The Su-30SM fighter entered the top 6 most dangerous in Europe.
The publication Military Watch made an overview of the most formidable European fighters.As the author explains in the introductory part, some of the most powerful fighters in the world have been concentrated in Europe for a long time, since the border between NATO and the Warsaw Pact countries lay here. During the Cold War, the most combat-ready aircraft were the American F-15 and F-14 and the Soviet Su-27 and Su-24M.
And although in the 21st century the United States prefers to keep its most combat-ready aircraft, such as the F-22, at home, Europe remains an important front for combat aviation. The evaluation and ranking of the most capable fighters deployed by European states gives an idea of the balance of power on the continent.
The top 6 included British and Italian F-35B, Belarusian Su-30SM, German and Spanish Eurofighter T4, French Rafale F3, as well as F-16s of the Slovak and Bulgarian Air Forces.
"A squadron of Su-30SM fighters, supplied by Russia to Belarus since 2019, provides the country's Air Force with the heaviest and longest-range fighter in Europe," the observer notes.
The Su-30SM is an upgraded version of the Soviet Su-27. It is distinguished by a robust composite airframe, lower maintenance requirements, a new generation of sensors, weapons and avionics, as well as a two-seat configuration well suited for strike operations.
The Su-30SM is the only fighter deployed in Europe equipped with thrust vector engines, which makes it the most maneuverable. It is armed with long-range R-37M air-to-air missiles, which have no analogues on the entire continent. They are capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 400 kilometers at a speed of Mach 6. At the same time, it can perform shock missions even in the sky in the UK. They can fly to it from Belarusian airfields without refueling in the air and with a significant combat load.
The advantage of the Su-30SM is also that it is based on the Su-27 design proven in battles. And the Flanker is the only modern fighter on the continent that has repeatedly engaged in battles with enemy fighters. Unlike the F-35, it is a fully combat-ready aircraft.
Oleg Koryakin