Sukhoi SU-30

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The Sukhoi Su-30 (

NATO reporting name "Flanker-C") is an agile military aircraft developed by Russia's Sukhoi Aviation Corporation and introduced into operational service in 1996. It is an air superiority fighter that can also perform ground strikes.

The aircraft is a modernized version of the

Su-27UB and has several variants. The Su-30K and Su-30MK series have had commercial success. The variants are manufactured by competing organizations: KNAAPO and the IRKUT Corporation, both of which come under the Sukhoi group's umbrella. KNAAPO manufactures the Su-30MKK and the Su-30MK2, which were designed for and sold to China. Irkut makes the long-range, multirole Su-30MK series.

Pugachev's Cobra maneuver
The integrated aerodynamic configuration, combined with the thrust vectoring control ability, results in unprecedented maneuverability and unique takeoff and landing characteristics. Equipped with a digital fly-by-wire system, the Su-30MK is able to perform some very advanced maneuvers. They include the well-known Pugachev's Cobra and the Bell. While performing a somersault maneuver the aircraft makes 360-degree turn in the pitch plane without any loss of altitude. In the Controlled Flat Spin maneuver the aircraft performs several full turns in the horizontal plane, with zero forward speed, virtually on the spot.

Radar
Radar: Either a N001VE or Phazotron N010 Zhuk-27 or an N011M BARS pulse Doppler passive electronically scanned array radar. Capable of detecting and tracking up to 15 air targets, while concurrently attacking four of them. The N011M BARS radar (featuring a 20-m (65.6 ft) resolution) ensures detection of large sea-surface targets at a distance of up to 400 km (248.5 mi), and small-size ones at a distance of up to 120 km (74.5 mi).

Specifications (Su-27PU/Su-30)
General characteristics
Crew: two
Length: 21.935 m (72 ft 9 in)
Wingspan: 14.7 m (48 ft)
Height: 6.357 m (21 ft 5 in)
Empty weight: 17,700 kg (39,021 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 33,000 kg (72,752 lb)
Powerplant: 2× Saturn AL-31FL low-bypass turbofans
Dry thrust: 16,754 lbf (74.5 kN) each
Thrust with afterburner: 27,550 lbf (122.58 kN) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 2.35 Mach (2150 km/h)
Cruise speed: 870 mph (1,300 km/h[dubious – discuss])
Range: 1,620 nm (3,000 km)
Service ceiling 57,410 ft (17,500 m)
Rate of climb: 45,275 ft/min (230 m/s)

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-301 gun (30 mm caliber, 150 rounds)
AAMs: 6× R-27ER1 (AA-10C), 2× R-27ET1 (AA-10D), 6× R-73E (AA-11), 6× 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