New Su-35S for the RuA&SF ....

ОАК передала Минобороны РФ новую партию истребителей Су-35С​



 
Could someone explain why the Russian naval aviation prefers/uses the Su-30SM rather than utilizing the Su-35S like the VKS does?

I am guessing because the SM (which is similar to the MKI) is a more multi-role aircraft and has more capability to do various strike/maritime strike roles. VKS use of the Su-35S may be more strictly focused on air superiority.
 
Could someone explain why the Russian naval aviation prefers/uses the Su-30SM rather than utilizing the Su-35S like the VKS does?
Probably because the Su-30SM is a better multirole fighter (two pilots), in VMF land based tactical units it will replace all Su-24s, so it will do both air defence of VMF bases as well as the strike missions the Su-24 was doing in support of naval operations.
 
I am guessing because the SM (which is similar to the MKI) is a more multi-role aircraft and has more capability to do various strike/maritime strike roles. VKS use of the Su-35S may be more strictly focused on air superiority.
But given that the Su-35S is overall more modern and also capable of launching A2G (and thus probably with a bit of tweaking A2S) munitions I think that the Su-35S could probably do most of the stuff the Su-30SM does. I suppose the WSO is the biggest upside? Given that it means less load on the pilot who has to process lots of info. And as the SM2 is supposedly an SM but brought up to the Su-35 standard, it seems like they want that second crewmember per plane really badly. Because I doubt the Su-30SM2 will be much cheaper if at all cheaper than the Su-35S of which like 130 have already been produced I think.
 
Those ecm pods are big!

Yes,they are. Weighing several hundreds of kgs those wing stations known as L265M10-01 as part of the L175M10-35S Khibiny-M jamm system have two substations: 'Regata' for the ELINT and 'Proran' for the ECM.

Version L265M10-02 is for export only.

''ECM pods Khibiny-M L-265M10-02 (mounted onto Su-35 wingtips) exhibited at #MAKS2017 ©Mikhail Zherdev''

View: https://x.com/Russian_Defence/status/887644985339858944
 
But given that the Su-35S is overall more modern and also capable of launching A2G (and thus probably with a bit of tweaking A2S) munitions I think that the Su-35S could probably do most of the stuff the Su-30SM does. I suppose the WSO is the biggest upside? Given that it means less load on the pilot who has to process lots of info. And as the SM2 is supposedly an SM but brought up to the Su-35 standard, it seems like they want that second crewmember per plane really badly. Because I doubt the Su-30SM2 will be much cheaper if at all cheaper than the Su-35S of which like 130 have already been produced I think.

Fair question, but lets put it in this way

the Su-30SM is basically a "Russianized" version of the Su-30MKI. When you combine all of them (the SM, MKI, MKM, MKA, etc). That's about 600 ish? combined. India is likely to continue using the MKI for a long time, producing spare parts for it and continuing to integrate it with various weapons.
In the 2000s, Russia basically piggybacked off the Russian designed equipment for India (the 30MKI, Mig-29K, etc), because they are a large and stable operator. This series also has more done to make it capable for strike.
While the Su-35 can do strike, the MKI/SM can do it better. Although there are intentions to make the 35 more multi-role, there's less motivation by its operators do commit to that path. The Russian Air Force has the Su-34s, and China has the J-16 among many other options.

If you had to look at another analogy, you can compare the Rafale and Typhoon. The Typhoon is strike capable, but a2g integration has been much slower. Its primary operators aren't strongly pushing it as they have the F-35 and Tornado to do those roles.
 
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Fair question, but lets put it in this way

the Su-30SM is basically a "Russianized" version of the Su-30MKI. When you combine all of them (the SM, MKI, MKM, MKA, etc). That's about 600 ish? combined. India is likely to continue using the MKI for a long time, producing spare parts for it and continuing to integrate it with various weapons.
In the 2000s, Russia basically piggybacked off the Russian designed equipment for India (the 30MKI, Mig-29K, etc), because they are a large and stable operator. This series also has more done to make it capable for strike.
While the Su-35 can do strike, the MKI/SM can do it better. Although there are intentions to make the 35 more multi-role, there's less motivation by its operators do commit to that path. The Russian Air Force has the Su-34s, and China has the J-16 among many other options.

If you had to look at another analogy, you can compare the Rafale and Typhoon. The Typhoon is strike capable, but a2g integration has been much slower. Its primary operators aren't strongly pushing it as they have the F-35 and Tornado to do those roles.

Sounds plausible, much appreciated
 
The Typhoon is strike capable, but a2g integration has been much slower.

Yes and No. There has been some myth making over time around that...truth is its a bit of a mixed bag...

Rafale - Entered service in 2001, A2A only. 6 Rafale received LGB capability in 2007...6 years from service entry
Typhoon - Entered service in 2005, A2A only. Tranche 1 received LGB capability in 2008....3 years from service entry

So the premise starts out as utterly false.... Rafale then added SCALP and AASM in time for Libya in 2011 (9 years from service entry for SCALP and AASM), Typhoon went on to add PWIV in 2014 (9 years), and had better Designation Pods available (better by a margin as well, continues to have better as well) but then took another 4 years under Project Centurion to get Storm Shadow and Brimstone (13 years from service entry, as the RAF Tornado were hastily withdrawn). At the same time Typhoon got Meteor far earlier...

So in short, Typhoon actually got Air to Ground quicker than Rafale, was slower on integration of more complex air to ground munitions. Typhoon then expanded its (already more capable) air to air capabilities with Meteor well ahead of Rafale, caught up with PWIV (2014) and Storm Shadow/Brimstone (2018, remember Rafale still doesn't have anything like Brimstone) and is moving well ahead with additional weapons like JDAM, SDB1, Spear, Taurus and AARGM arriving or in an imminent pipeline...Right now Typhoon has far more weapons available than Rafale, in air to air and air to ground and in the main more relevant/capable ones too (for example Marte-ER is a far better AShm than AM.39 Exocet).....Rafale's weapon integration has, in contrast, significantly slowed and now seems reliant of UAE funding SmartGlider at some vague point in the future and integrating a new nuclear missile.
 
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Su-30SM is less modern than SU-35, and is actually an "russianized" MKM (India uses different HUD and other systems.
Su-35 has better avionics than 30SM, ergo, it's a better multirole.
I think that transition to Su-30SM is more due to ease to crew switch and retraining, as it's a transition from 2-seat to two seat; you don't need to re-educate WSO to be proper fighter pilot as it would be the case with Su-24->Su-35 switch.
 
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I don't know how i missed this, picture of primer Su-34 showing what could be MAWS under the nose and behind the cockpit (a close-up pic of same installation on a cammoed bird appeared earlier). It is puzzling though that the newest batch of Su-34 does not have these MAWS.

From stream @ paralay.com.
1747166633746.jpeg
 
Yes and No. There has been some myth making over time around that...truth is its a bit of a mixed bag...

Rafale - Entered service in 2001, A2A only. 6 Rafale received LGB capability in 2007...6 years from service entry
Typhoon - Entered service in 2005, A2A only. Tranche 1 received LGB capability in 2008....3 years from service entry

So the premise starts out as utterly false.... Rafale then added SCALP and AASM in time for Libya in 2011 (9 years from service entry for SCALP and AASM), Typhoon went on to add PWIV in 2014 (9 years), and had better Designation Pods available (better by a margin as well, continues to have better as well) but then took another 4 years under Project Centurion to get Storm Shadow and Brimstone (13 years from service entry, as the RAF Tornado were hastily withdrawn). At the same time Typhoon got Meteor far earlier...

So in short, Typhoon actually got Air to Ground quicker than Rafale, was slower on integration of more complex air to ground munitions. Typhoon then expanded its (already more capable) air to air capabilities with Meteor well ahead of Rafale, caught up with PWIV (2014) and Storm Shadow/Brimstone (2018, remember Rafale still doesn't have anything like Brimstone) and is moving well ahead with additional weapons like JDAM, SDB1, Spear, Taurus and AARGM arriving or in an imminent pipeline...Right now Typhoon has far more weapons available than Rafale, in air to air and air to ground and in the main more relevant/capable ones too (for example Marte-ER is a far better AShm than AM.39 Exocet).....Rafale's weapon integration has, in contrast, significantly slowed and now seems reliant of UAE funding SmartGlider at some vague point in the future and integrating a new nuclear missile.
Don't want to derail the thread, but Scalp-EG was the first weapon integrated with F2 standard Rafales, the first of which were delivered in December of 2004. FOC in October 2006. Then GBU-12/22 in late 2006 and SBU-38 in 2008. The only thing that arrived in time for Libya was the Damocles LDP and by that time also ASMP-A, GBU-24 and AM.39 Exocet had been integrated. SBU-64 and eventually -54 followed, along with GBU-49 EPW II, RECO-NG. Meteor was available with F3R from 2018 onwards, much like on Typhoon (not much earlier). Many of the other AG munitions you list aren't there yet. Truth is Rafale is clearly ahead in this respect and more suitable in AG roles than Typhoon. MARTE-ER, AARGM, TAURUS etc. aren't integrated at all and it will still take some years before they arrive.

And for that matter, Typhoon entered service in 2003, not 2005.
 
And for that matter, Typhoon entered service in 2003, not 2005.

Sorry for derailing the tread, last I'll post on this thing here...

You'll note that I didn't use 2000 for Rafale...I used the operational date....

All well and good to put 2018, and other dates, for when a capability was 'available'...but the French Air Force didn't carry a live Meteor until much later...or carry out firing trials...
 
I am guessing because the SM (which is similar to the MKI) is a more multi-role aircraft and has more capability to do various strike/maritime strike roles. VKS use of the Su-35S may be more strictly focused on air superiority.

Su-35S proved themself as a very potent SEAD/DEAD platform too.

Probably because the Su-30SM is a better multirole fighter (two pilots), in VMF land based tactical units it will replace all Su-24s, so it will do both air defence of VMF bases as well as the strike missions the Su-24 was doing in support of naval operations.

In the forward cabine there is a pilot, in the rear, there is so called 'shturman' or navigator/operator.


Being half as cheap probably helps ;p

In 2018 a contract was signed for the delivery of 36 Su-30SM for 70 billion rubles.


In 2020 a contract was signed for the delivery of 30 Su-35S for 70 billion rubles

 
Bmpd's take on the latest Su-35S delivery.
 

''Всего с учетом предыдущих контрактов ВКС России получили с 2012 года по конец 2024 года оценочно 135 серийных истребителей Су-35С.''

48 ( contract from 2009) +50 ( contract from 2015) +30 ( contract from 2020) .There must be one more contract ....
 
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Certainly a very interesting development if true, given how specialized the Su-34 is.

I don't mind seeing the platypus population grow though.
 
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Su-30SM is less modern than SU-35, and is actually an "russianized" MKM (India uses different HUD and other systems.
Su-35 has better avionics than 30SM, ergo, it's a better multirole.
I think that transition to Su-30SM is more due to ease to crew switch and retraining, as it's a transition from 2-seat to two seat; you don't need to re-educate WSO to be proper fighter pilot as it would be the case with Su-24->Su-35 switch.

''The model ordered by the Russian military is a “localized” version of the “Indian” Su-30MKI.''

Sukhoi Su-30SM: An Indian Gift to Russia’s Air Force​


 
And yet Su-30SM has Thales HUd, which is a Malaysian choice. India and Algeria use SU967 from Elbit.
Which raises the question - if Indian MKI is the base, why did they switched HUD to Thales? If there were problems with acquisition (doubtful, if they could get Thales, and Israeli HUD will be much easier to obtain), they could just replace it with IKSH-1 outright.
 
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I meant about Russia getting HUDs for their own use on Su-30SM.
 
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Slightly better video of the desert cammo Su-34. Can't see any visible markings though. Algeria still remains the most likely customer, though i saw Iran mentioned too, however that atm seems very unlikely as they don't seem to have received the Su-35s yet, unless they've hidden that so far.


Probably for Algeria but the darker brown camo blotches look more similar to Iranian camo. Looks really good minus the weird blue lower and bright white nose.
 
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Probably for Algeria but the darker brown camo blotches look more similar to Iranian camo. Looks really good minus the weird blue lower and bright white nose.

Some data from several years ago ....


and freshy news ...


Algeria was really the first customer.We must keep on mind that after Feb. 2022 ,priority was
to compensate for losses ,almost 30 Su-34's lost by AD or on the ground. Of course there is the story about Su-35 where we had Iran as the potential buyer of the ex-Egyptian Su-35 but Algeria was the second country to receive export version of the Su-35S ( after PRC).
 
The Export Su-34 is better than the VKS Hellducks?
Export equipment, especially from Russia, is like a new car. You can configure it with all the goodies you could want, but the price will increase accordingly. The VKS operates well over 130 Su-34s, so they operate a cost effective baseline configuration. Now if you have the necessary spare change and purchase like 8-12 Su-34s as your genuine tactical bomber fleet to rough up your neighbors with ALCMs and stand off munitions, then you can possibly afford to increase the individual unit cost by ticking a couple more boxes with regards to options.

This is good for the customer and Russia, because these optional improvements will sooner or later trickle down into the VKS baseline, as others have already brought up with the Su-30.
 
The Export Su-34 is better than the VKS Hellducks?
Often they are because customers chose some addons that VKS does not ,SU30 that VKS now has was basically derived from Indian
exports

*used to be only cash straped Russian practice , but now it seems USAF F16 and F15 are also at lower spec that some exports
 
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【LIMA 2025】Russian Knights' Su-35s shake the eardrums of spectators with their relentless roar​


''The Russian Knights are an acrobatic team based at Kubinka Air Base outside Moscow.When they were founded in 1991, they had Su-27s, but now they have eight Su-30SM's and eight Su-35S 's.''

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJJTq72WxIk


"Русские Витязи" показали возможности Су-35С на выставке в Малайзии''

 
Belarus received a batch of Su-30SM2 fighters. If that is the case, would be interesting to know if they got R-37s as well. How to identify a SM2 btw, is it among others the white antenna under the nose? What else?
1748349017609.jpeg
 
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Often they are because customers chose some addons that VKS does not ,SU30 that VKS now has was basically derived from Indian
exports

*used to be only cash straped Russian practice , but now it seems USAF F16 and F15 are also at lower spec that some exports
U.S. has never been in the habit of purchasing "lower spec" aircraft than what U.S. defense contractors sell overseas. Export sales generally come after the bulk of deliveries to U.S. military (with exceptions of course) and later production F-15s or F-16s, for example, have bells and whistles that were not available when American designs were frozen.
United States military also goes to great expense to retro-fit newer systems to U.S. aircraft as tech evolves, (AESA, updated RWR, IFF, targeting systems, weapons, etc...).

In fact, both U.S. and Russia commonly withhold most advanced systems from all but most trusted allies.
 

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