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Apr 5, 2021 12 tweets 8 min read Read on X
Su-30 #Flanker #Thread
Lets do this Su-30 came into existence on requirement of Soviet Air Defence Forces #PVO needing a command aircraft to guide Su-27s via radio-data link to guard vast territory of USSR. #PVO was ranked higher than Soviet Airforce #VVS. 1/

Su-27UB & Su-30SM👇
#PVO chose trainer Su-27UB to be developed as combat capable interceptor/command aircraft in which 2nd officer would keep track of targets & assign roles to other aircraft e.g. Su-27s by distributing targets hence the term “Mini AWAC”. Su-27UB was manufactured by #Irkut Corp 2/
Single seat Su-27 was manufactured at KnAAPO which was given task of developing better air superiority Su-27M (now Su-35) by Soviet airforce. Irkut became home of Su-30 as plant was already producing Su-27UB. Su-27PU was demonstrator with new radar,refuelling,communication sys 3/
In the end #PVO decided not go for Su-27PU (Su-30) rather chose to stay with MiG-31 & Su-27 combo to guard USSR mainland which was about to collapse. All these upgrades were being developed in 1980s. By 1991 USSR was gone & Soviet industrial complex came to stand still. 4/
Breaking of USSR left all projects in limbo,
Su-27M now Su-35 (superiority)
Su-27PU now Su-30 (multirole)
Su-27IB now Su-34 (Bomber)
Su-27K now Su-33 (Naval)

Irkut pushed Su-27PU as Su-30M (M=Modernised) for new Russian Airforce but no sale, Russian Federation was in turmoil 5/
USSR is gone so are its needs of air power. KnAAPO is now stuck with Su-27M & T-50 (Su-57) in early stages of R&D. No sales of Su-27 till 🇨🇳 orders but not enough. Irkut Su-30M has no customer
Time to hit Airshows its 90s
Su-30MK #Irkut with full load demo 👀 & Su-27P #KnAAPO👇6/
In order to survive both production factories of Sukhoi OKB namely KnAAPO & Irkut pushed for commercial opportunities outside Russia.
Su-30M became MK (K=Commercial). India ordered a much improved variant with new Bars N011M radar, canards, AL-31FP engines & TVC called #MKI 7/
MKI (I=India) had special avionics “Project Ventrivale” with 🇫🇷🇮🇱🇿🇦🇮🇳components, new Fly by Wire system to accommodate Canards & Thrust vectoring. Later Malaysia (Su-30MKM) Algeria (Su-30MKA) ordered from #Irkut. Russian MK version is called Su-30SM & still in production 8/
Canards & Thrust vectoring actually came from Sukhoi OKB tech demonstrator single seater Su-27M called Su-37 Terminator which was a show-boy in 1990s performing all over the world in Airshows till it crashed. Tech from Su-27M air superiority also became part of Irkut Su-30MK. 9/
Meanwhile #KnAAPO sold Su-27SK to China & signed to provide 200 kits to Shenyang for assembling of Su-27S called J-11A. Looking at success of Irkut, KnAAPO developed Su-30MKK for PLAAF but without heavy PESA radar so Canards weren’t needed nor Chinese wanted thrust vectoring 11/
After Su-30MKK sale to PLAAF, PLA Navy wanted shore based naval strike aircraft & KnAAPO obliged with upgraded Su-30MK2. By early 2000s both major production facilities of Sukhoi OKB had Su-30 production lines. Su-30MK2 (white radome) was sold to Vietnam, Venezuela, Indonesia 12/
*Canards are only on Irkut produced Su-30s cos of heavy Bars-R & N011M radars to offset nose weight so is thrust vectoring.

*KnAAPO now only producing air superiority Su-35S & Su-57

Currently in production Su-30SM by Irkut, Su-35S by KnAAPO & Su-34 by NAPO

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More from @aviation07101

May 31, 2021
Early years of FC-1 & J-10A just before serial production. Circa 2005-06
Often repeated question why China didn’t induct FC-1?
Collapse of USSR opened floodgates of Soviet aerospace companies that found themselves in existential crisis especially aero engine companies 1/7 #Thread
In mid 90s Chinese aerospace designers were no longer restricted to old Soviet R-13/29 based engines or Rolls-Royce Spey copies. You can imagine an aircraft like J-10.
Without turbofan engine capable of 85-95kn/20,000lbs thrust, you can’t design 4th gen single engine aircraft 2/7
In early 80s Chengdu J-9 & Shenyang J-13 competed for a F-16/Mirage-2000 style aircraft for PLA & variable geometry Nanchang Q-6 for naval strike (later filled by JH-7). All these projects met dead-end due to unavailability of a powerful turbofan engine as WS-6 project failed 3/7
Read 7 tweets
Sep 27, 2020
Thread on #PLA Naval Airforce #PLANAF & #PLAAF AEW&C, MPA, special mission aircraft.

KJ-2000 #Mainring AEW&C (4 in service) based on IL-76 airframes with indigenous systems & radome comprising of 3 #AESA radars forming a triangle, nose/wing mounted surveillance/ESM. 1/10
KJ-200 (GX-5) #Moth (11 in service with Navy-Airforce)

Based on Shaanxi Y-8 series airframes with #AESA balanced beam radar similar to Eyrie radar system developed by Saab which Pakistan airforce is using. Newer variants have added sensors mounted on sides/under and on top. 2/10
KJ-500 (GX-10) 16+ in service Navy-Airforce)

KJ-500 has become mainstay airborne early warning aircraft with newer/bigger Y-9 airframe. Fixed radome comprising of 3 #AESA radar triangularly arranged despite entering in service in 2014 over 16 aircraft are in service. 3/10
Read 10 tweets
Sep 24, 2020
My view of late regarding erstwhile state of J & K is to keep whatever both sides have & after slight adjustments on LOC call it int’l border. Aim of both govts should be to bring stability & development in respective parts, enable people to people contact voiceofeast.net/2020/09/20/gil…
Gilgit Baltistan people want to be part of mainland Pakistan with full integration and don’t see themselves as part of Kashmir dispute. In early years just to strengthen Pakistan’s claim policy makers decided to add GB as part of J&K at UN to show whole region is Muslim majority.
If one truly understands J&K issue & how whole partition plan was set out. 🇵🇰 & 🇮🇳 both didn’t have any case to claim the region on the basis of religion or anything other than accession+plebiscite of residents. J&K was not under the sovereignty of British Crown but suzerainty
Read 5 tweets
Sep 22, 2020
What has #China gained so far?

1. Paranoid 🇮🇳 top brass/policy makers who will focus more inland ($$) than maritime i.e. CDS/Map lovers
2. Pulse check on #QUAD & #US reaction
3. Foundation stone of double squeeze #LOC~#LAC
4. Strengthening of newly raised #PLA Western Theatre.
China’s mission is to break both island chains by 2030-35 by massive build up of Naval & Air powers. Already artificial islands are there & no one can do anything other than odd USN vessels with flag conducting freedom of navigation. None of US allies want war nor have stomach Image
All countries in Pacific rely on same geography that they want to turn against China. Its kind of self defeating to cage a dragon while you’re in it. I’m not even bringing economical angle to this and what will happen to beast of capitalism, #Covid has set the tone for 2020s :)
Read 6 tweets
Sep 18, 2020
Russian #BVR doctrine of 2-Salvo launch is very well known inherited from Soviet era. #Flanker will carry active radar & heat/passive guided BVRAAMs. Once target is in #DLZ active radar missile like R-27EA/R-77 will be launched followed by IR homing R-27ET/R-27EP (Passive RF) 1/3 Image
Idea is that active seeker will force target to do evasive manoeuvres & employ ECMs fully exposing heat/electronic signatures making job much easier for few seconds delay launch of IR/Passive RF missiles like R-27ET/R-27EP having same kinetic performance as R-77/R-27EA/ER 2/3 Image
This very doctrine forced China to develop its own active radar BVR missile that could rival AIM-120B/C. Russian failure to complete full development of R-77 due to funds left them well behind hence they kept Soviet era doctrine of 2-Salvo launch with older R-27 Almo family 3/3 ImageImage
Read 4 tweets
Sep 2, 2020
#PLA Reforms & inventory” or eye watering tech (still in experimental stage) isn’t meant to be used (exposed) in desolate place like #Ladakh. In my assessment Indian army has plenty of options just policy makers are thinking differently. Leadership has too much on plate #COVID19
#PLA Western Theater command #WTC is relatively new still building capacity & infrastructure especially in Tibet #TAR region as focus is more towards what they call South Tibet. As you can see Western Command is basically 5-6 Balochistans similar terrain with not much population. ImageImage
Chengdu is headquarter of PLA #WTC so train infrastructure that hasn’t been built fully will still take 15 hours to connect HQ to Lhasa. Forget about cyber space or AI, its matter of centuries old problems of supplies/logistics and harsh terrain. Don’t fall for fancy words & awe. Image
Read 4 tweets

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