has the ability to use anti-ship weapons. In 2006 the Venezuela bought 24 units of this version of the Su-30.

Other versions
The Su-30 was produced in several other versions. They are:
 * '''Su-30K
 * Su-30KI
 * Su-30KN
 * Su-30M
 * Su-30MK
 * Su-30M2
 * Su-30MKM
 * Su-30MKV
 * Su-30MK2V
 * Su-30MK3
 * Su-30MKA'''

Operators

 * Algeria
 * India
 * Indonesia
 * Malaysia
 * Russia
 * Venezuela
 * Vietnam

General characteristics

 * Crew: 2
 * Length: 21.935 m (72.97 ft) Su-mkkIndia.jpg of the Indian Air Force]]
 * Wingspan: 14.7 m (48.2 ft)
 * Height: 6.36 m (20.85 ft)
 * Wing area: 62.0 m² (667 ft²)
 * Empty weight: 17,700 kg (39,021 lb)
 * Loaded weight: 24,900 kg (54,900 lb)
 * Max takeoff weight: 34,500 kg (76,060 lb)
 * Powerplant: 2× AL-31FL low-bypass turbofans
 * Dry thrust: 7,600 kgf (74.5 kN, 16,750 lbf) each
 * Thrust with afterburner: 12,500 kgf (122.58 kN, 27,560 lbf) each

Performance

 * Maximum speed: Mach 2.0 (2,120 km/h, 1,320 mph)
 * Range: 3,000 km (1,620 nmi) at altitude
 * Service ceiling: 17,300 m (56,800 ft)
 * Rate of climb: 230 m/s (45,275 ft/min)
 * Wing loading: 401 kg/m² (82.3 lb/ft²)
 * Thrust/weight: 1.0

Armament
The Su-27PU had 8 hardpoints for its weapon load, whereas the Su-30MK's combat load is mounted on 12 hardpoints: 2 wingtip AAM launch rails, 3 pylons under each wing, 1 pylon under each engine nacelle, and 2 pylons in tandem in the "arch" between the engines. All versions can carry up to 8 tonnes of external stores.


 * Guns: 1× GSh-30-1 gun (30 mm caliber, 150 rounds)
 * AAMs: 6× R-27ER1 (AA-10C), 2× R-27ET1 (AA-10D), 6× R-73E (AA-11), 6× R-77 RVV-AE(AA-12)
 * ASMs: 6× Kh-31P/Kh-31A anti-radar missiles, 6 × Kh-29T/L laser guided missiles, 2× Kh-59ME
 * Aerial bombs: 6× KAB 500KR, 3× KAB-1500KR, 8× FAB-500T, 28× OFAB-250-270

Fulcrum/Flanker Family

 * Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker
 * Sukhoi Su-30MKI Flanker-H
 * Sukhoi Su-30MKK Flanker-G
 * Sukhoi Su-35 Super Flanker
 * Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum
 * Mikoyan MiG-29K Fulcrum-D
 * Mikoyan MiG-35 Fulcrum-F

Related Development

 * Dassault Mirage 4000
 * F-15E Strike Eagle
 * F-15SE Silent Eagle
 * Dassault Rafale
 * Dassault Mirage 2000
 * Panavia Tornado