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| Specifications of the Su-30MKI Fighter Combined with Advanced Russian and Indian Technologies |
International Military - The Indian Air Force's (IAF) Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft was built based on the basic form of the Russian Su-30 fighter. This multi-role fighter aircraft was jointly developed by Russia's Sukhoi Design Bureau and India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) by combining the various advanced technologies of the two countries.
The Su-30MKI fighter is powered by two Al-31FP turbojet engines so it can accelerate with a maximum speed of Mach 1.9 in horizontal flight and a climb rate of 300 meters per second. The aircraft has a maximum unfueled flight range of 3,000 km.
The Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft incorporates an aerodynamic airframe made of high intensity titanium and aluminum alloy. Twin stabilizers and a horizontal tail console are coupled to the tail beam, equipped with thrust vectoring and canard controls. The semi-monocoque fuselage head includes the cockpit, radar section, and avionics bay. The passages between the engine nacelles housed the equipment compartment, fuel storage, and the brake chute mechanism.
Quoted from the airforce-technology page, the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter has a length of 21.9 meters, a wingspan of 14.7 meters and a height of 6.4 meters. This twin-seater aircraft has a maximum take-off weight of 38,800 kg. The forward cockpit is equipped with an integrated avionics suite which incorporates the Elbit Su 967 head-up display (HUD), seven active matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCD) and main cockpit instrumentation from Thales.
The Su-30MKI fighter is also equipped with a multifunction display (MFD) provided by Samtel Display Systems. The Su-30MKI integrates a fly-by-wire (FBW) flight control system. A large monochromatic display screen mounted in the rear cockpit provides air-to-ground missile guidance.
The Su-30MKI fighter is also equipped with the N011M passive electronically scanned array radar, OLS-30 laser-optical locator system and Litening target designation pod to guide air-to-surface missiles and laser-guided munitions. The N011M radar is planned to be replaced with a new Zhuk AESA (active, electronically scanned array) radar.
Weapons and Countermeasures Systems The Su-30MKI fighter is armed with a 30mm Gsh-30-1 cannon with 150 rounds of ammunition. The aircraft has 12 hardpoints capable of carrying up to 8 tonnes of external storage. The aircraft can launch a variety of air-to-surface missiles, including Kh-29L/T/TYe, Kh-31A/P, Kh-59M and Nirbhay.
The IAF's Su-30MKI fleet is equipped with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles that can engage targets within 290 km. The aircraft can also carry Vympel R-27R, R-73 and R-77 air-to-air missiles, as well as rocket pods, KAB-500 and KAB-1500 laser-guided bombs.
The Su-30MKI fighter aircraft is equipped with a tarang radar warning receiver (RWR) self-developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). The aircraft also integrates a chaff or flare dispenser and an active jammer.