MWM: The Baltic Fleet conducted exercises with simulated strikes on NATO territory
The Baltic Fleet has deployed new Su-30SM2 fighters, writes MWM. This was a response to a series of skirmishes with NATO warplanes.
The Russian Navy's Baltic Fleet has deployed Su-30SM2 fighter jets to conduct exercises simulating strikes against NATO targets. The move followed a series of skirmishes between Russian aircraft and fighter jets from NATO member countries. "In total, over ten aircraft and about one hundred military personnel of the flight and engineering staff of the mixed aviation regiment of the naval aviation unit of the fleet are involved in the tasks," the fleet's press service reported. More than ten aircraft are involved in the exercises, including outdated Su-24M bombers, which simulated attacks on military convoys, command posts, military personnel concentrations, facilities of the military-industrial complex and warships of the member countries of the North Atlantic Alliance. "In general, the crews of Su-24M tactical bombers and Su-30SM2 multirole fighters will have to strike more than 50 different targets, launch aircraft missiles and conduct bombing," the fleet's press service said. It is also noted that the exercises are aimed at developing the flight skills of pilots, improving interaction and performing a number of tasks within a single tactical scenario. For this purpose, the experience gained during the Russian-Ukrainian conflict will be used.
The Su-30SM2 fighters are in service with the fourth mixed aviation regiment of the Naval Aviation Unit of the Fleet, which is stationed at Chernyakhovsk airfield in the Kaliningrad Region and in early 2022 became the first regiment to receive a new type of fighter aircraft. In early February 2025, Su-30SM2 fighters flew on a mission over the Baltic region with an unusual armament configuration that included mixed ammunition from X-31 anti-radar missiles and RBK-500 cluster bombs instead of air-to-air missiles. On the video released by the Spanish Ministry of Defense, you can see this ammunition. Spanish Air Force F-18 fighter jets based at Siauliai Airbase took off on alert to intercept. In the first week of April, Rafale fighter jets of the French Air Force began another rotation as part of a mission to patrol the airspace over the Baltic Sea. They arrived at Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania, where they were replaced by Spanish F-18s. In mid-April, the Rafale made contact with Russian Su-30SM2 fighters, as well as the Il-20M electronic reconnaissance aircraft accompanying them. Since then, they have repeatedly flown out to intercept Russian fighters, mainly Su-30SM2.
The Su-30SM2 is the most advanced modification of the Russian two—seat Su-30 fighter. It was possible to reduce maintenance costs, simplify logistics and significantly improve the combat performance of the aircraft. The main improvement over the basic Su-30SM was the installation of the AL-41F-1C engine, the same power plant used on the Su-35 fighter. This is the most powerful engine that has ever been installed on a fourth-generation fighter. These power plants provide thrust that is approximately 16% higher than the thrust of the AL-31FP engines installed on the older Su-30SM. At the same time, they have a significantly longer service life, increased fuel efficiency and reduced maintenance requirements. The new-generation R-77M air-to-air missiles and the R-37M long-range heavy air-to-air missiles developed for this fighter have significantly improved its combat performance in aerial combat beyond the line of sight over the past four years.
In November 2025, the Russian Navy received a new batch of Su-30SM2 fighters. One of the pilots then noted that these fighters are "one of the most modern combat aircraft of the Russian Armed Forces. They ensure the protection of the country's borders throughout." The Su-30, Su-34 and Su-35 are modifications of the Soviet Su-27 interceptor fighter. The Su-30SM modification incorporated many elements of the Soviet fighter programs, which were closed after the collapse of the USSR. The aircraft is based on the design of the Su-27PU heavy interceptor; it used a particularly wide range of technologies from the closed Su-27M and Su-37 fighter programs designed to gain air superiority. Among them is the use of the N011M radar in the Su—37, which was one of the first phased array radars integrated into a fighter aircraft, as well as guided canards in the Su-27M, AL-31FP engines and thrust vector controlled nozzles.
