Russia launches new batch of Su-30SM2 fighter jets.

SKĐS - Russia's Irkutsk Aviation Plant has completed and delivered a batch of new Su-30SM2 fighter jets.

The released images show newly delivered Su-30SM2 aircraft alongside newly manufactured Yak-130 training aircraft, marking another step in the modernization program of the Russian Air Force.

A Su-30SM2 fighter jet of the Belarusian Air Force. (Source: Ministry of Defense of Belarus)

The Su-30SM2 is currently the most modern version of the two-seat Su-30 fighter jet. Officially commissioned in early 2022, this aircraft was developed as part of the Russian Air Force's equipment standardization plan aimed at reducing maintenance costs, simplifying logistics, and improving combat effectiveness.

The most notable upgrade of the Su-30SM2 compared to the previous Su-30SM version is the equipping of the AL-41F-1S engine, the same engine currently used on the Su-35 fighter jet. This is considered one of the most powerful engines ever installed on a fourth-generation fighter aircraft.

The introduction of the Su-30SM2 reflects a modernization trend towards upgrading existing platforms rather than developing an entirely new fighter jet. The Su-30 series originates from the Su-27 fighter, which was developed by the Soviet Union as an air superiority aircraft. This design was subsequently significantly upgraded with financial support from India, resulting in the well-known Su-30MKI variant.

When the Su-30MKI entered service with the Indian Air Force in 2002, many experts considered it one of the most powerful fighter jets in the world at the time. This platform was later used by Russia to develop the Su-30SM for domestic needs, amidst delays in the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter program.

However, as Su-57 production has steadily increased in recent years, the future of Su-30 procurement plans is beginning to raise many questions.

Since 2022, Su-30SM2s have been deployed to Kaliningrad, a strategically important Russian territory situated between NATO member states. This is considered one of the most sensitive areas for the Russian Air Force.

Fighter jets stationed in Kaliningrad regularly participate in interception and close-range missions against NATO aircraft. In 2026, Su-30SM2 squadrons reportedly encountered Western fighter jets such as the French Rafale, the Swedish Gripen, and the Spanish F/A-18 on several occasions.

Although the Su-30 is a design that has been around for many years, Russian analysts believe that the Su-30SM2 version still possesses significant advantages. The aircraft is considered to have a more powerful radar, superior performance at both high and low speeds, and more powerful firepower than many competitors of the same generation.

At the heart of the upgrade package lies the new AL-41F-1S engine. Compared to the AL-31FP engine on the early Su-30SMs, the new engine produces approximately 16% more thrust, while also offering longer lifespan, better fuel economy, and lower maintenance requirements.

As a result, the Su-30SM2 significantly improves acceleration, climb rate, high-altitude performance, and maneuverability during combat. The additional electrical power from the new engines also allows the aircraft to operate its modern avionics systems more efficiently.

Besides its engines, the Su-30SM2 is also equipped with many new generation weapons. Notable among these are the R-77M air-to-air missile and the R-37M long-range missile.

The R-77M is considered a direct competitor to the American AIM-120D and the European Meteor, significantly enhancing the aircraft's beyond-visual-range combat capabilities. Meanwhile, the R-37M offers the ability to attack targets at very long distances, providing a major advantage in modern air combat.

One of the most outstanding strengths of the Su-30SM2 remains its maneuverability. The combination of the AL-41F-1S engine and thrust vectoring system allows the aircraft to perform extremely complex maneuvers that very few fighters in the world can match.

Although maneuverability is no longer the sole determining factor in the age of modern missiles and radar, it still plays a crucial role in close-range engagements as well as in evading enemy missiles.

According to Russian assessments, no Western fighter jet currently possesses a combination of thrust vectoring capabilities and aerodynamic characteristics similar to the Su-30SM2.

Another advantage of this aircraft type is its two-seat design. While the pilot in the front focuses on controlling the aircraft, the weapons systems officer in the rear compartment can handle radar management, communications, electronic warfare, and weapons control.

This division of labor is particularly useful in long-range missions or complex combat environments, where the workload of pilots is increasingly heavy.

Furthermore, the Su-30SM2 boasts a very long range thanks to its large fuel capacity. Inheriting the advantages of the Su-27, which was once considered one of the world's leading long-range fighters, the Su-30SM2 is considered suitable for Russia's needs in protecting its vast territory and performing long-range patrol missions, which many Western fighter jets would find difficult to handle under the same conditions.

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/nga-xuat-xuong-lo-tiem-kich-su-30sm2-moi-169260531075255231.htm