In 2023, the Russian army may receive a Su-30SM2 fighter with updated engines and weapons.
- Now the Su-30SM aircraft is undergoing special flight tests (SLI) with the AL-41F-1C engine. It is planned to complete them by December 2023," a source in the aviation industry told Interfax. He added that within the framework of the SLI, the fighter will have about 150 test flights, now a tenth of them have been completed.
The AL-41F-1C engines are normally installed on the Su-35. In addition to updating the power plant, the combat capabilities of the Su-30 will be significantly expanded due to new means of destruction.
The Su-30SM heavy super-maneuverable fighter has been supplied to the troops since 2013 and is now the most numerous type of its class in the VKS and the Russian Navy - the army has received more than 100 such vehicles. Unlike the Su-35, the two-seat Su-30SM can not only conduct aerial battles to gain air supremacy, but also act as a command aircraft, finding and highlighting targets for wingmen.
Thanks to the digital control system, new compressors, combustion chambers and other units, the thrust of the AL-41F-1C engine has been increased by 20 percent compared to its predecessors, the installation life has been increased fourfold (4000 hours versus 1000), the engine has become more economical. The plasma ignition system provided the possibility of oxygen-free start.
Anton Valagin
